    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book I)]
    [February 20, 2006]
    [Pages 290-299]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Energy in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
    February 20, 2006

        John, thanks. Thanks for letting me come
    by to say hello. [Laughter] I've got something on my mind I want to
    share with you. First, happy President's Day. It turns out, most folks
    in Washington don't work on President's Day. [Laughter] The only one
    working is the President. [Laughter]
        I want to talk to you about the fact that I think we're in an
    important moment in history and that we have a chance to transform the
    way we power our economy and how we lead our lives. That's what I'm here
    to talk about. It's a good place to come to talk about it because the
    truth of the matter is, in order to seize the moment, this country has
    got to remain technologically advanced.
        Johnson Controls has been on the cutting edge of energy technology
    and other technologies for more than a century. And the innovators that
    work here and the smart folks who work here are on the leading edge of
    change, and that's why I've come. And there's a role for government to
    help, and I want to explain that role.
        Before I do, again, I want to thank you, John. I want to thank all the folks who work for Johnson
    Controls. It's not easy to host the President. [Laughter]
        I had the honor of touring the laboratory on the other side of town
    there, and it was really neat to see the engineers and the scientists
    and the Ph.D.s all working hard to apply their God-given talents to help
    this country remain on the leading edge of technology. It reminded me of
    one of the challenges we have in America, and that's to make sure a new
    generation of our citizens are interested in science and engineering and
    physics. And part of making sure this country is the leader in the
    world, we've got to make sure our children are properly educated so
    they'll be ready for the jobs of the 21st century.
        I want to thank Congresswoman Gwen Moore for joining us. I appreciate you coming; nice to see you.
    They tell me this is your congressional district, so it's awfully kind
    of you to let two other Congresspersons join us--that would be
    Congressman Mark Green and Congressman Paul
    Ryan. Thank you both for coming. We have eaten a
    lot of custard in the past. [Laughter] I'm still recovering, I want you
    to know. [Laughter]
        I want to thank the speaker of the house who
    has joined us. The mayor of the great city of
    Milwaukee has joined us, and the county executive has joined us. Thank you all for coming; proud you're
    here.
        By the way, it's always important, if any of you ever run for
    office, to always remember to recognize the sheriff. [Laughter] Sheriff
    Clarke, thank you for being here. Good
    to see you again. Thank you.
        Our economy is strong. It's gaining steam too. We're now in our
    fifth year of uninterrupted economic growth. Last year, our economy grew
    at a healthy rate of 3.5 percent, in spite of high energy prices and

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    devastating storms. Real after-tax income is up nearly 8 percent per
    American since 2001. And that's one of the explanations, one of the
    reasons why retail sales last month made their biggest gain in more than
    4 years. Homeownership is at record levels. That's a good sign. We want
    people owning things in America. More minorities own a home than ever
    before in our Nation's history. America's unemployment rate is down to
    4.7 percent. That's the lowest level since 2001. We've added 4.7 million
    new jobs over the last 2\1/2\ years. We're doing fine.
        The fundamental question is, how do we keep doing fine? The
    challenge that faces us is, is how we make sure that the economic growth
    today carries over for tomorrow. And that's what I want to talk about.
    In order to understand what to do, you've got to understand what got us
    to where we are today. Part of it is keeping taxes low, by the way, and
    that's exactly what I intend to do so long as I'm the President, is keep
    taxes low. Part of it is being wise about how we spend our money. Part
    of it is understanding how technology plays in the future of the
    country.
        Think back 25 years ago, in the start of the 1980s. It's not all
    that long ago, really. Some of us remember the eighties pretty clearly--
    [laughter]--a lot of kind of gray-haired folks here that lived through
    the eighties. [Laughter] Then most Americans used typewriters instead of
    the computers. They used pay phones--you remember what those were--
    instead of cell phones. They used carbon paper instead of laser
    printers, bank tellers instead of ATMs, and they played the license
    plate game on trips, as opposed to DVDs. [Laughter] Times have changed a
    lot in 25 years because of technology.
        We're seeing new develops all the time--new developments. Advanced
    battery technology allows cell phones to last about 50 percent longer
    than they did just 5 years ago. In your laboratory, we're seeing--
    firsthand seeing the progress being made because of your scientists and
    engineers in lighter, more potent battery technology. Lightweight parts
    and better engines allow cars to travel 60 percent farther on a gallon
    of gas than they did three decades ago.
        Technologies are helping this economy become more efficient. Listen
    to this: Over the last 30 years, our economy has grown three times
    faster than our energy consumption. The economy has grown three times
    faster than energy consumption. During that period of time, we created
    56 million jobs while cutting air pollution by 50 percent. Technology is
    really important for the future of this country. And so in the State of
    the Union, I said that by using technology, we can help make sure this
    country remains a world leader. And that starts with making sure we
    change our energy habits.
        I know it came as a shock to some to hear a Texan stand up there in
    front of the country and say, ``We've got a real problem; America is
    addicted to oil.'' But I meant it, because it's a true fact, and we've
    got to do something about it now. Oil is the primary source of gasoline;
    it is the primary source of diesel; it is the primary source of jet
    fuel. And that means that oil accounts for virtually all energy
    consumption in the vital transportation sector of our economy.
        The oil we consume in this important sector comes from foreign
    countries; most of it does. In 1985, three-quarters of the crude oil
    used in U.S. refineries came from America; today, that equation has
    changed dramatically. Less than half the crude oil used in our
    refineries is produced here at home. Sixty percent comes from foreign
    countries. Things have changed since 1985.
        Some of the nations we rely on for oil have unstable governments or
    fundamental differences with the United States. These countries know we
    need their oil, and that reduces influence. It creates a national
    security issue when we're held hostage for energy by foreign nations
    that may not like us.

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        Energy is also part of our economic security as well. That's
    obvious. I mean, the global demand for oil has been rising faster than
    supply because there's new economies that are beginning to gin up, new
    economies growing, like China and India. Oil prices rise sharply when
    demand is greater than supply. And when they do, it strains your
    budgets. It hurts our families; it hurts our small entrepreneurs. It's
    like a hidden tax. And so we're vulnerable to high prices of oil, and
    we're vulnerable to sudden disruptions of oil. What I'm telling you is
    oil--the dependence upon oil is a national security problem and an
    economic security problem. And here's what we intend to do about it.
        First, Congress passed a good energy bill last summer; I was pleased
    to sign it. It took a little bit of work. It's kind of hard to get
    things done in Washington; there's a lot of sharp partisan elbows up
    there these days. But we got something done, and it's a good bill. It
    encourages conservation and new technologies and alternative sources of
    energy. But there's a lot more that needs to be done.
        The first thing that needs to be done is to make sure that there's
    an incentive for private business to invest in research and development.
    If technology is going to help us change our energy habits and change
    the way we live, it makes sense for the Government to incent people to
    invest in research and development. Right now we've got what we call a
    research and development tax credit, which is a major incentive for
    private companies such as yourselves to invest in research and
    development, which will yield new technologies. The problem is, is that
    the R&D tax credit expires. As a matter of fact, they've only renewed it
    on an annual basis.
        Now, I don't know how in the heck Congress thinks that people can
    plan properly if they're uncertain as to whether or not the tax credit
    is going to exist. So therefore, if we want to be on the leading edge of
    research and development, then Congress needs to make the R&D tax credit
    a permanent part of the Tax Code.
        Secondly, Government can help. Government provides about a third of
    the dollars for research and development. Two-thirds come from the
    private sector; one-third comes from the Government. And so I propose to
    double the Federal commitment to the most critical basic research
    programs in the physical sciences over the next decade.
        Let me explain our strategy when it comes to energy. So in other
    words, part of our strategy is to make sure people continue to invest.
    The research you're doing at Johnson Labs will change people's lives
    appreciably. But we've got to continue to make sure we conduct research
    and development if we want to be a leader in the world. If we don't want
    to be a leader in the world, fine; we'll just quit. That's not how I
    view America. I want America to lead the world, because by leading the
    world when it comes to the economy, we're helping our people. We're
    making our people more productive, and productivity increases enhance
    standard of living, and increased standards of living means the American
    people are doing better.
        Now, I laid out what's called an Advanced Energy Initiative. And a
    cornerstone of the initiative is a 22-percent increase in funding for
    clean energy research at the Department of Energy. And it's got two
    major goals, or two objectives: first, to transform the way we power our
    cars and trucks; and secondly, to transform the way we power our homes
    and offices.
        So let me talk to you about the first one. Our Nation is on the
    thresholds of some new energy technologies that I think will startle the
    American people. It's not going to startle you here at Johnson Controls
    because you know what I'm talking about. [Laughter] You take it for
    granted. But the American people will be amazed at how far our
    technology has advanced in order to meet an important goal, which is to
    reduce our imports from the Middle

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    East by 75 percent by 2025 and eventually getting rid of our dependence
    totally.
        The first objective is to change the way we power our cars and
    trucks. Today's cars and trucks are fueled almost exclusively by
    gasoline and diesel fuel, which, of course, comes from oil. To transform
    the way we power the vehicles, we have got to diversify away from oil. I
    just gave you a reason from a national security perspective as well as
    economic security perspective why reliance upon oil is not good for the
    United States.
        And so here are three ways that we can do that, change our reliance
    from oil. First, invest in new kinds of vehicles that require much less
    gasoline. It's a practical thing to do. Secondly, find new fuels that
    will replace gasoline and, therefore, dependence on oil. And finally,
    develop new ways to run a car without gasoline at all.
        The most promising ways to reduce gasoline consumption quickly is
    through hybrid vehicles. Hybrid vehicles have both a gasoline-powered
    engine and an electric battery based on technologies that were developed
    by the Department of Energy. In other words, this technology came to be
    because the Federal Government made a research commitment. That's why I
    think it's double--important to double research as we go down the next
    decade. The gasoline engine charges the battery, which helps drive the
    vehicle. And the twin sources of power allow hybrid cars and trucks to
    travel about twice as far on a gallon of fuel as gasoline-only vehicles.
    That is a good start, when something can go twice as far on a gallon of
    gasoline than the conventional vehicle can.
        Hybrid vehicles are a good deal for consumers, and the American
    people are figuring it out. More than 200,000 hybrids were sold in the
    United States last year--the highest sales on record. There's growing
    demand for hybrid automobiles. And working with the Congress, we came up
    with an additional incentive, and that is, we provide a tax credit up to
    $3,400 per hybrid vehicle purchaser. In other words, we want to
    stimulate demand. In the marketplace, when there is demand, suppliers
    will meet that demand, and that's positive, because if you can go twice
    as far on a gallon of gasoline than otherwise, it means we're becoming
    less dependent on oil. Hybrid vehicles on the road today are delivering
    impressive gasoline savings.
        But there is more to be done, and that's why I'm here at Johnson
    Controls, because engineers here are working on ways to replace the
    current hybrid battery technology with advanced lithium ion batteries
    that are now used in cell phones and laptops. These batteries are
    lighter; they are more powerful; and they can be recharged quickly.
    Using new lithium ion batteries, engineers will be able to design the
    next generation of hybrid vehicles, called plug-in hybrids, that can be
    recharged through a standard electrical outlet. Start picturing what I'm
    talking about: You've got your car; you pull in; you plug it right in
    the wall. [Laughter]
        Development will make a big difference in the performance of hybrid
    cars and trucks. Instead of depending on the gasoline engine to recharge
    the electric battery, the plug-in hybrids will have fully charged
    batteries as soon as you get in the automobile. And that means plug-in
    hybrids will be able to travel much greater distances on electricity
    alone, thereby saving more gas for our consumers, thereby making us less
    dependent on oil.
        The plug-in hybrid, they estimate, can initially go 40 miles on
    electricity alone. So you've got a lot of folks living in cities like
    Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who generally don't drive more than 40 miles a
    day. Therefore, within 40 miles, you'll be on electricity and using no
    gasoline. Eventually, plug-in hybrids with lithium ion batteries will be
    able to get 100 miles per gallon. And now all of a sudden, you're
    beginning to see the effects of this important technology on our
    national security and on our economic security, but more important, for
    the pocketbook of our consumers.

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        Plug-in hybrids are a really important part of the strategy I've
    announced, and we're going to provide $31 million to speed up research
    on these advanced technologiesSU/; this is a 27-percent increase over
    current funding levels. In other words, we like to--the experts tell me
    this is a very good chance to have major breakthroughs, and we want to
    accelerate those breakthroughs. And, again, I want to thank you all for
    being on the leading edge of change.
        We're also supporting the development of advanced fuels that can
    replace regular gasoline. Here again I'm talking to folks who know what
    I'm talking about; I'm talking about ethanol. You've got a lot of it
    here in Wisconsin because you've got corn. Ethanol is produced--
    primarily produced from corn; it's blended with gasoline to produce
    clean and efficient fuel. And blends with that ethanol concentration of
    less than 10 percent, ethanol can be used in any vehicle. With minor
    modifications--I emphasize ``minor modifications''--cars and trucks can
    become what we call flex-fuel vehicles that run on a fuel blend called
    E-85, which is a mix of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.
    That's a positive development.
        Ethanol, by the way, can be used in hybrid vehicles. So the more
    ethanol we use, the less crude oil we consume. And using ethanol has the
    added benefit of supporting our farmers. I like to kind of tease in a
    way, but beneath the tease is serious--it will be good one day when the
    President is given the crop report. [Laughter] It says, ``Mr. President,
    corn is up--[laughter]--and we're less dependent on foreign sources of
    energy.''
        America produced a record 3.9 billion gallons of ethanol in 2005--
    was the record levels. That's twice the level produced when I got sworn
    in first time. There are five ethanol plants that are up and running
    here in Wisconsin, and more are coming. We offer a tax credit to ethanol
    blenders of 51 cents per gallon. We're committed to ethanol. It makes
    sense. Ethanol benefits a lot of folks, but most importantly, it
    benefits those who are driving cars.
        Now, we're on the edge of advancing additional ethanol production.
    New technology is going to make it possible to produce ethanol from wood
    chips and stalks and switchgrass and other natural materials.
    Researchers at the Energy Department tell me we're 5 or 6 years away
    from breakthroughs in being able to produce fuels from those waste
    products. In other words, we're beginning to--we're coming up with a way
    to make something out of nothing. And this is important because it's--
    economics are such that it's important to have your ethanol-producing
    factories or plants close to where the product is grown.
        That's why E-85 has spread throughout the Midwest; that's where
    you're growing the corn. Pretty soon, you know, if you're able to grow
    switchgrass and convert that into ethanol, then you're going to have
    availability for ethanol in other parts of the country. I mean, there's
    a lot of stuff that gets thrown away that may be converted into fuel,
    but it's not just located in one part of the country; it's located
    around the country. And one of the goals is to make sure that ethanol is
    widespread. If we want to affect our consumption of oil, we want ethanol
    to be readily available for consumers outside certain parts of the--
    certain regions of the country.
        And so we proposed spending $150 million for Government and private
    research into these homegrown fuels. It's an important initiative. We
    want to provide our consumers with reasonable, cost-effective ways to
    help us become less dependent on foreign sources of oil.
        And we've got another initiative that I find interesting, and it's
    important. And that is, we're spending money--your hard-earned money--on
    research to develop a vehicle that will not use gasoline, and it won't
    produce any pollution whatsoever, and that's through hydrogen. When
    hydrogen is used in a device called a fuel cell,

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    it can deliver enough electricity to power a car that emits pure water
    instead of exhaust fumes. It's an exciting new technology. We're a ways
    down the road from bringing it to fruition, but we are spending $1.2
    billion over 5 years to research this important opportunity.
        We're seeing some progress, by the way, when it comes to hydrogen
    fuel cells. They tell me that the cost of manufacturing hydrogen fuel
    cells has been cut in half, which is good. Research is taking place.
    There could be a new technology available so that when your children
    take their first driver's test--or when some of your children take their
    first driver's test, they will do so in a hydrogen-powered automobile.
        And so those are three steps--three important steps--three steps in
    which we can help change our driving habits. And by changing our driving
    habits, we've changed our dependency on foreign sources of oil.
        Now, the second objective of the Advanced Energy Initiative is to
    transform the way we power our homes and offices. And so we've got to
    diversify our electricity supply, is what I'm about to--I'll give you
    the bottom line first: We must diversify. Right now American electricity
    is generated by four principle sources: Coal accounts for about 50
    percent; nuclear power, about 20 percent; natural gas, about 18 percent;
    and renewable sources like hydroelectric, solar, and wind power account
    for the rest.
        The most versatile of these fuels is natural gas, and there we have
    a problem. We have a problem because natural gas is used for more than
    just heating your homes. Natural gas is important for--to help create
    fertilizer for farmers. Natural gas powers heavy duty machinery used for
    manufacturing and chemical production. In other words, there's a lot of
    uses for natural gas. And yet natural gas has become really popular for
    electricity generation in recent years, and the price has tripled
    recently. And these price increases obviously affect our farmers; they
    affect our ranchers; they affect our consumers.
        And they affect our businesses. Businesses that rely upon natural
    gas feedstocks have found that in order to stay in business, they've got
    to move their plants closer to where vast quantities of natural gas are
    being discovered, and that's not here in the United States; that's
    elsewhere.
        And so we've got to figure out how to confront this issue. And
    here's two ways to do it. First, we've got to make sure that we've got
    enough natural gas to meet our home heating and industrial needs. And
    one of the best ways to secure supply is to expand our ability to
    receive liquefied natural gas. It's a supercool form of natural gas that
    can be transported from overseas on tankers. Natural gas inside of
    America is generally transported by pipeline. Huge supplies of gas exist
    outside the reach of pipelines. And technology is being developed that
    can cool the gas. They can bring the gas over in tankers in liquefied
    form, deliquefy it, and put it into our pipeline system.
        The problem is, is that we didn't have enough sites to set up
    terminals to receive the LNG. And until there's a place for the LNG to
    unload, the liquefied natural gas, what I'm talking about isn't going to
    come to fruition. And so one of the things in the energy bill that was
    important is it clarified Federal authority to site new receiving
    terminals for LNG. And that's good. In other words, if we need more
    natural gas to make sure that we take the pressure off the heating bills
    as well as meet our industrial needs, we've got to have places for the
    liquefied natural gas to come into the country.
        And the bill also did another important thing, and that is to
    streamline permitting processes for onshore natural--off--onshore,
    offshore natural gas exploration. In other words, we've got to make it
    easier--and at the same time, protect our environment--to make sure that
    we can find natural gas that fits into the pipeline to help take the
    pressure off of price.

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        Secondly, we need to reduce our reliance on natural gas for
    electricity generation. In other words, we've got to substitute other
    forms of power for natural gas if we expect to be able to maintain a
    manufacturing base that relies upon natural gas. And the best way to do
    that is to expand our use of coal, nuclear power, and renewable sources
    of energy like wind and solar.
        Let me start with coal. Coal is by far our country's most abundant
    and affordable energy resource. It's estimated we've got more than 250
    years of reserves. That's a lot; that's a lot. And I'm sure you
    recognize this--or realize this, but in Wisconsin, when you flip on the
    light switch, there's a 75-percent chance that electricity is generated
    by coal-powered plants. In other words, you use it here in Wisconsin.
        Coal has the potential to reduce our reliance on natural gas. The
    problem is, we've got to make sure that we can keep our commitment to
    the environment. Coal requires investment to make sure that we don't
    pollute our air. And that's the conundrum; that's the difficulty with
    coal. This country is--I told you we've reduced our air pollution by 50
    percent, in spite of the fact that our economy has grown substantially.
    We want to continue that commitment.
        I told folks when I was running for President the first time around
    that we would invest $2 billion over 10 years to promote clean coal
    technology. In other words, I believed, as did many others, that
    technology will help us deal with this dilemma. And we're on our way, by
    the way, to complete the promise several years ahead of schedule. In
    other words, we are committing research dollars to see if we can't use
    this abundant resource and, at the same time, protect our environment.
        The coal research has helped pioneer more effective pollution
    controls. We're helping coal plant efficiency. We've also implemented
    new clean air regulations that use a cap and trade system, which gives
    utility companies incentives to continue investing in clean coal
    technology. Congress needs to pass my Clear Skies legislation.
        But we're getting closer to an interesting, important goal--that by
    continuing to invest at the Federal level as well as encourage private
    investment, we will build the world's first powerplant to run on coal
    that produces zero emissions, by 2015. That will be a positive
    development for future generations of Americans.
        I'd like to talk about nuclear power. Today, there are more than 100
    nuclear plants in America that operate in 31 States, including right
    here in Wisconsin. The plants are producing electricity safely, and they
    don't emit any air pollution or greenhouse gases. America hasn't ordered
    a nuclear plant since the 1970s, and that's the result of litigation--or
    because of litigation and complex regulations.
        It's interesting when you think about a country like France,
    however. They have built 58 plants since the 1970s; they get 78 percent
    of their electricity from nuclear power. It's an interesting contrast,
    isn't it? We haven't done anything since the seventies. This country has
    decided to recognize the importance of having renewable sources of
    energy that protect the environment, and 78 percent of their electricity
    comes from this form of energy. China has 8 nuclear plants in the works,
    by the way, and plans to build at least 40 more over the next two
    decades.
        I'm going to India later on--at the beginning of next month, March
    1st. I'm going to talk about a civilian nuclear power program for India.
    I'll tell you why I am in a minute, but first, let's talk about here at
    home.
        I think we ought to start building nuclear powerplants again. I
    think it makes sense to do so. Technology is such that we can do so and
    say to the American people, ``These are safe, and they're important.''
    To encourage construction of nuclear powerplants, there's new Federal
    risk insurance for the first six new plants that will be

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    built in the country. That's part of the energy bill I signed. This
    insurance helps protect the builders of these plants against lawsuits or
    bureaucratic obstacles and other delays beyond their control. In other
    words, there's an incentive to say, ``Let's get six of them started.''
        The administration has also launched what's called Nuclear Power
    2010 Initiative. It's a $1.1 billion partnership between the Government
    and industry to facilitate new plant orders. Chairman Nils Diaz of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is taking steps
    to streamline the licensing process for new plant construction. In other
    words, we're analyzing barriers and hurdles and trying to eliminate them
    so we can start this process.
        If we're trying to become less dependent on foreign sources of oil
    or energy like natural gas--we want to free up our natural gas to keep
    our manufacturing base intact--we need to move forward when it comes to
    alternative sources like nuclear power. And there's some encouraging
    results, and the mindset is beginning to change. After all, the mindset
    needed to change. We haven't built a plant since the 1970s. That's a
    fairly long period of time.
        This time last year, only two companies were seeking to build
    nuclear powerplants; now nine companies have expressed a new interest in
    new--interest in new construction. They're considering as many as 19 new
    plants. This progress is going to help an important goal. We'll start
    building nuclear powerplants again by the end of this decade. As part of
    our strategy, as part of our way to make sure that the future is bright
    and that America remains a leader in the world, is to understand the
    promise of nuclear power.
        We're also going to work with other nations to help them build
    nuclear power industries. And the reason why is, this is a global world
    in which we live, and demand for oil in China and India affects price
    here in America. And so, therefore, if we can help relieve the pressure
    off of demand for fossil fuels, it helps the entire world.
        And so we've got some challenges, however, in dealing with this
    issue. And that's why I put together what's called a global nuclear
    energy partnership. It's a partnership that works with countries that
    have got advanced nuclear energy programs or civilian nuclear energy
    programs like France and Great Britain and Japan and Russia. And here
    are the objectives of the partnership.
        First, supplier nations will provide fuel for nonsupplier nations so
    they can start up a civilian nuclear energy program. In other words, a
    lot of countries don't know how to enrich; a handful do. And it makes
    sense that we share that--share the benefits of our knowledge with
    others--but not share the knowledge, because there's concern about
    proliferation.
        One of the concerns you hear from the critics of expanding nuclear
    power is, all this will do to create proliferation concerns. Well,
    here's one way to address those concerns--to say, ``We'll provide the
    fuel for you, and we'll collect the fuel from you, by the way, and after
    we collect the fuel from you, we need to reprocess the spent nuclear
    material.'' By reprocessing, you can continue to use the fuel base, but
    equally importantly, we'll reduce the amount of nuclear waste that needs
    to be stored.
        So here is an initiative that affects us here at home and an
    initiative that will help others develop nuclear power so they can
    generate their economic growth. We want people growing in the world. We
    want people--economies to be in good shape. And we also expect others to
    help us protect the environment as well.
        Another electricity source with enormous potential is solar power.
    Today, Americans use small amounts of solar power, mainly to heat water
    or to power small consumer products like outdoor lights. After spending
    some time with you all here, I'm going over to Michigan to go to a
    company that manufactures thin film, photovoltaic cells.

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    That's kind of a fancy word for cells that can generate electricity
    directly from sunlight.
        The technology--solar technology has the potential to change the way
    we live and work, if you really think about it. For example, roof makers
    will one day be able to create a solar roof that protects you from the
    elements and, at the same time, powers your house. And that's what these
    folks are working on.
        The vision is this: That you will have--that the technology will
    become so efficient that you'll become a little power generator in your
    home and that if you don't use the energy you generate, you'll be able
    to feed it back into the electricity grid. The whole purpose of spending
    money on solar power--and we intend to spend $150 million next year in
    funding for both Government and private research--is to bring to market
    as quickly as possible this important and impressive technology. It's
    really going to help change the way we live--we think--and we want solar
    power to become competitive by 2015.
        Another promising renewable is wind. You're getting--as Laura says, ``When you speak too long, you're a little
    windy.'' [Laughter] I'm not saying I'm wind power--[laughter]--but I am
    telling you I recognize the importance of wind power. More than $3
    billion worth of equipment to generate electricity from wind was
    installed in America last year. In other words, it's a new industry;
    it's beginning to grow; $3 billion is a good investment, good amount of
    investment. Obviously, people think there's potential when it comes to
    wind energy.
        About 6 percent of the continental U.S. has been identified as
    highly suitable for construction of wind turbines. Some have estimated
    that this area alone has the potential to supply up to 20 percent of our
    Nation's electricity. In other words, they've identified 6 percent of
    the country's landmass as a good place for wind turbines that, if
    installed with the right technology, could have a major effect on the
    electricity that we all use. So we're proposing additional money for
    research and development.
        I think you're beginning to get the drift of what I'm talking about.
    We're on the edge of some amazing breakthroughs--breakthroughs all aimed
    at enhancing our national security and our economic security and the
    quality of life for the folks who live here in the United States. And
    so, therefore, now is the time for Congress to join me in spending this
    money. I think it's a good use of your money, to help us achieve major
    breakthroughs in how we live and how we can reduce our dependency on
    oil. This is an issue that Republicans and Democrats can and must come
    together on. It's an issue that--[applause].
        Think about how your children or your grandchildren may be able to
    spend a President's Day in the future. If you're planning a trip to
    visit relatives, you can plug in your hybrid car the night before and
    drive the first 40 miles on your lithium ion battery. If you've got more
    distance to go, you can fill up at your local ethanol station. If you're
    in Wisconsin, you'll be filling it up with corn product. In Crawford, it
    may just be switchgrass. [Laughter] You may decide to travel in a
    hydrogen-powered minivan and refuel at a station with hydrogen generated
    by a local nuclear powerplant. When you finally make it to where you're
    going, you can sit at a house that is lit by clean coal or wind energy
    or solar-powered roof over your head.
        We're close. We're close to having this vision realized in America.
    And by the way, this can all be done--the whole trip can be done without
    consuming a single drop of oil. It's within our reach. There was a lot
    of time when most Americans would never have imagined that we'd be
    traveling long distance in our automobile instead of a buggy or sending
    e-mails instead of letters. In the life of this Nation, we have seen
    incredible and rapid advances in technology--in the history of this
    country.

    [[Page 299]]

        I believe the greatest advances are yet to come, and I want to thank
    the good folks here at Johnson for helping them come. Thanks for your
    time. God bless.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:43 a.m. at Johnson Controls Building
    Efficiency Business. In his remarks, he referred to John M. Barth, chief
    executive officer, president, and director, Johnson Controls, Inc.; John
    G. Gard, speaker, Wisconsin State Assembly; Mayor Thomas M. Barrett of
    Milwaukee, WI; and Scott Walker, county executive, and Sheriff David A.
    Clarke, Jr., of Milwaukee County, WI.