Sen. Richard
Lugar
Martin C.
Jischke
Wallace
Tyner
Sen. Lugar, Purdue president call for immediate steps to energy independence |
| National leaders at the Sen. Richard G. Lugar-Purdue University Summit on Energy Security are calling for an immediate revamping of U.S. energy policy to emphasize renewable domestic energy sources over imported oil. They say that depending on oil controlled by troubled or hostile nations threatens national security and the American economy.
Richard LugarIntroduction 1: U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar, the summit's co-sponsor, proposed a national program to boost ethanol production to 100 million gallons per year, to make all cars flexible fuel capable and to install E85 pumps at 25 percent of all gas stations. Lugar said the program would allow the United States to cut oil imports in half.
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Introduction 2:
Lugar said the nation as a first step needs to immediately increase mileage standards for automobiles, make all new cars flexible fuel capable and increase availability of E85 gas at filling stations. He said the United States has the technology and infrastructure it needs to adapt to new energy realities, but not the political will.
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Martin JischkeIntroduction 1: Purdue President Martin C. Jischke said the effort to achieve energy independence will require the same sense of purpose that put Neil Armstrong on the moon just eight years after President Kennedy's challenge.
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Introduction 2:
Jischke encouraged increased pursuit of alternative energies - many being developed at Purdue's Discovery Park and the Purdue Research Park - such as biofuels, solar, hydrogen, clean coal, safe nuclear and wind power.
Wallace Tyner, summit organizerIntroduction 1: Summit organizer Wallace Tyner, a Purdue professor of agricultural economics, details the summit's goals, including highlighting the national security costs affiliated with securing foreign oil supplies and policy changes needed to foster domestic energy supplies. |
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Introduction 2: Tyner discusses how Lugar and Purdue each bring unique strengths to a partnership designed to jump-start American energy independence.
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