President Barack Obama made the case this past Saturday for investments in American clean energy technologies to “out-innovate and out-compete the rest of the world.”
In his weekly address, delivered from the Allison Transmissions plant in Indianapolis, Ind., the president singled out the factory as “a place where American workers are doing some big and impressive things.”
Allison Transmissions manufactures hybrid technology that powers almost 4,000 buses across the country, saving 15 million gallons of fuel, and is soon to expand to trucks, explained the president. They are in the process of adding 200 new jobs.
The company is able to apply the hybrid technology to the commercial truck market, thanks to a $62.8 million cost-share grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding. According to a White House statement, Allison estimates a reduction of diesel fuel consumption of 25 to 35 percent.
The president pointed to investments in clean energy and clean technologies not only as a driver of job creation but also to address the problem of high gas prices.
“Over the long term, the only way we can avoid being held hostage to the ups and downs of oil prices is if we reduce our dependence on oil. That means investing in clean, alternative sources of energy, like advanced biofuels and natural gas. And that means making cars and trucks and buses that use less oil,” said the president.
He added, “Other countries know this, and they’re going all in to invest in clean energy technologies and clean energy jobs. But I don’t want other countries to win the competition for these technologies and these jobs. I want America to win that competition.”
In his weekly address, delivered from the Allison Transmissions plant in Indianapolis, Ind., the president singled out the factory as “a place where American workers are doing some big and impressive things.”
Allison Transmissions manufactures hybrid technology that powers almost 4,000 buses across the country, saving 15 million gallons of fuel, and is soon to expand to trucks, explained the president. They are in the process of adding 200 new jobs.
The company is able to apply the hybrid technology to the commercial truck market, thanks to a $62.8 million cost-share grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding. According to a White House statement, Allison estimates a reduction of diesel fuel consumption of 25 to 35 percent.
The president pointed to investments in clean energy and clean technologies not only as a driver of job creation but also to address the problem of high gas prices.
“Over the long term, the only way we can avoid being held hostage to the ups and downs of oil prices is if we reduce our dependence on oil. That means investing in clean, alternative sources of energy, like advanced biofuels and natural gas. And that means making cars and trucks and buses that use less oil,” said the president.
He added, “Other countries know this, and they’re going all in to invest in clean energy technologies and clean energy jobs. But I don’t want other countries to win the competition for these technologies and these jobs. I want America to win that competition.”
