Obama sets out energy future

President Barack Obama has outlined an ambitious target to reduce US oil imports by one-third by 2025.

He said in a speech in Washington that America had to “get serious” about a secure and affordable energy future.

Higher oil prices are threatening to hamper US economic recovery and there is growing dissatisfaction among car drivers with pump prices.

He said the US must move towards getting 80% of its electricity from non-oil sources by 2035.

“We cannot keep going from shock to trance on the issue of energy security, rushing to propose action when gas prices rise, then hitting the snooze button when they fall again,” he said during a speech at Georgetown University.

Mr Obama said that presidents and politicians had for years promised energy independence through finding cleaner and more renewable sources.

Petrol prices in the US have shot up 50 cents a gallon this year, reaching a national average of $3.58 a gallon last week.

“We have to discover and produce cleaner, renewable sources of energy,” Mr Obama said. “And we have to do it quickly.”