Obama aims for oil independence

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7851038.stm

Page last updated at 17:43 GMT, Monday, 26 January 2009

Obama aims for oil independence

President Barack Obama has called for the US to become energy

independent, saying its reliance on foreign oil and global warming

posed threats.

Outlining his energy priorities, he said the country would not be

held " hostage to dwindling resources, hostile regimes, and a warming

planet " .

He called for greater fuel efficiency and an " energy economy " aimed

at creating millions of jobs.

He also ordered a review of whether states can set car emission

standards.

This challenges a Bush administration decision which favoured a

national standard for vehicle pollution.

At his first White House news conference since becoming president, Mr

Obama said he would reverse America's dependence on foreign oil while

creating jobs, but warned there was no " quick fix " .

" We will commit ourselves to steady, focused, pragmatic pursuit of an

America that is freed from our energy dependence, and empowered by a

new energy economy that puts millions of our citizens to work. "

He added: " Now is the time to meet the challenge of this crossroads

of history, by choosing a future safer for our country, prosperous

for our planet, and sustainable. "

Mr Obama ordered the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to review

its refusal of a waiver which had previously allowed California to

set its own - stricter - vehicle emission and fuel efficiency

standards.

He said California had taken bold moves in implementing the

standards.

Mr Obama said: " The days of Washington dragging its heels are over.

" My administration will not deny facts. We will be guided by them. "

His statement that the US would lead on climate change was a clear

swipe at his predecessor's sceptical view of global warming, says the

BBC's Coomarasamy in Washington.

Energy efficiency drive

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger had asked Mr Obama to

reverse the Bush administration's insistence on a single, national

standard.

California wants a 30% reduction in motor vehicle greenhouse gas

emissions by 2016, achieved by improving fuel efficiency standards.

President Obama also ordered the transportation department to come up

with new short-term rules on how carmakers can improve fuel

efficiency.

A 2007 law required that new cars and trucks produced by 2020 obtain

35 miles per gallon of fuel (about 15km/litre).

However, then-President W Bush did not put in place the

regulations to enable the law to be carried out.

The new rules Mr Obama wants to put in place would mean the new

standard is reached by 2011, the New York Times said.

The president also announced plans to make all federal government

buildings more energy efficient, and pledged to cut families's energy

bills by " weatherising " 2.5 million homes.

He also said the US would double its capacity for " green " energy

generation, from sources such as wind, sun, and biofuels, over the

next three years.

More than 3,000 miles of transmission lines would be established to

transmit the energy.

In the European Union, a recently agreed climate package set out

average emission targets for the whole car industry of 120g of CO2

per kilometre by 2012 for new cars, compared with current levels of

160g/km.

The EU target for 2020 is 95g/km. But CO2 emissions vary from car to

car, and manufacturers have been given until 2015 to meet their

specific targets for each model.

According to media reports, the state department is to appoint a

former Clinton diplomat as its " climate change envoy " .

Todd Stern served under Bill Clinton from 1993 to 2001 and was

involved in Kyoto climate change talks.

[Guest guest]

Good links. I'm going to pass them on to some friends.

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