Bush Energy Proposals Don't Go Far Enough

January 23, 2007

President Bush's stated willingness to confront climate change is encouraging and his call to reduce gasoline consumption 20 percent by 2017 is a modest step towards ending America's dangerous oil addiction. Much stronger action is necessary, however, to provide the nation with clean, secure energy and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions tied to global warming, Republicans for Environmental Protection, a national grassroots organization with elected officials as members, said in response to tonight's State of the Union speech.

"While the President's support for improved fuel economy and expanded biofuels development is welcome, his proposals, unfortunately, fail to match the scale of the problems that we face," REP Government Affairs Director David Jenkins said. "If our party is ever going to lead on the critical energy and climate issues facing our nation and champion prudent stewardship of our nation's resources, the President cannot settle for the modest goals that he laid out tonight."

"Much more must be done to cut the nation's dangerous dependence on oil," Jenkins said. "His proposed 5 percent reduction in gasoline consumption through fuel economy standards is too timid considering that we already have cars and SUVs on our highways that greatly exceed current standards, and that studies by the National Academy of Sciences and other researchers clearly show that mileage improvements of 25 to 50 percent are practical and cost-effective, without compromising safety, convenience or styling."

"We cannot afford to settle for reducing oil consumption 2 million barrels per day 10 years from now. We must aim for continuing and larger reductions through aggressive policies to improve fuel efficiency and to replace gasoline with home-grown fuels that can be produced and used cleanly," REP Policy Director Jim DiPeso said. "Congress and President Bush must work together to create a market for advanced technologies such as plug-in hybrids, by greatly strengthening fuel economy standards and expanding production of biofuels from farm waste and other non-food sources."

"Effectively addressing global warming will require more than modest proposals aimed at our transportation sector. Our biggest disappointment with the President's speech was his refusal to endorse a balanced climate policy that will create a market in greenhouse gas emissions reductions and lower the growing risks of a changing climate for our security, economy, and quality of life," DiPeso said.

"Conservatism imposes a moral obligation on the present generation to restrain wasteful consumption, treat the world with reverence, and protect the inheritance of future generations. Real conservatives have a duty to reduce emissions that cause global warming," Jenkins said.

"Many of the nation's top business executives agree that our nation needs a prudent climate policy that will grow the market for advanced technologies, establish a consistent regulatory environment, create jobs, and conserve energy," DiPeso said. "Stopping the growth of greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles should be a priority, but it is time to adopt a cap-and-trade policy that will create a strong market for lowering greenhouse gas emissions, as recommended this week by 10 of the nation's leading corporations," DiPeso said.

REP calls on President Bush and Congress to move forward together this year and adopt the climate policy that America needs.