Press Conference with Members of the National Governors Association Following a Meeting with President Bush

Interview

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Thanks, Jim. John Hoeven, North Dakota.

Just a couple of comments I think that fit really with the theme of this NGA meeting and that was the discussion on energy. And both from the governors during this session and from the president and the administration, one of the themes that I think that comes out very clearly and is incredibly important is the concept of fuel diversity. If we really are going to develop more energy in this country, and we're going to do it well, we're going to have it be a dependable source of supply with good environmental stewardship, which is very important for our national security as well as our economy.

It's important that we emphasize the need for fuel diversity. And so we talked about today at the White House, as well as here at our meetings and we'll continue this afternoon, but that means the renewables, things like ethanol and biodiesel, but ethanol from new sources as well. Cellulosic, for example, means wind energy, means moving forward in all of those areas, as well as with traditional sources, oil and gas with new, clean coal technologies and with nuclear energy.

And so often, we end up in this discussion of one versus the other when you talk about fuel sources and when we talk about the regulatory environment, when we talk about the kind of incentives we really need to move forward, we have to think in terms of developing all of these sources and programs that are technology neutral, that encourage development in all of these areas. That, I think, has been a very productive aspect of this convention of the governors. And, again was something we talked with the administration this morning and it touches all aspects of what we do, not just the economic stimulus, and working to move our economy forward, but for those of us in farm country, the farm bill, very important that we have not only a good conservation title, but also a good energy title. It -- look, this affects everything we do and it's incredibly important for our future, but it really is about developing all of these sources.

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John Hoeven, North Dakota. I had the opportunity to meet and visit with Senator McCain this weekend and think he's doing just tremendously. I've always said I'll endorse our party's nominee; I may come out sooner than that for McCain. I think he's doing very well.

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