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QUOTE OF THE DAY
President Bush Discusses CAFE and Alternative Fuel Standards
Rose Garden

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all for coming. Good afternoon. I just finished a meeting with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Secretaries of Transportation and Agriculture, and the Deputy Secretary of Energy. Thank you all for being here

We discussed one of the most serious challenges facing our country: our nation's addiction to oil and its harmful impact on our environment. The problem is particularly acute in the transportation sector. Oil is the primary component of gasoline and diesel, and cars and trucks that run on these fuels emit air pollution and greenhouse gases.

Our dependence on oil creates a risk for our economy, because a supply disruption anywhere in the world could drive up American gas prices to even more painful levels. Our dependence on oil creates a threat to America's national security, because it leaves us more vulnerable to hostile regimes, and to terrorists who could attack oil infrastructure.

For all these reasons, America has a clear national interest in reducing our dependence on oil. Over the past six years, my administration has provided more than $12 billion for research into alternative sources of energy. I'd like to thank the Congress for its cooperation in appropriating these monies. We now have reached a pivotal moment where advances in technology are creating new ways to improve energy security, strengthen national security, and protect the environment.

To help achieve all these priorities, I set an ambitious goal in my State of the Union: to cut America's gasoline usage by 20 percent over the next 10 years. I call this goal 20-in-10, and I have said -- sent to Congress a proposal that would meet it in two steps: First, this proposal will set a mandatory fuel standard that requires 35 billion gallons of renewable and other alternative fuels by 2017. That's nearly five times the current target.

Second, the proposal would continue our efforts to increase fuel efficiency. My administration has twice increased fuel economy standards for light trucks. Together, these reforms would save billions of gallons of fuel and reduce net greenhouse gas emissions without compromising jobs or safety.

My proposal at the State of the Union will further improve standards for light trucks and take a similar approach to automobiles. With good legislation, we could save up to 8.5 billion gallons of gasoline per year by 2017, and further reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks.

Last month, the Supreme Court ruled that the EPA must take action under the Clean Air Act regarding greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles. So today, I'm directing the EPA and the Department of Transportation, Energy, and Agriculture to take the first steps toward regulations that would cut gasoline consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles, using my 20-in-10 plan as a starting point.

Developing these regulations will require coordination across many different areas of expertise. Today, I signed an executive order directing all our agencies represented here today to work together on this proposal. I've also asked them to listen to public input, to carefully consider safety, science, and available technologies, and evaluate the benefits and costs before they put forth the new regulation.

This is a complicated legal and technical matter, and it's going to take time to fully resolve. Yet it is important to move forward, so I have directed members of my administration to complete the process by the end of 2008. The steps I announced today are not a substitute for effective legislation. So my -- members of my Cabinet, as they begin the process toward new regulations, will work with the White House, to work with Congress, to pass the 20-in-10 bill.

When it comes to energy and the environment, the American people expect common sense, and they expect action. The policies I've laid out have got a lot of common sense to them. It makes sense to do what I proposed, and we're taking action, by taking the first steps toward rules that will make our economy stronger, our environment cleaner, and our nation more secure for generations to come.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

First lady Laura Bush, left, visits with Annie White of Landover, Md., during a tour of the George Washington University Cardiovascular Center in Washington, Monday, May 14, 2007. The first lady serves as an ambassador for The Heart Truth campaign and its Red Dress Project to raise women's awareness of heart disease.

[Kaslin]

Hi

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Dose going up please wait for all clear before posting or reposting any photos or graphics

[Dog]

First

[SkyDancer]

I hate it when the MSM refers to President Bush as “Mr. Bush” .... and on this alternative fuel source ... it will be a lot more expensive to produce and market ... if you think $4.00 a gallon is high, just wait until we’re all using this alternative fuel ...

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President Bush and first lady, Laura, look at period weaponry during a walking tour of Historic Jamestown in Jamestown, Va., Sunday, May 13, 2007.

President George W. Bush stands with an actor in period garb Sunday during a tour of the Jamestown Settlement, in Jamestown, Va. The President and Mrs. Bush joined the celebration honoring the 400th anniversary of the settlement, receiving lessons in sail making and visiting the archaeological dig. White House photo by Eric Draper
President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush have a little help onstage Sunday, May 13, 2007, placing items in a time capsule during the 400th anniversary celebration of Jamestown. White House photo by Eric Draper

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President Bush making remarks during ceremonies marking the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown in Jamestown, Va., Sunday, May 13, 2007

President George W. Bush looks toward conductor JoAnn Falletta as he directs the Virginia Symphony Orchestra Sunday, May 13, 2007, during the celebration marking the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown Settlement. White House photo by Eric Draper

President Bush playfully directs an orchestra after making remarks during ceremonies marking the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown in Jamestown, Va., Sunday, May 13, 2007

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An unidentified Marine One pilot watches President Bush and first lady Laura Bush, leave the helicopter after arriving on South Lawn of the White House Sunday, May 13, 2007 in Washington. Bush was returning from a trip to Virginia where he commemorated the 400th anniversary of Jamestown, Va., America's first permanent English colony

First lady Laura Bush, waves as she arrives at the White House after returning from Jamestown, Va., with President Bush, not in picture, Sunday, May 13, 2007 in washington. Bush and the first lady traveled to Virginia to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Jamestown, America's first permanent English colony.

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Greeting visitors at the White House upon return from Jamestown Va

[Jewels1091]

THANK YOU!!! a very nice little package was in my mailbox today!

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President Bush walks through the columns of the West Wing Colonnade of the White House in Washington, Monday, May 14,2007, as he arrives to speak about CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards and alternative fuel standards in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington.

President George W. Bush, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen Johnson, and Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns walk to the Rose Garden

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President Bush, center, followed by Transportation Secretary Mary Peters. right, and EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson, left, walks from the Oval Office to the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Monday, May 14, 2007, to speak about CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards and alternative fuel standards.

President Bush speaks about CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards and alternative fuel standards, Monday, May 14, 2007, in the Rose Garden of the White House

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President Bush, right, accompanied by Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, speaks about CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards and alternative fuel standards, Monday, May 14, 2007, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington.

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[ThePythonicCow]

Alternative Fuel Standards

Does that refer to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska crude, instead of Saudi and Venezuela crude (I know ... wishful thinking)?

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President Bush, center, speaks about CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards and alternative fuel standards in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Monday, May 14, 2007. From left are, Deputy Energy Secretary Clay Sell; Transportation Secretary Mary Peters; the president; EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson; and Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns.

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President George W. Bush delivers a statement on CAFE and alternate fuel standards Monday, May 14, 2007, in the Rose Garden. Pictured with President Bush are, from left: Energy Deputy Secretary Clay Sell, Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson and Agricultural Secretary Mike Johanns. "Our dependence on oil creates a threat to America's national security, because it leaves us more vulnerable to hostile regimes, and to terrorists who could attack oil infrastructure," said President Bush. White House photo by Joyce Boghosian

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White House Press Secretary Tony Snow, center, speaks to reporters outside the White House in Washington, Monday, May 14,2007, after President Bush spoke about CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards and alternative fuel standards, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington.