The New York Times is reporting that in a speech this morning at Georgetown University President Obama will commit the country to reducing its dependence on foreign oil by one-third over the next decade through the increased production of domestic energy, greater fuel efficiency, further reliance on biofuels, and the use of natural gas as a transportation fuel, especially by fleets of heavy-duty vehicles.
“The reduction in oil imports he has set as a target — roughly three million barrels a day over 10 years — corresponds roughly to current import levels from the Middle East and Africa.”
The landmark address was the subject of a story by John Broder of The New York Times, who writes:
“Mr. Obama will propose a mix of measures … to help the nation cut down on its thirst for oil. He will point out the nation’s tendency, since the first Arab oil embargo in 1973, to panic when gas prices rise and then fall back into old gas-guzzling habits when they recede.
“He will call for a consistent long-term fuel-savings strategy of producing more electric cars, converting trucks to run on natural gas, building new refineries to brew billions of gallons of biofuels, and setting new fuel-efficiency standards for vehicles. Congress has been debating these measures for years.”
Presidents since Richard Nixon have called for the U.S. to decrease its dependency on foreign oil, yet American oil imports have continued to climb.
“White House officials indicated that Mr. Obama was turning to energy issues after a period of intense focus on turmoil in Libya and elsewhere in North Africa and the Middle East. He will link them by saying the United States cannot be secure as long as it depends on potentially unstable monarchies and dictatorships for a large part of its daily petroleum diet. The reduction in oil imports he has set as a target — roughly three million barrels a day over 10 years — corresponds roughly to current import levels from the Middle East and Africa.”
Read the entire story HERE.