WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is focusing on two parts of his plan to make America more competitive: energy and education.
With the White House and Congress enmeshed in tense
negotiations to avert a government shutdown at week's end, Obama was heading to
the Philadelphia area Wednesday to discuss his long-term plan to lower fuel
prices by reducing oil imports, tapping domestic energy sources and shifting
the nation to renewable and less polluting sources of energy, such as wind. He
has set a goal of reducing oil imports by one-third by 2025.
The president was meeting with workers at a branch
of the Spanish company Gamesa Technology Corp. to talk over those ideas. Gamesa
makes giant turbines that use wind to generate electricity and, according to
the White House, is the first overseas company of its kind to set up shop in
the U.S.
As fuel prices rise because of growing demand
worldwide and political unrest in oil-producing nations in North Africa and the
Middle East, drivers are feeling pinched at the pump. Republicans blame Obama
and his policies and he, in turn, is striving to show the public that he gets
it.
Gasoline prices rose another 2 cents Tuesday to a
new national average of $3.685 a gallon, according to AAA and other sources. A
gallon now costs 18 cents more than a month ago, nearly 88 cents more than last
year, and has topped the $4 mark in Alaska, California and Hawaii.
In a speech last week, Obama argued that it's time
for lawmakers to get serious about a long-term strategy to make the U.S. less
dependent on foreign energy sources instead of "rushing to propose action
when gas prices rise, then hitting the snooze button when they fall
again."
Among the steps he outlined are expanding
development and production of domestic sources of oil and natural gas;
developing alternatives to oil, including biofuels; tightening fuel efficiency
standards for cars and trucks; and encouraging production of alternative-fuel
or all-electric vehicles.
Obama's visit to Gamesa will be his fourth energy
event since March 11. He's scheduled a fifth for Friday in Indianapolis.
Obama argues that shifting to cleaner and domestic
energy sources will help create jobs and boost U.S. competitiveness.
Education is another item on Obama's
competitiveness agenda. That issue was to be the focus of a speech he was
giving later Wednesday to the Rev. Al Sharpton's civil rights group in New York
City. Obama's appearance keeps a promise he made to the National Action Network
when he spoke there as a presidential candidate in 2007. Obama pledged to
return — win or lose.
He returns just two days after launching his
re-election bid. He is facing a key constituency that at times has scolded him
for not being attentive enough to certain issues, such as double-digit black
unemployment, but continues to hold him in high regard.
Obama deflects such criticism by arguing that his
polices to expand the economy, create jobs and improve the education system,
among other goals, will help the country as a whole, blacks included.
Ninety-five percent of blacks who voted opted for
Obama in 2008. A Gallup poll released last week showed his job approval among
blacks holding at 84 percent, about the same as six months earlier.
AP National Writer Jesse Washington contributed to
this report.
Copyright
2011 The Associated Press.
