To the Editor:

Re “9/11 and 4/11,” by Thomas L. Friedman (column, July 20):

I agree with Mr. Friedman’s assertion that we must break “our addiction to oil.” But it is ridiculous and unfounded to claim that the president’s response to this challenge consists only of an effort to expand offshore drilling.

The president has put forward a series of policies to expand access to our domestic resources, improve energy efficiency and harness the power of alternative energy.

On the demand side, the president signed into law increases in fuel efficiency standards and financed critical research into gas-saving technologies like advanced batteries and hydrogen fuel cells.

On the supply side, we’ve spent more than $12 billion to advance alternative energy sources including solar, wind, biofuels and nuclear power. To more rapidly deploy these technologies, we recently announced the availability of more than $30 billion in clean-energy project loan guarantees.

What have these efforts produced so far?

The United States has the fastest growing wind power capacity in the world, and installed photovoltaic capacity has grown 30 percent a year, and we lead the world in overall biofuels production. And the list goes on.

Americans recognize that our energy challenges are complex and serious. We must continue to pursue real solutions, not demagogy and clever rhetoric.

Samuel W. Bodman
Secretary of Energy
Washington, July 24, 2008

Last Reviewed: 7/28/2008