The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico – which has become the largest environmental disaster in United States history – has also re-ignited public awareness of the climate and energy bill awaiting approval in the Senate.
President Obama has vowed to acquire all the remaining votes needed to pass this legislation, saying in the wake of this catastrophe, the United States must re-address its energy policies.
“If we refuse to take into account the full cost of our fossil fuel addiction – if we don’t factor in the environmental costs and national security costs and true economic costs – we will have missed our best change to seize a clean energy future,” said the President. He also noted that America “consume[s] more than 20% of the world’s oil, but [has] less than 2% of the world’s oil reserves.”
Speaking of the bill, Mr. Obama says “the votes may not be there right now, but I intend to find them in the coming months.”
ANRIC BLATT 