President Bush met with top auto executives Monday to discuss the future of automobiles in the United States and encourage the development of environmentally responsible technology, according to the Seattle Times.

The meeting and future meetings like it will be instrumental in the implementation of Bush’s new energy plan outlined in his 2007 State of the Union address.

Among Bush’s ambitious goals are increasing alternative fuel consumption to 35 billion gallons by 2017 and decreasing gasoline consumption 20 percent during the same period.

Amidst the Iraq debacle and other failings of the Bush administration, this proactive move toward lower reliance on foreign oil and cleaner energy is encouraging.

It is important to note, however, that the most recent meeting focused primarily on developing alternative or “flex-fuel” vehicles when, as some environmental advocates have pointed out, a more pressing issue may be fuel mileage standards.

Since petroleum will continue to be an important fuel source even when flex-fuel vehicles are widespread, it is important that Bush pursue the higher miles per gallon standards he outlined in his address in concert with his push for alternative fuels.

It is also important Bush ensure the manufacturing of alternative fuels such as ethanol will be environmentally efficient, and also adequate to meet the needs of new flex-fuel vehicles by the time the new autos hit the market.

At any rate, it is a relief to see Bush moving ahead with his energy plans at some level, given many of us were skeptical he’d make any changes at all. The changes may prove one of the only glimmers of progressivism in his sordid legacy.