On Wednesday Obama announced a plan to cut off 1/3 of the overseas import of oil by the year 2025. I think it is a great idea. It inspires people to find an alternative to oil and cuts back on the United State’s dependence on other countries.
Obama’s proposal mostly relies on finding substitutes and using natural gasses in the place of oil. He said he would push for the use of natural gas in trucks and busses as well as building commercial-scale biofuel refineries over the next few years. America only possesses 2% of the world's known oil reserves, a reality that will require an eventual transition away from oil.
The president also announced that he would direct the federal government to ensure that all its vehicle purchases are either alternative-fuel, hybrid or electrically powered by 2015. This is a great idea because it will also inspire the public to buy and drive fuel-efficient vehicles.
They also plan to raise fuel-efficiency faster than previously proposed in 2007. All vehicles will be required to have a fuel efficiency of 36 miles to the gallon or more by 2016. They will be releasing fuel efficiency standard for Heavy-Duty trucks this summer.
"The United States of America cannot afford to bet our long-term prosperity and security on a resource that will eventually run out," Obama told an audience at Georgetown University. "We can't afford it when the cost to our economy, our country, and our planet is so high." He said.
Despite the ongoing crisis at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear facility, Obama reaffirmed his support for a clean energy standard requiring utilities to buy 80% of their power from "cleaner" sources like wind and solar, as well as nuclear, natural gas and clean coal, by 2035. Although there is a crisis in Japan due to their nuclear power plants, it is a clean source of energy and can be the answer to a cleaner environment. "We can't simply take (nuclear power) off the table," he insisted.
It is a great thing and I think that a lot more people will respect Obama if he keeps proposing great ideas like this one. The only part about this plan that is a little bit scary is that domestic drilling permits have been given to do shallow water drilling and some deep water drilling. If another oil spill happened it could be devastating.
Some conservative critics have accused the administration of doing little to stop rising gas prices as part of a strategy to speed a transition away from fossil fuels. I disagree because a lot of people are resistant to change. People just like to think that they are ahead of others or more superior. I don’t like the smug attitudes of conservationists personally.
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