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Alternate Fuel Demonstration (Talking Points) 3/13/90 [OA 4728]
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323150949
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Alternate Fuel Demonstration (Talking Points) 3/13/90 [OA 4728]
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Originally Processed With FOIA(s):
FOIA Number:
S
S
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MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the George Bush Presidential
Library Staff.
Record Group/Collection:
George H.W. Bush Presidential Records
Collection/Office of Origin:
Speechwriting, White House Office of
Series:
Speech File Draft Files
Subseries:
Chron Files, 1989-1993
OA/ID Number:
13523
Folder ID Number:
13523-012
Folder Title:
Alternate Fuel Demonstration (Talking Points). 3/13/90 [OA 4728]
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G
26
16
2
1
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
March 13, 1990
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AT ALTERNATE FUEL DEMONSTRATION
Sunoco Station
Southeast Washington, D.C.
2:15 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Obviously the reason we're here today is
to show the interest we all have -- industry, the administration --
in cleaner air. There's no question about that, and that's why I
came over here today. This is the first commercial availability of
methanol in the Washington area.
I want to commend the Sun Company for taking this
leadership role in helping our national efforts to reduce air
pollution. And I want to thank Mr. McClements himself, the Chairman,
for being with us, and I would salute not only him but Ray Poling of
the Ford Company, who has taken out his busy schedule to be with us
here today, explain how all of this works in an automobile. I want
to thank Chuck Imbrecht and Bob Hahn, the co-chairmen of the
Alternate Fuels Council, for being with us.
The clean air legislation that I proposed last year is
going to go a long way toward achieving our environmental goals. And
a fundamental part of this, an integral part of this program is the
Clean Fuels Program. We're working hard, and I want to, again, thank
both sides of the aisle in Congress, in a bipartisan way, to enact
the legislation. The Senate leadership and I, along with our top
officials here, Henson Moore of the Energy Department and Jim
Watkins, the Secretary, Bill Reilly of EPA, John Sununu and others
have all agreed with us on goals and on methods that will achieve our
plan.
And a variety of clean fuels, no question, can help to
reduce urban smog and toxic air emissions. This, in turn, is going
to reduce the regulatory burden on a wide range of small businesses
out there. The availability of methanol in a metropolitan area, say,
like Washington, is an important step toward the widespread use of
clean fuels. There are other -- a few clean fuels in addition to
methanol. Click off a couple -- natural gas, propane, ethanol,
reformulated gasoline and then electricity. The flexible fuel
vehicle that we see here today, one of Red's cars -- a Ford Victoria
-- is a government fleet vehicle. By using alternative fuel
vehicles, the federal government is trying to lead by example.
And at this time, I again want to thank both our CEOs
that were here with us today. Under the direction of the Interagency
Commission on Alternative Fuels that is chaired -- Henson Moore
chairs that, the Deputy Secretary of Energy -- we're moving forward
to bring more alternative fueled vehicles into our fleet. The
Interagency Commission and its advisory body, the U.S. Alternative
Fuels Council, have an important job in helping develop a national
alternative fuels policy.
This is a part of our overall answer to those who worry
about cleaning up the environment, as we do. It's a step; it's not
the cure-all and the end-all. But I want to congratulate industry --
in this instance, the Saab Company, Ford Motor Company -- for showing
fine leadership. And we will keep working with the Congress to
accomplish this first major revision in the Clean Air Act since it
was first written. It's sound for all of our country. And I'm
MORE
- 2 -
delighted with the bipartisan support we've been getting. So thank
you all. (Applause.)
Q
Mr. President, haven't you already backed off the
requirements for alternative fuel vehicles?
THE PRESIDENT: You know, I've discovered something.
Nobody ever does it exactly the way I want it done. But what we have
is a sound, strong, environmentally secure compromise that has the
support of the best environmentalists I know of. And we're never
going to placate those on the extreme side of the equation that want
to do nothing, or want to just shut down this country and throw every
American that's got a job out of work. We've come to a good
compromise, a strong compromise.
And so yes, I can fine tune it, gripe about one phrase
and one section or another, but I'm not going to do that. And I'm
encouraging our Senators -- both sides -- to get behind this and move
it out and then get prompt action in the House.
Q
But you've already thrown in the towel on a million
alternative vehicles.
THE PRESIDENT: We've thrown it in and we're doing well,
and people who take a look at it know that we've got a good sound
bill that's going to help clean up the environment. First -- biggest
breakthrough since the Clean Air Act was written. And it isn't one
that's going to throw America out of work. So, don't worry about
that. Don't listen to the extremes on this question. Okay.
END
2:25 P.M. EST
Administration of George Bush, 1990 / Mar. 13
rward a draft
Remarks and an Exchange With
alternative fuel vehicles, the Federal Gov-
de for direct
Reporters at an Alternative Fuel
ernment is trying to lead by example.
the People's
Demonstration
And at this time, I again want to thank
suffrage, en-
March 13, 1990
both our CEO's that were here with us
r the people,
today. Under the direction of the Interagen-
es for private
The President. Obviously, the reason
cy Commission on Alternative Fuels—
we're here today is to show the interest we
Henson Moore chairs that, the Deputy Sec-
only 15 years
all have-industry, the administration-in
retary of Energy-we're moving forward to
and our de-
cleaner air. There's no question about that,
bring more alternative fueled vehicles into
t we have as
and that's why I came over here today. This
our fleet. The Interagency Commission and
America and
is the first commercial availability of metha-
its advisory body, the U.S. Alternative Fuels
nol in the Washington area. I want to com-
Council, have an important job in helping
ou, sir, very
mend the Sun Company for taking this
develop a national alternative fuels policy.
leadership role in helping our national ef-
This is a part of our overall answer to
forts to reduce air pollution. And I want to
those who worry about cleaning up the en-
1:29 p.m. at
thank Mr. McClements himself, the chair-
vironment, as we do. It's a step; it's not the
House. Prior
man, for being with us; and I would salute
cure-all and the end-all. But I want to con-
lents met pri-
not only him but Ray Poling of the Ford
with U.S. and
gratulate industry-in this instance, the
Company, who has taken time out of his busy
'abinet Room,
Sun Company, Ford Motor Company-for
schedule to be with us here today, explain
n in the Old
showing fine leadership. And we will keep
how all of this works in an automobile. I want
working with the Congress to accomplish
to thank Chuck Imbrecht and Bob Hahn, the
this first major revision in the Clean Air Act
cochairmen of the Alternate Fuels Council,
since it was first written. It's sound for all of
for being with us.
our country. And I'm delighted with the
The clean air legislation that I proposed
bipartisan support we've been getting. So,
V Fitzwater
last year is going to go a long way toward
thank you all.
; With
achieving our environmental goals. And a
Q. Mr. President, haven't you already
Chissano of
fundamental part of this, an integral part of
backed off the requirements for alternative
this program, is the clean fuels program.
fuel vehicles?
We're working hard-and I want to, again,
The President. You know, I've discovered
thank both sides of the aisle in Congress-in
something: Nobody ever does it exactly the
ibican Presi-
a bipartisan way to enact the legislation.
way I want it done. But what we have is
pproximately
The Senate leadership and I, along with our
sound, strong, environmentally secure com-
our working
top officials here-Henson Moore of the
promise that has the support of the best
iscussion was
Energy Department and Jim Watkins, the
environmentalists I know of. And we're
SS. President
Secretary; Bill Reilly of EPA [Environmen-
never going to placate those on the ex-
esident Chis-
tal Protection Agency]; John Sununu [Chief
treme side of the equation that want to do
ng caused by
of Staff to the President] and others-have
nothing or want to just shut down this
strongly en-
all agreed with us on goals and on methods
country and throw every American that's
Mozambican
that will achieve our plan.
got a job out of work. We've come to a
discussions
And a variety of clean fuels, no question,
good compromise, a strong compromise.
National Re-
can help to reduce urban smog and toxic air
And so, yes, I can fine-tune it, gripe about
esident Bush
emissions. This, in turn, is going to reduce
one phrase and one section or another, but
for the very
the regulatory burden on a wide range of
I'm not going to do that. And I'm encourag-
mic reforms
small businesses out there. The availability
ing our Senators-both sides-to get behind
e two Presi-
of methanol in a metropolitan area, say, like
this and move it out and then prompt
regional situ-
Washington, is an important step toward
action in the House.
articularly in
the widespread use of clean fuels. There are
Q. But you've already thrown in the
10 expressed
a few clean fuels in addition to methanol.
towel on a million alternative vehicles.
nt for assist-
Click off a couple: natural gas, propane, eth-
The President. We've thrown it in, and
States. The
anol, reformulated gasoline, and then elec-
we're doing well, and people who take a
1 which the
tricity. The flexible fuel vehicle that we see
look at it know that we've got a good,
S current as-
here today, one of Red's cars, a Ford Victo-
sound bill that's going to help clean up the
ria, is a government fleet vehicle. By using
environment-biggest breakthrough since
415
Mar. 13 / Administration of George Bush, 1990
the Clean Air Act was written. And it isn't
Message on the Observance of
one that's going to throw America out of
St. Patrick's Day, 1990
work. So, don't worry about that. Don't
March 13, 1990
listen to the extremes on this question.
Okay?
I am delighted to extend warm greetings
Note: The President spoke at 2:15 p.m. at a
to all those celebrating St. Patrick's Day.
Sunoco station in Washington, DC. In his
As history tells us, St. Patrick led a life
remarks, he referred to Harold A. Poling,
filled with exciting adventures and tremen-
chairman and chief executive officer of
dous challenges. Born the son of a British
Ford Motor Co.
city leader, he was captured by pirates as a
youth and sold into slavery. After gaining
his freedom, Patrick returned home, where
he eventually decided to dedicate his life to
Letter to the Speaker of the House
God as a cleric. Soon he was to discover
and the President of the Senate
Transmitting the Annual Report of the
that God was calling him to take part in yet
United States Arms Control and
another extraordinary adventure-bringing
Disarmament Agency
the Christian faith to the people of Ireland.
He spent the remaining years of his life
March 13, 1990
serving God and his fellowman with tireless
Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)
devotion. In so doing, he helped change
Effective and verifiable arms control trea-
forever the course of Irish history. St. Pat-
ties are important to the security of the
rick's faith, courage, and compassionate
United States and, as President Gorbachev
spirit have lived on through the centuries,
made clear at our Malta meeting, to the
inspiring generations of men and women to
Soviet Union as well. Over the past year we
follow his example of voluntary service and
have undertaken new initiatives and made
fervent prayer.
steady and substantial progress in our Stra-
On St. Patrick's Day, Irish-Americans-
tegic Arms Reduction Talks, Conventional
indeed Americans of every ethnic back-
Forces in Europe, Nuclear Testing, and
ground-happily join with the people of
Chemical Weapons negotiations. These
Ireland in celebrating the life of this re-
steps can make a lasting contribution to a
markable man. This occasion also provides
safer and more secure world for all man-
us with a wonderful opportunity to cele-
kind.
brate the many contributions the sons and
Because of the role of the U.S. Arms Con-
daughters of Ireland have made to our
trol and Disarmament Agency (ACDA) in
nation. Many of those early pioneers who
support of these negotiations as well as in
braved the stormy Atlantic to seek a new
other crucial arms control activities, I en-
life in America were of Irish descent. They,
courage all members of the Congress to
like their spiritual ancestor, Patrick, helped
read the attached 1989 annual report. The
report reviews the year's arms control ini-
to build a strong and proud nation through
tiatives and negotiating efforts, as well as
faith and hard work. On this day we also
the activities conducted pursuant to the
celebrate the special friendship the United
statutory requirements of the Arms Control
States shares with Ireland-one we look for-
and Disarmament Act, as amended.
ward to enriching and strengthening in the
Sincerely,
months and years to come.
George Bush
Barbara joins me in sending our best
wishes to all for a joyous and memorable St.
Note: Identical letters were sent to Thomas
Patrick's Day. May God bless you.
S. Foley, Speaker of the House of Represent-
atives, and Dan Quayle, President of the
Senate.
George Bush
416