Photo courtesy www.techmrt.ttu.edu.
Obama’s plans to increase fuel efficiency standards illustrate the kind of collective, far-reaching progress he talked about in his run for the presidency. This is a great start toward creating stronger environmental policy, and we will all be better for it – more money in our pockets, less pollution in the air, more jobs to be had.
The Associated Press’s Jennifer Loven wrote a great analysis of what the move means for the Obama administration. The president had a lot working in his favor this time, so the collaborative effort and the compromises from every party involved are the result of a “near-perfect storm of circumstances.” Still, he made it happen, and the plan has fantastic potential – implementing these standards would save enough oil over 6.5 years to equate taking 177 million cars off U.S. roads.
I for one am willing to pay a little more up front to save more money – and decrease pollution – in the long run. This concept is always a struggle for the general public, so it remains to be seen whether the plan will work on that end. But if we could all think this way, about everything we do, maybe we’d sacrifice a little here to save a little more there, and we’d support the changes that make long-term differences.
May 19, 2009 at 8:44 pm
It is impressive that the new policy on energy by Mr. Obama is equivalent to taking 177 million cars off U.S roads. To a non US resident like me, a little detail about the policy in your blog would have helped – no issues, it is still nice to know what people are thinking about the burning topic of energy saving.
I would however ask you to look up my blog “To kill a fuel guzzler” at http://www.saithinks.wordpress.com.
In this blog, I have discussed Thomas L. Friedmann’s article on the Danish response to save energy and conserve the environment from pollution.
At heart though I know that it may prove to be a very difficult lead to follow (considering the vast geography, socio-economic conditions etc.), I would love to find means to emulate that.