Energy efficiency: Priority for Obama’s first week
Posted by The Skyliner on February 4th, 2009Jon Harris
Staff Writer
After one week on the job, President Barack Obama is making it his priority to reduce the oil obsession in America by creating jobs, energy independence and climate control.
“America’s dependence on oil is one of the most serious threats that our nation has faced,” Obama said.
He signed an executive order on Monday, Jan. 26 that asks for higher fuel efficiency standards on all vehicles, beginning with the 2011 model year. This increase will create cleaner and more efficient vehicles. Congress has already signed legislation that increases standards to 35 miles per gallon by 2020.
“That 40 percent increase in fuel efficiency for our cars and trucks could save over 2 million barrels of oil every day—nearly the entire amount of oil that we import from the Persian Gulf,” Obama said.
The President issued statements for a “new American energy economy that creates millions of jobs for our people.” He hopes the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan will implement this.
“It will put 460,000 Americans to work, with clean energy investments and double the capacity to generate alternative energy over the next three years,” Obama said. “It will save taxpayers $2 billion a year by making 75 percent of federal buildings more efficient. And it will save working families hundreds of dollars on their energy bills by weatherizing 2 million homes.”
“I think the best thing people can do to create alternative energy is be more efficient. Energy efficiency is all about doing more with less,” Trey Fouché, department chair of outdoor leadership, said. Fouché is an avid follower of environmental issues but does not claim to be an expert.
“Few people realize that energy efficiency has been the main fuel powering our economy for the past quarter century,” he said.
Washington has consistently turned down states’ efforts to create new standards on gas emissions. California was one of the first, followed by a dozen others, who were refused permission by the Bush Administration.
“The days of Washington dragging its heels are over. My administration will not deny facts, we will be guided by them,” Obama said.
Obama promised a bipartisan effort in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and directed the Environmental Protection Agency to look into the denial of the California waiver request and look at how to move forward.
“By directing the EPA to consider granting a waiver to California for its clean car law, new standards may put the best fuel savings technologies to work to help meet important oil savings and global warming goals,” Fouché said.
According to Fouché, the country needs to find alternative fuels while reducing current consumption. He said this is the time for Americans to accomplish difficult tasks through development and innovation.
Sarah White, senior outdoor leadership, is for fuel efficiency, but she is bothered that these vehicles may become more luxuries than simple ways of transportation.
“I’m glad they are making it more efficient, but we should get away from gas completely,” White said.
Fouché believes South Carolina will be significantly impacted.
“If we allow South Carolina to become one of the few states that sets low or no standards on emissions, our quality of life will decrease,” Fouché said.
“America will not be held hostage to dwindling resources, hostile regimes, and a warming planet,”Obama said. “It’s time for America to lead, because this moment of peril must be turned into one of progress.”