President Obama submitted his 2013 budget to Congress earlier this week and the energy portion of the budget highlights the White House's focus on the environment and the creation of domestic green jobs.

A centerpiece of Obama's energy proposal calls for a $4.75 billion cut in tax credits and subsidies for oil and gas companies in 2013. While fossil fuels may lose out, there would be an increase in aid for renewable energy and conservation programs.

At a speech at NOVA Community College this week, The President said, "To lead in the growth industries of tomorrow, it is critical that we invest in research and development today." Indeed, in his budget proposal energy efficiency and renewable energy would get $2.27 billion, an increase of $460 million from last year.  The U.S. Dept. of Energy's budget would also increase to $27.2 billion in overall spending authority, a 3.2% increase over the current year.

Among programs benefiting in Obama’s energy proposals is the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, which would get $350 million in 2013, an increase from $275 million in 2012. Energy Department Secretary Steven Chu described ARPA-E as a “swing for the fences” program that supports research into cutting edge clean energy innovation.  The spending includes money for utility-scale energy storage, which many experts think is critical to address issues of renewable energy intermittency, and solar-energy research as part of the DOE's SunShot Initiative to make solar power competitive with fossil fuel sources without subsidies by 2020.

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