California and a dozen other states have tried in the past to create legislation for more strict emission standards than those imposed by the federal government, but at a recent press conference Prsident Barack Obama said that “Washington stood in their way.” The president wants the Environmental Protection Agency to take another look at a decision denying California and the other states permission to set tougher tailpipe emission standards to combat a build up of greenhouse gases.

Obama also asked his administration to get started on new fuel-efficiency guidelines for the auto industry in time to cover 2011 model-year cars.

“For the sake of our security, our economy and our planet, we must have the courage and commitment to change,” Obama said at a White House press conference. “It will be the policy of my administration to reverse our dependence on foreign oil while building a new energy economy that will create millions of jobs.”