WASHINGTON -- Speaking at Georgetown University, Obama reiterated today his commitment to renewable energy and reducing our dependence on oil. Citing China and Germany as examples of leadership in the wind and solar industries, Obama stated his plans to increase American investment and industry expansion in order to lead the clean energy economy of the 21st century. "I want America to be that nation. I want America to win the future," the president said.
Obama's amitious list of goals includes a one third cut in oil imports by 2020, one million electric vehicles on the road by 2015, establishing a clean energy standard, sourcing 80 percent of American energy from clean energy by 2035 (as stated in his State of the Union Address), as well as meeting half of U.S. Airforce's fuel consumption with alternative sources by 2016.
Obama also championed high speed rail advances, biofuel technological development, and the safe exploration of natural gas. He plans on improving the safety of these technologies in partnership with DOE Sec. Steven Chu and other agencies.
"I don't know if you've heard, but he's got a Nobel Prize in Physics, after all," the president joked.
Obama also spoke of his administration's continued support of offshore oil exploration as well as increasing nuclear power generation. While he referenced the continuing repercussions of the BP oil spill and the disasterous after-effects from the earthquake Japan now faces, he nevertheless promised growth in these areas as long as proper regulation is in place.
Obama maintained, "That’s why part of our plan is to provide new and better incentives that promote rapid, responsible development of these resources."
The opposing viewpoints policy makers have on energy security were addressed at length during the speech, however the details of how Obama's clean energy plan would be executed remained vague:
"And we boast one critical, renewable resource the rest of the world cannot match: American ingenuity."
See full text here (minor changes may have occured during President's execution of the speech).
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