    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book I)]
    [February 10, 2007]
    [Pages 120-122]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    February 10, 2007

        Good morning. Last Saturday, I addressed the annual retreat of
    Democrats from the House of Representatives. I thanked the Members of
    the new majority for their service in Congress, and we discussed our
    responsibility to work together on a wide range of issues, from fighting
    the global war on terror to making health care more affordable to
    balancing the Federal budget.
        One area with great potential for bipartisan cooperation is energy
    policy. The need for action is clear. Our Nation's reliance on oil
    leaves us vulnerable to hostile regimes and terrorists, who could damage
    our economy by disrupting the global oil supply. A spike in oil prices
    anywhere in the

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    world could lead to higher prices at gas pumps here in America. And
    burning oil and gasoline creates air pollution and greenhouse gases.
        Republicans and Democrats both recognize these problems. We agree on
    the solution: We need to diversify our energy supply and make America
    less dependent on foreign oil. The best way to do that is by developing
    new energy technologies here at home. So the Federal Government has
    provided more than $10 billion over 5 years for research into
    alternative sources of energy. Our scientists and engineers have made
    great progress, and our Nation is now on the threshold of dramatic
    breakthroughs in clean energy technology.
        These advances in energy technology will help us meet a great new
    national goal: to reduce America's gasoline usage by 20 percent in the
    next 10 years. I call this goal ``Twenty in Ten,'' and appreciate the
    support that many Democrats and Republicans have shown for it.
        I know there are different views about the best way to meet this
    goal. Some say we should increase the supply of alternative fuels.
    Others say we should decrease demand for gasoline. I believe we need to
    do both. So on the supply side, I proposed a new mandatory fuels
    standard that will require the use of 35 billion gallons of renewable
    and other alternative fuels by 2017. That is nearly a fivefold increase
    over the current target. On the demand side, I proposed to reform fuel
    economy standards to make cars more energy efficient, just as my
    administration did for light trucks.
        This past week, we took a key step toward my ``Twenty in Ten'' goal
    when I sent Congress my budget for the next fiscal year. The budget
    proposes $2.7 billion to expand alternative energy research, a 53-
    percent increase over the 2006 funding level. These funds will support
    further research into cellulosic ethanol, which can be produced from
    sources like wood chips and grasses. These funds will also
    supportpromising technologies beyond ethanol, such as new forms of
    biodiesel, lithium ion batteries, and hydrogen fuel cells.
        I look forward to working with Congress to pass this budget and to
    meet my ``Twenty in Ten'' goal. I'm optimistic because the technology we
    need to achieve this goal is advancing every day. A few weeks ago, I
    traveled to a DuPont research facility in Delaware, where scientists
    told me that they are close to making the use of cellulosic ethanol a
    reality. Imagine what technologies like this would mean for your daily
    life. You could fill up your gas tank with fuel that comes mostly from
    an American prairie or farm instead of an oil well overseas. You could
    drive to work in a car that runs on electricity instead of gasoline, or
    on hydrogen fuel cells that emit no pollution. You would see the rise of
    dynamic new businesses that create jobs for American workers and sell
    alternative energy products around the world.
        This is an ambitious vision, but with the talent and enterprise of
    our people, it can be achieved. Every Member of Congress who cares about
    strengthening our economy, protecting our national security, and
    confronting climate change should support the energy initiatives I have
    set out. By working together to pass energy legislation soon, we can
    help solve one of the great challenges facing our generation, and we can
    leave behind a cleaner and better world for our children and
    grandchildren.
        Thank you for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 7:50 a.m. on February 9 in the Cabinet
    Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on February 10. The
    transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    February 9, but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. The
    Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language
    transcript of this address.

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