By Sylvia Gross, KCUR
Kansas City, MO. – President Bush told workers at Ford's Claycomo plant Tuesday afternoon that the new energy efficient vehicles they're assembling will help the U.S. become less dependent on foreign oil.
He stood on a platform between a hybrid SUV and a new pickup that uses 85 percent ethanol fuel.
The President said that ethanol producers were going to have to start looking for alternatives to corn.
"Because that price of corn is beginning to affect the people who are raising hogs and I understand that," President Bush said. "That's why we're spending a fair amount of money on developing new types of technology."
The president's plan for reducing energy consumption involves developing new fuel and battery technologies, as well as raising vehicle mileage standards.
Mr. Bush also visited the GM plant in Fairfax earlier in the day.
He has meetings scheduled next week with the heads of the big three US carmakers.