    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book I)]
    [April 27, 2005]
    [Pages 672-679]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks to the Small Business Administration's National Small Business
    Week Conference
    April 27, 2005

        Thanks for the warm welcome. I appreciate such a generous welcome.
    Marianne, thank you for your
    introduction, and congratulations on being the Small Business Person of
    the Year. You had some pretty stiff competition. [Laughter] I appreciate
    the courage that Marianne has shown and her determination to succeed.
    She is proof that the entrepreneurial spirit in America is really
    strong.
        I want to thank Hector Barreto,
    the SBA Administrator. I appreciate the fine job he's done. It was my
    honor to meet the--some of the State Small Business Person of the Year
    honorees. Congratulations. I appreciate the Ambassadors who are here.
    Embajadores, thank you for coming. And I appreciate you all giving me a
    chance to come by and visit with you. [Laughter]
        I appreciate the fact that our small-business owners are taking
    risks and pursuing dreams, and as a result, you're creating jobs for
    millions of our citizens. A vibrant small-business sector is important
    for the economic health of our country. I appreciate the fact that the
    small-business entrepreneurs are some of the great innovators in our
    Nation. After all, men and women who run small businesses have a vision
    to see beyond what is and the courage to pursue what might be.
        From Thomas Edison's light bulb to Alexander Graham Bell's telephone
    to Henry Ford's Model T, most Americans--most of America's great
    inventions began with the innovative spirit of entrepreneurs. And today,
    a new generation of entrepreneurs is leading a technological revolution
    that will transform our lives in incredible ways. I'm going to spend a
    little time talking about how technology can help us.
        One of the roles of an administration is to set an agenda, a clear
    agenda. I've laid out an agenda that I believe will unleash the
    innovative spirit of our small-business entrepreneurs. We can't make you

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    successful, but we can create an environment in which people can dream
    big dreams in which people are willing to risk capital. We need to keep
    your taxes low. We need to protect you from needless regulation and the
    burden of junk lawsuits. We'll continue to work to open up new markets
    for your products. The House of Representatives and the United States
    Senate needs to pass CAFTA legislation, free-market agreement with
    Central America.
        We'll continue to work to lower the cost of health care by insisting
    that health care modernize itself through electronic records and helping
    to spread health savings accounts--they're particularly good for small
    businesses--and to work with the United States Congress to finally pass
    medical liability reform. I look forward to working with the Congress to
    create association health plans so small businesses can buy insurance,
    can pool risk across jurisdictional boundaries so they can buy insurance
    at the same discounts that big businesses can.
        As small-business owners, you know that a dollar should be spent
    wisely or not at all. That same standard ought to apply to the Federal
    Government when it comes time to spending your money. I've submitted a
    disciplined budget to the Congress that meets our priorities, that
    restrains Federal spending and keeps us on track to cut the deficit in
    half by 2009. I appreciate the fact that the Senate has passed a version
    of the budget and the House has passed a version of the budget. Now it's
    time for them to come together and pass a budget resolution this week.
        By restraining Federal spending, by keeping taxes low, we'll keep
    this economy growing and keep the innovative spirit strong. But in order
    to make sure our economy grows, in order to make sure people are still
    able to find opportunity, in order to encourage small-business sector
    growth and vitality, we need to address a major problem facing our
    country, and that is our Nation's growing dependence on foreign sources
    of energy.
        Technology is allowing us to better use our existing energy
    resources. And in the years ahead, technology will allow us to create
    entirely new sources of energy in ways earlier generations could never
    dream. Technology is the ticket, is this Nation's ticket to greater
    energy independence, and that's what I want to talk about today. I fully
    understand that many folks around this country are concerned about the
    high price of gasoline. I know small-business owners are.
        I went to Fort Hood the other day--it's right around the corner from
    Crawford--[laughter]--and sat down with some of our troops, and we had
    dinner--lunch, in Texas they call dinner--[laughter]--the noon meal and
    supper the evening meal. [Laughter] I'm trying to standardize the
    language. [Laughter] We sat down for lunch. [Laughter]
        And I was asking the soldiers, you know, what was on your mind--what
    was on their mind. And a fellow said, ``Why don't you lower gas prices--
    gasoline prices, Mr. President?'' Obviously, gasoline prices were on his
    mind. I said, ``I wish I could. If I could, I would.'' I explained to
    him that the higher cost of gasoline is a problem that has been years in
    the making. To help in the near term, we'll continue to encourage oil-
    producing countries to maximize their production, to say to countries
    that have got some excess capacity, ``Get it on the market so you do not
    destroy the consumers that you rely upon to buy your energy.''
        We're doing everything we can to make sure our consumers are treated
    fairly, that there is no price gouging. Yet the most important thing we
    can do today is to address the fundamental problem of our energy
    situation. That's the most important thing we can do. And the
    fundamental problem is this: Our supply of energy is not growing fast
    enough to meet the demands of our growing economy.
        Over the past decade, our energy consumption has increased by more
    than 12

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    percent, while our domestic production has increased by less than one-
    half of 1 percent. A growing economy causes us to consume more energy.
    And yet we're not producing energy here at home, which means we're
    reliant upon foreign nations. And at the same time we've become more
    reliant upon foreign nations, the global demand for energy is growing
    faster than the global supply. Other people are using more energy as
    well, and that's contributed to a rise in prices.
        Because of our foreign energy dependence, our ability to take
    actions at home that will lower prices for American families is
    diminishing. Our dependence on foreign energy is like a foreign tax on
    the American people. It's a tax our citizens pay every day in higher
    gasoline prices and higher costs to heat and cool their homes. It's a
    tax on jobs, and it's a tax that is increasing every year.
        The problem is clear. This problem did not develop overnight, and
    it's not going to be fixed overnight. But it's now time to fix it. See,
    we've got a fundamental question we've got to face here in America: Do
    we want to continue to grow more dependent on other nations to meet our
    energy needs, or do we want to do what is necessary to achieve greater
    control of our economic destiny?
        I made my decision. I know what is important for this country to
    become less dependent on foreign sources of energy, and that requires a
    national strategy. Now, when I first got elected, I came to Washington
    and I said, ``We need a national strategy,'' and I submitted a national
    strategy to the United States Congress. And it has been stuck. And now
    it's time for the Congress to pass the legislation necessary for this
    country to become less dependent on foreign sources of energy.
        And the most important component of our strategy is to recognize the
    transformational power of technology. Over the last quarter century,
    technology has radically changed the way we live and work. Think about
    this: Just 25 years ago--for a guy 58 years old, that doesn't seem all
    that long ago--[laughter]--if you're 24 years old, it's a heck of a long
    time ago. [Laughter] In the 1980s, most Americans used typewriters
    instead of computers. We used pay phones instead of cell phones. We used
    carbon paper instead of laser printers. We had bank tellers instead of
    ATMs. [Laughter] We had Rolodexes instead of PDAs. And for long family
    trips, we played the ``license plate'' game--[laughter]--instead of in-
    car DVDs. [Laughter] We've seen a lot of change in a quick period of
    time, haven't we?
        I believe the next 25 years, the changes are going to be even more
    dramatic. Our country is on the doorstep of incredible technological
    advances that will make energy more abundant and more affordable for our
    citizens. By harnessing the power of technology, we're going to be able
    to grow our economy, protect our environment, and achieve greater energy
    independence. That's why I'm so optimistic about our future here in
    America.
        The first essential step toward greater energy independence is to
    apply technology to increase domestic production from existing energy
    resources. And one of the most promising sources of energy is nuclear
    power. Today's technology has made nuclear power safer, cleaner, and
    more efficient than ever before. Nuclear power is now providing about 20
    percent of America's electricity, with no air pollution or greenhouse
    gas emissions. Nuclear power is one of the safest, cleanest sources of
    power in the world, and we need more of it here in America.
        Unfortunately, America has not ordered a new nuclear powerplant
    since the 1970s. France, by contrast, has built 58 plants in the same
    period. And today, France gets more than 78 percent of its electricity
    from safe, clean nuclear power.
        It's time for America to start building again. That's why, 3 years
    ago, my administration launched the Nuclear Power 2010

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    Initiative. This is a 7-year, $1.1 billion effort by Government and
    industry to start building new nuclear powerplants by the end of this
    decade. One of the greatest obstacles we face to building new plants is
    regulatory uncertainty, which discourages new plant construction. Since
    the 1970s, more than 35 plants were stopped at various stages of
    planning and construction because of bureaucratic obstacles. No wonder--
    no wonder the industry is hesitant to start building again. We must
    provide greater certainty to those who risk capital if we want to expand
    a safe, clean source of energy that will make us less dependent on
    foreign sources of energy.
        To do so, I've asked the Department of Energy to work on changes to
    existing law that will reduce uncertainty in the nuclear plant licensing
    process and also provide Federal risk insurance that will protect those
    building the first four new nuclear plants against delays that are
    beyond their control. A secure energy future for America must include
    more nuclear power.
        A secure energy future for America also means building and expanding
    American oil refineries. Technology has allowed us to better control
    emissions and improve the efficiency and environmental performance of
    our existing refineries. Yet there have been no new oil refineries built
    in the United States since 1976, and existing refineries are running at
    nearly full capacity. Our demand for gasoline grows, which means we're
    relying more on foreign imports of refined product.
        To encourage the expansion of existing facilities, the EPA is
    simplifying rules and regulations. I will direct Federal agencies to
    work with States to encourage the building of new refineries on closed
    military facilities, for example, and to simplify the permitting process
    for such construction. By easing the regulatory burden, we can refine
    more gasoline for our citizens here at home. That will help assure
    supply and reduce dependence on foreign sources of energy.
        Advances in technology will also allow us to open up new areas to
    environmentally responsible exploration for oil and natural gas,
    including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Technology now makes it
    possible to reach ANWR's hydrocarbons by drilling on just 2,000 acres of
    the 19 million acres of land. That's just one-tenth of 1 percent of
    ANWR's total area. Because of the advances in technology, we can reach
    the oil deposits with almost no impact on land or local wildlife.
    Developing this tiny section of ANWR could eventually yield up to a
    million barrels of oil per day. That's a million barrels less that we've
    depended on from foreign sources of energy. Listen, the more oil we can
    produce in environmentally sensitive ways here at home, the less
    dependent our economy is, the less reliant we are on other parts of the
    world.
        Technology is allowing us to make better use of natural gas. Natural
    gas is an important source of energy for industries like agriculture or
    manufacturing or power production. The United States has the sixth-
    largest proven reserves of natural gas in the world, and we'll do more
    to develop this vital resource. That's why I signed into law a tax
    credit to encourage a new pipeline to bring Alaskan natural gas to the
    rest of the United States.
        Technology is also helping us to get at reserves of natural gas that
    cannot be reached--easily reached by pipelines. Today, we're able to
    super-cool natural gas into liquid form so it can be transported on
    tankers and stored more easily. Thanks to this technology, our imports
    of liquefied natural gas nearly doubled in 2003. Last year, imports rose
    another 29 percent. But our ability to expand our use of liquefied
    natural gas is limited, because today, we have just five receiving
    terminals and storage facilities around the United States.
        To take advantage of this new--this technology, Federal agencies
    must expedite the review of the 32 proposed new projects that will
    either expand or build new liquefied natural gas terminals. In other
    words,

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    there's projects on the books, and we're going to get after the review
    process. Congress should make it clear to the Federal Energy Regulatory
    Commission its authority to choose sites for new terminals, so we can
    expand our use of liquefied natural gas.
        Technology also allows us to use our most abundant energy source in
    a smart way. America has enough coal to last for 250 years. But coal
    presents an environmental challenge. To make cleaner use of this
    resource, I have asked Congress for more than $2 billion over 10 years
    for my Coal Research Initiative. It's a program that will encourage new
    technologies that remove virtually all pollutants from coal-fired
    powerplants. My Clear Skies Initiative will result in more than $52
    billion in investment in clean coal technologies by the private sector.
    To achieve greater energy dependence, we must put technology to work so
    we can harness the power of clean coal.
        The second essential step toward greater energy independence is to
    harness technology to create new sources of energy. Hydrogen is one of
    the most promising of these new sources of energy. Two years ago, my
    administration launched a crash program called the Hydrogen Fuel
    Initiative. We've already dedicated $1.2 billion over 5 years to this
    effort to develop hydrogen-powered fuel cells. We know that when
    hydrogen is used in the fuel cell, it has the power to--potential to
    power anything from a cell phone to a computer to an automobile that
    emits pure water instead of exhaust fumes.
        I've asked Congress for an additional 500 million over 5 years to
    help move advanced technology vehicles from the research lab to the
    dealership lot. See, I want the children here in America--you two are
    sitting there--to be able to take your driver's test in a completely
    pollution-free car that will make us less dependent on foreign sources
    of energy. To help produce fuel for these cars, my administration has
    also launched a Nuclear Hydrogen Initiative, an effort to develop
    advanced nuclear technologies that can produce hydrogen fuels for cars
    and trucks. My budgets have dedicated $35 million over the past 3 years
    and will continue this effort.
        In other words, we're developing new technologies that will change
    the way we drive. See, I know what we're going to need to do for a
    generation to come. We need to get on a path away from the fossil fuel
    economy. If we want to be less dependent on foreign sources of energy,
    we must develop new ways to power automobiles. My administration is
    committed to finding those new ways, and we're working with industry to
    do so.
        Ethanol is another promising source of energy. I like the idea of
    people growing corn that gets converted into fuel for cars and trucks.
    Our farmers can help us become less dependent on foreign oil. Technology
    is now under development that may one day allow us to get ethanol from
    agricultural and industrial waste.
        We can produce another renewable fuel, biodiesel, from leftover fats
    and vegetable oils. I mean, we're exploring a lot of alternatives.
    Ethanol and biodiesel have got great potential. And that's why I've
    supported a flexible, cost-effective renewable fuel standard as part of
    the energy bill. This proposal would require fuel producers to include a
    certain percentage of ethanol and biodiesel in their fuel and would
    increase the amount of these renewables in our Nation's fuel supply.
    Listen, more corn means more ethanol, which means less imported oil.
        Technology can also help us tap into a vital source that flows
    around us all the time, and that is wind. That's why I've asked Congress
    to provide 1.9 billion over 10 years for tax incentives for renewable
    energy technologies like wind, as well as residential solar heating
    systems and energy produced from landfill gas and biomass. An energy
    strategy must be comprehensive, all aimed at making us less dependent.

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        A third essential step toward greater energy independence is to
    harness the power of technology so we can continue to become better
    conservers of energy. Already, technology is helping us grow our economy
    while using less energy. For example, in 1997, the U.S. steel industry
    used 45 percent less energy to produce a ton of steel than it did in
    1975. The forest and paper industry used 21 percent less energy to
    produce a ton of paper. In other words, we're making advances in
    conservation. And in the years ahead, if we're smart about what we do,
    we can become even more productive while conserving even more energy.
        Technological advances are helping develop new products that give
    our consumers the same and even better performance at lower cost by
    using less energy. Think about this: You can buy a refrigerator that
    uses the same amount of power as a 75-watt light bulb. It's a remarkable
    advance when it comes to helping consumers save money on energy.
    Advances in energy-efficient windows keep hot and cold air in and
    prevent your dollars from flowing out. High efficiency light bulbs last
    longer than traditional ones, while requiring less electricity.
        These and other technological advances are saving our consumers a
    lot of money, and there's more work to be done. Let me tell you this, in
    2001, the average American family spent about half as much to heat its
    home as it did in 1978. Think about what's possible over the next 25
    years. We can imagine a day when technologies like solar panels, high-
    efficiency appliances, and advanced installation will allow us to build
    zero-energy homes that produce as much energy as they consume. That's
    the promise that technology holds for us all.
        And as we make our homes more energy-efficient, we're doing the same
    with our automobiles. Hybrid vehicles are one of the most promising
    technologies immediately available to consumers. These cars are powered
    by a combination of gasoline and electricity. They provide better fuel
    efficiency, ultra-low emissions, and exceptional performance. And their
    electronic systems are paving the way for tomorrow's hydrogen-powered
    vehicles.
        We're encouraging automakers to produce a new generation of modern,
    clean diesel cars and trucks. My administration has issued new rules
    that will remove more than 90 percent of the sulfur in diesel fuel by
    2010. Clean diesel technology will allow consumers to travel much
    farther on each gallon of fuel, without the smoke and pollution of past
    diesel engines. We've proposed $2.5 billion over 10 years in tax credits
    that will encourage consumers to buy energy-efficient hybrid cars and
    trucks, and we need to extend these incentives to include clean diesel
    vehicles as well.
        As we conserve energy at home and on the road, technology will help
    us deliver it more efficiently. New technologies such as superconducting
    powerlines can help us bring our electrical grid into the 21st century
    and protect American families and businesses from damaging power
    outages. Some of you who live in the Midwest and on the east coast know
    what I'm talking about, damaging power outages. We have modern
    interstate grids for our phonelines and our highways. It's time for
    America to build a modern electricity grid.
        The electricity title is an important part of the energy bill. As a
    matter of fact, a lot of which I've discussed so far is an important
    part of the energy bill that needs to get passed by the United States
    Congress before August of this year. The House acted, and I appreciate
    the leadership in the House. Now it's time for the United States Senate
    to act. And then it's time for them to get together and iron out their
    differences and get me a bill so I can sign.
        The fourth essential step toward greater energy independence is to
    make sure other nations can take advantage in advances--take advantage
    of the advances in technology to reduce their own demand. Listen,

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    we need to remember that the market for energy is a global one, and
    we're not the only large consumer. Much of the current projected rise in
    energy prices is due to rising energy consumption in Asia. As Asian
    economies grow, their demand for energy is growing, and the demand for
    energy is growing faster than the supply of energy is increasing. And as
    small-business people, you understand what happens when demand is larger
    than supply; you hope that's the case for the products you produce.
    [Laughter] Our costs--our prices are going up. It is in our interest to
    help these countries become more energy self-sufficient. That will help
    reduce demand, which will help take pressure off price and, at the same
    time, help protect the environment.
        I'm looking forward to going to a
    G-8 meeting in July in Great Britain. And there I'm going to work with
    developed nations, our friends and allies to help developing nations,
    countries like China and India to develop and deploy clean energy
    technology. Like us, some of these countries have got substantial coal
    reserves. We need to find practical ways to help these countries take
    advantage of clean coal technology.
        As well we will explore ways we can work with like-minded countries
    to develop advance nuclear technologies that are safe, clean, and
    protect against proliferation. With these technologies, with the
    expansion of nuclear power, we can relieve stress on the environment and
    reduce global demand for fossil fuels. That would be good for the world,
    and that would be good for American consumers as well.
        This strategy will work for our children and our grandchildren. We
    should have put this in place several decades ago. We haven't had a
    national energy strategy in this country for a long period of time. I
    tried to get the Congress to pass it 4 years ago. Now is the time for
    them to act. For the sake of this country, for the sake of a growing
    economy, and for the sake of national security, we've got to do what it
    takes to expand our independence. We must become less dependent. And
    there's no doubt in my mind that technology is going to help us achieve
    that objective.
        One reason why I believe so strongly is because free societies are
    able to adjust to the times, and we're the freest of free societies.
    We're a society where it doesn't matter where you were raised or where
    you're from. If you've got a dream, you can pursue it and realize your
    dream.
        Our country has always responded to challenges because we've got
    people with such great imaginations and such drive and such
    determination. Twenty-five years from now, people are going to look back
    and say, ``I like my hydrogen-powered automobile''--[laughter]--you
    know, ``I produced a little extra energy this year from my home.'' Our
    farmers are going to be saying, ``You know, the crop's up, and we're
    less dependent.''
        Now is the time to put that strategy in place. Now is the time to do
    the right thing for America. Now is the time to set aside political
    differences and focus on what is good for the United States of America.
    And with your help, we'll achieve that.
        God bless you all. Thanks for coming.

    Note: The President spoke at 2:16 p.m. at the Hilton Washington Hotel.
    In his remarks, he referred to Marianne Sensale-Guerin, president and
    owner, Guerin Associates, LLC, and 2005 SBA National Small Business
    Person of the Year.

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