Obama outlines energy policy in first White House press conference

President Obama has ordered a review of whether states can set car emission standards, potentially reversing a Bush administration decision that favored a national standard for vehicle pollution.

Obama made the announcement in his first White House press conference, which focused on outlining his administration's energy policy, including a call for U.S. energy independence. (watch press conference here)

The country would not be held "hostage to dwindling resources, hostile regimes, and a warming planet," he said. "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."

The White House blog announced the presidential memos under the title: "From peril to progress."

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 also told the Department of Transportation to come uip wiht an improved federal fuel economy standard.

Obama said California had taken bold moves in implementing the standards. "The days of Washington dragging its heels are over," he said. "My administration will not deny facts. We will be guided by them."

The California law, which Florida Gov. Charlie Crist wants to copy, requires automakers to cut emissions by nearly a third by 2016, four years ahead of the federal timetable. Automakers had lobbied hard against the California standard.

David Adams, Times Staff Writer

Comments

[Jerry]

We need to utilize everything in out power to reduce our dependence on foreign oil including using our own natural resources.OPEC will continue to cut production until they achieve their desired 80-100. per barrel. The high cost of fuel this past year seriously damaged our economy and society. Oil is finite. We are using oil globally at the rate of 2X faster than new oil is being discovered. I just read a book by a guy named Jeff Wilson called The Manhattan Project of 2009 Energy Independence Now. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is worried about our economy and would like to see us become more energy independent.

[paminator]

"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."

Wow! Free America from its energy dependence? Are we now moving back to a hunter-gatherer society with no fires?

[Tino]

Yes, paminator, your daily scheduled time on the treadmill will be from 2-4 pm.

Run fast -- our economy depends on you!

Everything that I have seen from the new administration either
1. will lower standards of living by costing citizens much more to do the same thing (i.e. new, expensive vehicle requirements)
and/or
2. will increase our foreign energy dependence even more (no more coal, nukes, etc)

Go back and look it up -- every wave of "energy independence" initiatives in this country has resulted in a significant INCREASE in energy imports.

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose...

[The Intellectual Redneck]

The "Big Three" are under bankruptcy watch and begging for more bailout money. President Barack Obama thinks this is a good time to appease his environmental base by weighing Detroit down with a new round of environmental regulations. This is a horrible timing and it will severely damage the ability of the "Big Three" to return to profitability. The first increase in CAFE will take place by the 2011 model year. Detroit is now preparing to launch the 2010 model year in July. Read more here at my site.