President's Call for Energy Security Can Have a Different Outcome This Time

WASHINGTON (March 30, 2011) -- A national conversation on America's energy security could not be more timely and President Obama has taken a leadership role.

The following is a statement from Frances Beinecke, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council:

"We don't need any more wake-up calls before embracing a clean energy economy that relies on renewable sources of power that are safer, cleaner, make more economic sense and curb carbon dioxide pollution.

"The unrest in the Middle East is just one more reminder of our decades-long myopia. The Arab spring has roiled the oil markets, put our troops in harm's way, raised the cost of doing business and forced families to dig deeper into their wallets.

"The way to a cleaner, healthier and more prosperous future is staring us in the face. We can get there by driving higher gas-mileage vehicles, expanding mass transit systems, using more wind and solar, and building more efficiency into the products we use and the buildings we live and work in.

"Ending our oil addiction won't happen overnight, but it's time to put the pedal to the metal.

"We expect the president to follow up his clean-energy call-to-action as we approach the budget end-game by making clear his intention to block any and all attempts by Congress to prevent the EPA from updating Clean Air Act safeguards, which protect our health and create a level playing field for clean energy solutions."