[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 7 (Monday, February 19, 2007)]
[Pages 143-144]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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 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 support 
promising 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,

[[Page 144]]

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.