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Obama’s plan to reduce foreign oil dependence


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As Americans spend $41 million in foreign oil an hour and are left broke at the pump, what plan does Obama have to solve this problem?

Oil is destined to be a heated issue in this upcoming presidential election and Barack Obama’s opposition to the gas tax “holiday” has already been a hot topic. Obama has made it clear that national energy policy needs to be taken in a new direction.

“We send a billion dollars to foreign nations every single day and we are melting the polar ice caps in the bargain,” said Obama. “That has to change.”

Here are some of the key elements of Obama’s energy plan:

Fuel Economy Standards
Doubling fuel economy standards within the next 18 years is a priority to Obama. Research in engines and advanced lightweight materials will help meet this goal. He also wants to assist auto makers in increasing fuel economy standards through loan guarantees and tax credits for domestic auto manufacturers.

“We are going to raise fuel efficiency standards on cars because that is the only way that we can actually lower gas prices over the long-term and I know you need that,” said Obama.

Next Generation Biofuels
Obama’s goal is to have two billion gallons of cellulosic ethanol in use by 2013. He plans to use tax incentives, government contracts and cash prizes to help this industry mature and specifically wants to encourage farmer-owned refineries. He would like renewable fuel standards to increase, such that 60 billion gallons of advanced biofuels are in the fuel supply by 2030.

A National Low Carbon Fuel Standard is a mechanism that Obama plans to use that requires fuel suppliers to decrease carbon emissions from fuels by 10% by 2020 and he specifically wants to encourage non-petroleum fuels to reach this target.

“The only way we are going to seriously reduce the price of gas is if we actually start investing in alternative fuels and we raise fuel standards on cars,” said Obama.

Renewable Energy
By 2025, Obama would like 25% of U.S. electricity to be generated from clean, renewable sources including wind, solar and geothermal with a Renewable Portfolio Standard. Obama calls for $150 billion to be invested over 10 years in clean energy and infrastructure to support it. Investment in a national digital electric grid would allow greater amounts of renewable energy to be utilized and make plug-in hybrids more environmentally sound.

“For the sake of our security, our economy, our jobs and our planet, the age of oil must end in our time,” said Obama.
lemonsun12

41 responses // Obama’s plan to reduce foreign oil dependence

  • Obama, using the above figures, intends to WOW us by investing the equivalent of six months of US consumption to solve the problem. Is that going to be enough?
    geneonlbk
  • No it isn't, especially if he continues to support clean coal and nuclear. And the Arctic ice cap will be melted by the time much of this takes place. And of course, with a Congress that would rather bicker than actually do anything on this, they are just words.
    JanforGore
  • I agree Obama needs more to tackle the failures of this administration. Who allowed big Oil to dominate the decisions of the EPA.
    amirct3
    1 response to this
  • That would be people like Bush who put former fossil fuel company CEO's and administrators in charge of things like the EPA and the BLM.
    Varex_Sythe
  • Go for it Obama. Let's see what works, something must be done. It is for sure the dunce in the blackhouse is getting rich and won't do anything to help America.
    Robroy1
  • Now see, that's what I am talkin about! How is this change? It just sounds like more of the same to me. 18 years? Thats a priority? And let me get this straight....we are going to pay them to change? And then we are going to spend more money on all the same stuff that we have already been spending money on and havent gotten anywhere like hydrogen that we have been hearing is only 10 years away for the last 10 years, and ethanol that isnt getting us away from our dependence on oil. And the emphasis on renewable energy sources is such a priority that it is mentioned last and 25% by 2025 doesnt sound like much of a change to me. Just sounds like way too much of the same.....
    needu
  • needu: Right you are. And don't forget they will allow coal companies to continue to spew cancerous and toxic crap out for at least another twenty years as they continue to blow mountain tops off while lying to us telling us that CCS is actually effective. Al Gore has it right: if the PEOPLE don't stand up to change this and hold them all accountable including Obama for his acitons or lack thereof, it won' t get done and politicians will continue to give lip service to it just to get elected.
    JanforGore
  • Nothing is ever said about increasing research and development on fusion energy. 10,000 times more sunlight reaches the earth than we need for all our energy requirements. Biofuels pollute more than they help. ADM will probably send the NSA to get me for saying that. How about much more development money for thin-film solar voltaics? How about diverting money from crooked contractors in Iraq to installing solar on people's homes who can no longer afford electricity.

    Obama, sadly, is just more of the same. To vote in this country is to vote for "A" or "A". Non difference! The game remains the same and the earth is burning while governments figure out how to protect their own pensions.

    The fast remedy is to vote every incumbent out of office and institute a voter mandated single term limit for all elected officials.
    geneonlbk
  • We have the troubles we are having because we stopped enforcing anti-trust laws. The big corporations and the WTO type organizations are what is causing our problems. They are the enemy of the people.

    Coal electric power generating stations had installed smoke stack scrubbers. They were being maintained. And when W invited the fossil fuel people to those closed door meetings, the next thing we know, the scrubbers all got turned off. The power plants have been spewing raw coal smoke out of their smoke stacks since 2000. That is what they are talking about when they talk about "clean" coal. We had the scrubbers installed that kept the coal smoke to a minimum. But one of W's first official acts was to turn the scrubbers off. Either YOU people don't have a news media that reports this stuff, or maybe you just aren't paying any attention!

    And the child who lumped nuclear power in with coal pollution, I'm not too sure what you were trying to say........but Hillary conceded the primary election this past week......and Al Gore conceded the 2000 general election before the polls were even closed. Take a chill pill!
    cadsuch
  • Gee, sounds like some corporate welfare to me. Perhaps, while we are giving incentives to car companies we should drill in this country to decrease our dependance on overseas oil as we develop the alternative solutions we need.
    Paratus
  • Thanks for reminding me that he dissed Hillary's idea of a "Federal Tax Gas Holiday"!!!

    Yes, everyone knows this is a stop gap measure but it would help everyone a little and at least give us some real "Hope".

    Of course, hope is what this guy talked about...

    I want to see some real solutions NOW!

    Talk is cheap, cheap talk is even cheaper and I think we have had more than enough of politicians dissing us!

    Obama, please get it together NOW or move over!
    PatrickEdwardMurray
  • cadsuch: Seeing as how by perusing the responses I am the only one who mentioend nuclear (which had nothing to do with Clinton or Mr. Gore) at least have the guts to confront me on it instead of calling me a "child." I am no child and what I meant by nuclear is that it is not "green" and it is a toxic cancer causing antiquated source of energy that can't even get enough momentum in the market to be considered viable any longer. Those who continue to want to resurrect it by using the climate crisus as an excuse to also lie to people when they say it releases no CO2 are simply desperate. Uranium mining and building the monstrosities that convert it sure do as well as waste much water in the process. Nuclear and coal have seen their day and it is time to wean this country off of them not only for our health and safety but our national security. I would be more than happy to post more on this if you desire.
    JanforGore
  • man, always some critics huh?

    How about getting up and forcing the congress to act. Organize, protest, do something. Better yet, learn something about electrical engineering and develop the next photovoltaic cell. Give up your car, ride a bike, support change. The congress doesn't do anything because the people don't do anything. Damn hypocrites.
    drewsuf721
  • drewsuf: Did it and doing it. You? Matter of fact I was with a patient this morning ( I work for a doctor) and I mentioned she should be careful because it was going to 106 degrees here today... and she then stated: It's global warming, you know that. Well, ny eyes lit up and I was off and running ;-). We talked about the ice melt, storms, what was happening in the world and then I mentioned the climate change bill to her and she stated she didn't know anything about it. So I then told her about it and some organizations including the WE campaign and she stated she was going to sign up for some and write her Senator. So, I hope I did manage to spread the word a bit more today and was really happy that she was so informed about global warming... so I think people out here can make great progress and I have been part of being involved in one form or another with it for the last thirty years since I was a teenager. But that still doesn't change the fact that Obama's plan is still inadequate in comparison to the urgency of this crisis as is McCain's, and they are the ones who have to stop campaigning and start doing some real work on this.
    JanforGore
    1 response to this
  • It's better than nothing.

    I wish Obama would just use some of Bush's "Unitary Executive" powers to just nationalize the auto industry.

    "Bill Ford, yer fired! Get out. From now on all automobiles and SUV's must be built using an alt fuel source. No more excuses. No more whining. Just do it!"

    That would differently get things moving in the right direction.

    And, hell, nationalize the airlines too.

    We tried capitalism with the airlines and 15 bankrupt airlines later I think it's safe to say it's not working. The passengers are unhappy and the carriers are going broke. Maybe we'd have better luck if we just handed the whole thing over to the Air Force and let them handle it?
    crob80227
  • a good start for obama would be to not hold hands and kiss prince abdullah from saudi arabia
    diabolical44
  • I agree with drewsuf721. We MUST elect enough progressives in Congress (more than 60 senators) to overcome the possibility that the proceedings would get mired down in fillibusters all the time.

    The other major factor in the success of a far-reaching energy policy is who ends up being Sec'y of Energy. We need an out-of-the-box visionary in that office, because s/he is going to be the one driving the effort. Obama will have so much on his plate, he's gonna have to delegate, delegate, delegate. So let's hope for some creativity in the Cabinet!!
    shelchak
  • Next Generation Biofuels
    Obama’s goal is to have two billion gallons of cellulosic ethanol in use by 2013. He plans to use tax incentives, government contracts and cash prizes to help this industry mature and specifically wants to encourage farmer-owned refineries. He would like renewable fuel standards to increase, such that 60 billion gallons of advanced biofuels are in the fuel supply by 2030

    my response...

    cellulosic ethanol is not more of the same, nor is any biofuel effort from WASTE.

    GREEN COMMUNITY OWNED POWER is not more of the same.

    If you value real change on a local level and you are a green progressive run for MAYOR and build local green power with Wind, Solar, or whatever source you wish.

    If you think you can do it much better than OBAMA then run for OFFICE. Tell everyone here about your efforts and my guess is they will be supported.

    If you want to run for national office you will need to be concerned about all AMERICANS everywhere and you will need to WIN. That is no small TASK.
    1Eco_Media
  • Hey, Jan.......I don't know where you are getting your info about power generation, but did they tell you that coal fired electric power generation releases more radiation then nuclear power electric generation?

    You didn't know coal fired power generation released radiation?

    My problem with it is, we are measuring the nuclear radiation and we are not going to measure the coal fired radiation(officially). I like a women with passion, but please use a little less passion when your letting people tell you what to think about power generation.
    cadsuch
  • The plans seem a little underwhelming, not enough investment over too far a stretch of time for only a marginal amount of efficiency.

    Hopefully he'll turn this around when gets into office and realizes how serious this situation is. =\
    Saladin
  • thats alright but the only thing that needs to be done is a radical change on how consumers effect car manufactures alturnative fuels need to be made an car manufactures need to take notice of that id be happyer if the next president made a bill taking some lines of cars off of the road and encouriging companys like ford to make more fuel efficent vehicals before it becomes manditory
    miamiboy
  • You gotta think about how he is going to sell this to the other side of the spectrum and still be electable. Some people are really angry he will be severely cutting future military funding, and some still do not believe in environmental impact.

    "Extreme positions are not succeeded by moderate ones, but by contrary extreme positions. "
    -Friedrich Nietzsche
    drewsuf721
  • Uhhh, it doesn't matter what they believe.

    This is a Republic, fuck the mob. We do what we know to be right, we don't serve the interests of a minority chicken-hawk group that refuses to see reality.

    Candidates aren't about being -electable-, it's that kind of thinking that has screwed up our country.

    A President is a LEADER not a follower.
    Saladin
  • Its for the CHANGE in there pocket books!!!
    bigbearjoe
  • I want something done NOW not in 10-20 years. we have been paying for this crap called research. I want to see something for our money... not to get off the subject but the tax we pay was for the roads and bridges that are falling apart. ware is all that money going??? If we spend that much an hour on fuel we should be driving on gold roads and bridges at least gold flake damn!!!
    bigbearjoe
  • Is the change I'm supposed to believe in? A small reduction over years and years seems like more politicians' hot air.

    And as far as 'more efficient cars' all that means is 'more cars' and that means 'more gas'

    It does not matter what you are burning: if it has carbon in it, we all suffer.
    jahbini
  • Single term limits for all elected officials,anything short of that and no problems will be resolved.
    djem60
  • how i wish this "war" really had been about oil , and had paid for itself all along .
    malathion
  • Excellent. I think I'll vote for Obama. Wait a minute, I was going to any way.
    VoyagerFilms
  • Obama is cleary the better choice between democrats and republicans, but what about against the green and some of the other less 'controlled' parties? What about effecient and reliable public transportation? This guy better not f*** around on us, talkin change to get elected and then pulling the some bs. I'm not sure whats needed to be cut to solve the issues of climate change, but this guy and his advisors should know, and THAT should be the goal for the end of his presidency. If it can't possibly be done that fast then atleast we are giving all we can to challenge the most important issue to date on this planet.
    YaYSocialiSM
  • Obama is clearly the better candidate to pull America out of this mess.
    cerealforeal
  • Well as for gas and fuel problems, we should be using gasahol as a way of reducing our output of greenhouse gases right now, will run in our cars, but since they won't make it available widespread, there is a device called a hydro-gen mag-drive and it really does improve fuel use and help reduce gas consumption here is the link for it. It is a little pricey but well worht it. http://www.fuelfromh2o.com/
    Also as far as the whole 18 years crap and corporate welfare, Hillary wanted to end corporate wellfare.
    As for Coal and Nuclear, I used to live within 10 miles of a power plant and they release small amounts of nuclear waste into a lake (that people would fish in and eat the fish, God knows what made them think it was safe, other than the govt saying it was!) at the time it reached its half-life. As for coal there are ways for it to be clean burning, gasification chambers such as have been developed and used in the destruction of animal carcuses stop a release of methane into the atmosphere. NC State University has made great progress in that area. There are better things than mining for coal though, seeing as it is damaging to the planet and the miners!
    The options for better change are in our universities especially our agricultural programs have put in a lot of effort, but there is too much money to be made and corporate America still owns most of the nation and its leaders!
    dcrc9596
  • To be honest with you we don't ever need to have any foreign dependence with oil. Off the coast of Louisiana alone, there is an oil refinery supplied with enough oil to supply the U.S. And as I've mentioned before on this site, the U'S. Military has taken over the refineries in the Middle East, all the way back in 2004 when Operation Iraqi Freedom was happening, if I'm not mistaken. So if we control the oil, how is it that gas prices are climbing? And by the way that 9/11 thing was just an excuse to control the opium trade, the oil, and the corporations with there contractors such an Haliburton, Blackwater etc....etc


    I'm talking about the Rockerfellas, and the Bush family. I'm talking about the bankers and.....

    www.youtube,com

    type: Ring of fire--parts 1/31
    passjay
  • I fail to understand.

    Solae in Memphis, TN has operated since 2002 on Recycled Landfill Gas in place of Natural Gas.

    They have had 48 hours of downtime since the switchover, 24 of which were due to the Tornadoes this year.

    Why are we not requiring closed landfills to become power stations? Is it not Coal, Natural Gas, Hydro, Nuclean, Wind, and Solar the order we get power? Seems to me that if we replace #2 with a harmful waste gas from our over-consumptive nature, we are doing more for the cause?

    But then again I failed to see why Diesel engines didn't take off here. I love my 50MPG highway, instant torque and ability to pass in traffic, while running on modified waste vegetable oil or chicken/pork fat fuel refined in my great state of North Carolina...

    Perhaps I am cookoo?
    kcfoxie
  • Between Obama and McCain on reducing foreign oil dependence, Obama is the only choice for the cause. McCain plans to use soldiers to beat foreign oil suppliers into submission so that we can control their oil resources. Their plan is to stay the course if McCain wins. So, we can all go on idealizing how we want more and Obama isn't proposing what you want fast enough, but that is just a bunch of whining and complaining unless you are proposing and enabling more immediate solutions that could be in the real world, right now. The solutions that are currently available are there because someone took the initiative to explore the option to begin with.

    drewsuf721 - I agree with both of your points. We can't depend on government to fix our problems. Change starts at home. American people both as a whole and as individuals need to take a serious look at their lifestyles and how readily they accept their consumption and the disposable nature of our cultural identity. We as individuals who are already doing that need to inform those around us who are not through example and dissemination of information. Nobody wants to take the side of people who feel "holier than thou", so the art is in how you spread the word and present the ideas.

    So to close on the Obama policy for reducing dependency on foreign oil, I believe that his proposals are within reason for persons who have in the past rejected energy bills. Until there is some incentive for Corporate America AND citizens to make the leap, people are going to stay comfortable where they are. After all, Corporate America wouldn't be what it is today if we didn't depend so much on buying what they tried to sell us and focused more on self-sustainable production and consumption.
    jansarahann
  • I'm sorry. I have never looked to the President to solve my problems. Buy yourselves some solar panels, get yourself a fuel efficient car, recycle and reuse and do your own part in this manner. The big joke was calling Obama the messiah and it seems like some people were expecting him to wave his staff and all of our energy issues will be erased. It's a step in the right direction. The trains been going full speed in the wrong direction especially these last 7 years. You can't just push the reverse button.
    Neghie
  • It is obvious that BHO's campaign strategy is dependant on the get the "Stupid" people vote.