Washington, DC - Oregon's Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement on President Barack Obama's announcement to let states impose stricter fuel standards and reduce greenhouse gas emissions:

"President Barack Obama’s announcement will allow Oregon and 13 other states to lead the way in reducing our carbon footprint and promoting energy efficiency and conservation.   

“In Oregon, we’ve taken significant steps to combat global warming, but until now we had been hamstrung in our efforts to increase fuel-efficiency without the approval of the Environmental Protection Agency.  President Obama has clearly stated that he is ready to once again put America at the forefront of addressing global warming and promoting green energy development and use."

As Speaker of the Oregon House, Merkley led one of the greenest sessions in the nation, spearheading legislation to require the state's largest utilities to get one-quarter of their electricity from renewable energy, such as wind and solar, by 2025, as well as legislation to create a Renewable Fuels Standard and promote investment in renewable energy.