In a speech in Florida on Thursday, President Barack Obama took aim at GOP campaign promises to bring rising gas prices back down. Calling the proposals to drill for more oil a "bumper sticker," the Associated Press reported that he then went on to advocate his own plan for more alternative fuels and cleaner energy sources.
What did Obama have to say about the uptick in gas prices?
Obama was quick to point out during his speech that domestic oil production has increased during his three years in office. But the Los Angeles Times also quoted him as saying that there was no "silver bullet" that would make gas prices come back down and solve the nation's dependency on foreign oil. Current gas prices are a reflection of anxieties related to instability in Iran and a possible disruption in supply there.
The bulk of what he had to say about gas prices, however, appeared to be centered on criticism of the position of the current GOP presidential candidates. He said that the Republicans' energy plan amounted to three steps, all of which were simply to drill for more oil, which he stated did not constitute a real plan.
What did Obama have to say about fuel efficiency standards in vehicles?
Obama continued to say that higher fuel efficiency in cars, trucks, and other vehicles was a necessity for decreasing the nation's dependence on oil. He also reiterated that the new fuel efficiency standards he announced earlier this year would ensure that all new cars will average 55 miles to the gallon in the next decade, according to the New York Times.
What was contained in Obama's plan for alternative fuels?
Obama surprised some in the crowd on Thursday with an announcement that the Energy Department was preparing to invest some $14 million in technology to develop algae transportation fuels on top of the $85 million it has already invested in developing algae biofuels . The use of algae-based fuels, he claimed, could replace as much as 17 percent of the nation's current oil usage, according to BusinessWeek.
Obama also said that the U.S. should use all of its available sources of fuel. He explained that this means making use of solar, wind, and nuclear power, as well as natural gas resources.
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