Obama's green vision

Obama's green vision Freshly sworn-in US President Barack Obama has indictated that he sees plug-in electric vehicles playing a large role in America's transportation future. At his first White House press conference last Monday, President Obama declared, "The days of Washington dragging its heels are over". Obama ordered an immediate review of the Bush administration's refusal to give California authority to enforce tough new emission and fuel efficiency standards on petrol and diesel powered automobiles. For more than two years California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has sought to impose stricter standards on car manufacturers in an effort to spur adoption of plug-in electric cars. The Obama administration signalled that it plans to grant California's request in a matter of weeks. Eighteen other States, representing nearly half the nation's population, have indicated they will follow California's lead - establishing the framework for a new nationwide market for plug-in electric cars. Obama's push for electric cars is closely linked to his $11 billion high voltage "superhighway" passed this week by the House as part of the $819 billion economic stimulus. Obama's Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Jon Wellinghoff, stated regulators and car manufacturers must integrate the new plug-in electric vehicles into the national power grid. "If you're an automobile company, you'd better get on the bandwagon...because there is definitely going to be a move toward electrification," said Wellinghoff. Obama's bold moves on the transmission grid and electric cars are widely viewed as a bonanza for semiconductor makers and power companies. Source : http://www.newcarnet.co.uk (2/3/2009)