President George W. Bush laid out a set of important programs and goals for a national shift to renewable energy and fuels in last night's State of the Union address.

President George W. Bush laid out a set of important programs and goals for a national shift to renewable energy and fuels in last night's State of the Union address.

The President laid out a comprehensive set of actions and goals to increase the use of renewable energy in America. He called for an increase in solar energy and wind power for electricity generation, and an increase in renewable fuels such as biodiesel and ethanol for more fuels.

Specifically, the President set a goal of reducing our gasoline consumption 20% in 10 years. He called for a mandatory target of 35 billion gallons of renewable fuels by 2017, and to reform fuel economy standards for automobiles.

The President called for Americans to live our lives less dependent on oil, and to reduce the threat of global climate change.

The American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE) is pleased with this forward-stepping program for increased use of renewable energy.

"The President's program for renewable energy gets things going in the right direction for our country," said Michael Eckhart, ACORE President, who added, "but we can actually do much more."

ACORE, a 400-member non-profit organization, was formed five years ago to assume responsibility for the success of renewable energy in America, to bring renewable energy into the mainstream of our country, and to be for renewable energy and against nothing.

"The President took some bold steps in the right direction tonight," said John Geesman, Co-Chairman of the ACORE Board of Directors, "and we applaud him for it. We will continue working with all public leaders who see the path forward with renewable energy."

A new assessment of the potential for renewable energy, developed by 15 non-profit institutions and trade associations, indicates that renewable energy can contribute as much as 25% of US energy supplies by the year 2025, in accordance with a campaign by the Energy Future Coalition and recent legislation introduced by Senator Lugar of Indiana.