FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
3/15/2012
Contact: Eitan Bencuya, eitan.bencuya@sierraclub.org, 202-495-3047
President Obama Details Plans for Investments in Clean Transportation
CHICAGO, IL - Today President Obama called on Congress to establish an Energy Security Trust, which would use $2 billion in revenue from existing oil and gas leases to fund research for clean transportation solutions including advanced battery technology for electric vehicles, hydrogen fuel cells, and alternative fuels.
In response, Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club, released the following statement:
“Today, President Obama proposed a robust and compelling plan for furthering research into technologies that will help break our nation’s dangerous dependence on oil. In addition to helping the U.S. lead the way on clean technology, these investments will also create new jobs, lower energy costs, and reduce the amount of dangerous carbon pollution that is wreaking havoc on our climate.
“While we applaud the President for proposing new investments in clean transportation innovations such as advanced battery technology for electric vehicles, hydrogen fuel cells and alternative fuels, we urge him to focus on these clean technologies rather than fossil fuel options like natural gas vehicles. If the President is truly serious about moving beyond fossil fuels and fighting the climate crisis, natural gas is not the answer.
"The Sierra Club strongly opposes opening up new land to destructive drilling and fracking, as has been proposed in Illinois. The President should instead go all in on electric vehicles and clean energy sources like wind and solar, while boosting common sense climate solutions like energy efficiency.”
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