President Speaks About Oil Disaster, Transition to Clean Energy

On June 15, President Obama addressed the nation from the Oval Office to share how the administration is dealing with the oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. Calling it "the worst environmental disaster America has ever faced," he promised to do "whatever’s necessary to help the Gulf Coast and its people recover from this tragedy." This included stronger regulations, safety standards and enforcement, along with a six-month moratorium on deepwater drilling, the president said. But beyond stronger regulations, Obama noted that the country needs to shift away from fossil fuels , as their sources become more expensive and less accessible. "[T]here are some who believe that we can’t afford those costs right now," he said. "I say we can’t afford not to change how we produce and use energy – because the long-term costs to our economy, our national security, and our environment are far greater."
To spur a transition to clean energy, the House of Representatives passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454) last summer, which Obama called "a strong and comprehensive energy and climate bill – a bill that finally makes clean energy the profitable kind of energy for America’s businesses." The Senate is now considering several pieces of energy and climate legislation. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) will work to develop a comprehensive legislative package to bring to the Senate floor in the coming weeks. "All of these approaches have merit, and deserve a fair hearing in the months ahead," Obama said. "But the one approach I will not accept is inaction."