








The overall environmental impact of electric hybrids, however, depends on how we produce electricity, and this varies across the nation. For example, the Pacific Northwest relies heavily on clean hydroelectric power whereas the Midwest currently relies on dirty coal-fired power plants. Over time, increased use of renewable energy sources can sharply lower the environmental footprint of hybrids.


How we should pursue a transition to greener energy sources is subject to debate. We could consider raising taxes on gasoline and other fossil fuels — a carbon tax — as European nations have done, and we could lower other taxes enough to offset the added burden, so most drivers would face no net tax increase.

Alternatively, we could invest some of the revenue from those taxes in innovative research on electric car batteries and alternative energy sources that could speed our movement away from fossil fuels. A well-designed and equitable national energy policy could be enormously beneficial in the future.

The president's critics tend to give him little credit for policy achievements. Yet one that will have important and enduring effects on energy use is the dramatically higher fuel-efficiency standards. We can see the impact already in the efficiency of new vehicles, and the changes will be even more impressive over the next decade.
