"President Bush is trying to distract attention away from his overall energy plan, which drills, digs, destroys, and pollutes but doesn't solve our energy needs,"
Bush energy plan sent to Congress
Friday, June 29, 2001
By Environmental News Network
President George W. Bush sent his energy strategy to Congress on Thursday, based on the National Energy Policy he issued in May. The plan is based on more oil and gas drilling, clean coal technologies, and nuclear power as well as energy conservation and development of new technologies such as fuel cells.
"On the one hand it says we must be wiser about how we develop and increase supply," the president said, "and on the other hand, it says we must be wiser about how we conserve energy."
President Bush called his strategy "comprehensive" and said it goes beyond the criticism his administration has been taking over its proposal to drill for oil and gas in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge on Alaska's north coast.
The president said his strategy "goes beyond the stale debates of whether or not we ought to drill for natural gas in Alaska, or not."
"While I strongly believe we ought to explore for natural gas and hydrocarbons without destroying our environment, and I believe we can do so in Alaska, it's important for the American people to understand that we're talking way beyond just one single issue that seems to dominate the landscape here in Washington, D.C.," Bush said.
The president expressed support for energy conservation through the marketing of Energy Star
Original: Bush energy plan sent to Congress