Obama Stresses Energy Independence in Presidential Address

Last night’s speech by President Barack Obama gave me the chills.  As a nation, we have reached the turning point toward energy independence from fossil fuels.  The president reiterated this by calling the oil disaster “the most painful and powerful reminder yet that the time to embrace a clean energy future is now.”  The public is not happy with the oil spill in the Gulf and especially angered at the oil industry.  Only change can move us forward.

In addition, the oil industry is being riddled with bad press from the catastrophe and will face new regulations.  BP is hemorrhaging money trying to do damage control for both the spill and its image. President Obama is encouraging the company set funds aside for those harmed by the “company’s recklessness.” The National Guard has been authorized to deploy in four states to clean up the mess and protect the coastlines and wildlife.  There is a moratorium on offshore drilling for at least six months while a commission studies what measures need to be put into place to be able to drill safely.  Finally, a new czar will be in place to watch over the oil companies, not partner with them.  The oil industry, previously a thriving industry in a not so good economy, is buckling.

It’s not a surprise to anyone that fossil fuels are a limited resource.  “We consume more than 20 percent of the world’s oil, but have less than 2 percent of the world’s reserves.”  This is the reason why oil companies have resorted to drilling offshore because they have run out of places to tap on land and it is a good indicator that something new has to be done.  We need to find other answers to the energy question.  Obama said this  last night when he said he will consider any solution from either political party to this problem except utilizing more fossil fuels.

The road to energy independence will have many paths.  Investments in solar and wind are a natural choice, but they should also be coupled with new efficiency standards.  Others have suggested greater investment in research and development within the industry. Obama decisively stated last night, “All of these approaches have merit and deserve a fair hearing in the months ahead.  But the one approach I will not accept is inaction.”

My thoughts and prayers go out to those in the Gulf who are affected by this crisis.  Seven lives were lost on BP’s Deepwater Horizon drilling rig and seventeen other workers were injured.  Shrimpers and fisherman have been devastated by the ban on fishing and tourism has plummeted.  This is the worst environmental disaster this country has ever endured. But behind all of this tragedy, there may be a glimmer of hope.  The hope that our nation will pull together to solve the energy problem and make sure something like this never happens to our people and shores again.