Obama Sets New Fuel and Emissions Standards

With leading members of Congress by his side, President Barack Obama announced new fuel economy and emissions standards that will likely make some global warming groups happy, while disappointing others that see the move as pointed in the wrong direction. There is no doubt that fuel economy and emissions standards have plenty of room for improvement in the United States. Cars and trucks, especially, could be far more fuel efficient and release far fewer pollutants into the atmosphere during their use.

"The goal is to set one national standard," said Obama, as he spoke to the press and other industry leaders. Of course, this course of action is just an extension of the failed model of the status quo. The U.S. and World reliance on oil and natural gas has to be eliminated over the coming decades if the planet is going to stabilize and continue to prosper. Reducing use of these fossil fuels is important in the very near term, but windows of 7 to 10 years to implement changes are simply too big to make an impact. By 2016, the year that these changes are due to take effect, the world must already be moving purposefully toward alternative forms of energy that are sustainable and renewable - and do not require the continued mining of the earth's natural resources.

There will certainly be programs announced and re-announced that are more in line with promoting new energy technologies and new ways of sustaining humanity's need for energy. But until things start to change dramatically on that front, announcements about reductions in fuel emissions and increased fuel economy won't mean much.