print-only banner
The White House Skip Main Navigation
  
In Focus
News
News by Date
Appointments
Federal Facts
West Wing

 Home > News & Policies > March 2007

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
March 27, 2007

President Bush Participates in Demonstration of Alternative Fuel Vehicles at U.S. Postal Service Facility
U.S. Postal Service Vehicle Maintenance Facility
Washington, D.C.

Play Video  Video
RSS Feed  Presidential Remarks
Play Audio  Audio

     Fact sheet Fact Sheet: Twenty in Ten: Powering Large Vehicle Fleets with Alternative Fuels
     Fact sheet In Focus: Energy

10:39 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Secretary, thank you. I want to thank you all very much.

Yesterday I talked with the chief executive officers of U.S. auto companies about what they're doing to help us meet the goal of reducing gasoline usage by 20 percent over 10 years. Today I've had the honor of visiting with private sector companies -- "Big Brown," FedEx, the Metro bus line, as well as the Postal Office folks, and DaimlerChrysler, as well, to talk about how we are using new technologies to convert truck fleets, bus fleets to vehicles that will be able to help meet the goal of reducing gasoline usage by 20 percent over 10 years.

President George W. Bush and Secretary of Energy Sam Bodman listen to Mark Chernoby as the Vice President of Advance Vehicle Engineering at DaimlerChrysler describes the FedEx Pilot Program Plug-in Hybrid Sprinter during the President's visit Tuesday, March 27, 2007, to the U.S. Postal Service Vehicle Maintenance Facility in Washington, D.C. White House photo by Joyce N. Boghosian The reason I've come is I want the American people to understand that there are new technologies on the market that are being used every single day, but there's more we can do. I'm looking forward to working with Congress to meet this goal. They need to pass meaningful energy legislation as soon as possible, all aiming at making sure that we promote technologies that, for the sake of our national security and for the sake of good environmental policy, we reduce the usage of gasoline.

The goal I laid out of reducing gasoline by 20 percent over 10 years is a realistic goal. In other words, this isn't a pipe dream, this is something that our nation can accomplish. It's going to take more research dollars, it's going to take working with the private sector, and it's going to take innovative leadership. And I thank the folks here who are representing companies that have got innovative leadership, people willing to make use of technologies that change the way we drive and will change the way we live.

So I appreciate you all being with me. It's an honor to be with you. Thank you for your time.

END 10:41 A.M. EDT