President Barack Obama promised to hold BP Plc accountable for their actions in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and urged the public to use their anger over the incident to push for a national effort to reduce US reliance on fossil fuels. In a televised speech, Obama stated that the government would do everything in its power to address the spill and ensure that BP pays for the damage caused. The President's strong message to BP was a key part of his speech on the oil spill, which could potentially impact his presidency and his efforts to address other pressing issues like unemployment and financial reform. The way Obama handles this environmental crisis will not only affect BP but also the future of offshore drilling in the US and his hopes for passing climate change legislation in Congress. Obama encouraged Americans to take advantage of the current opportunity to break their dependence on fossil fuels, emphasizing the need for innovation and self-determination. While expressing support for a comprehensive energy bill to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and putting a price on carbon pollution, Obama did not provide a detailed plan or timeline for passing such legislation. He acknowledged the challenges of addressing climate change in a politically divided climate and expressed willingness to consider ideas from both political parties, but stressed the importance of taking action to reduce America's reliance on oil. Obama's decision to address the nation from the Oval Office highlighted the seriousness of the situation, a tradition followed by past presidents in response to national tragedies. In this election year, a key concern is whether Obama can satisfy frustrated voters while his party's control of Congress is at stake. Polls indicate that many Americans feel Obama has not been sufficiently engaged or tough in handling the crisis with BP. To counter criticism of his leadership during the ongoing crisis, Obama adopted a firm stance towards BP, though he stopped short of repeating his previous statement about wanting to hold someone accountable. He stated that he will meet with the chairman of BP the next day to instruct him to allocate necessary resources for compensating those affected by the company's negligence. The fund for compensation will not be controlled by BP but by an independent third party to ensure fair and timely payment of legitimate claims. Prior to a televised speech, oil company executives testified in a US congressional hearing that BP did not follow industry standards in constructing the deep-sea well responsible for the massive oil spill. Despite efforts by other oil companies to distance themselves from BP, Democratic lawmakers still criticized industry plans for handling deepwater oil disasters as inadequate. Investors were hoping for Obama to kickstart alternative energy initiatives like solar, wind, and geothermal that are currently stuck in Congress. Shares in US solar companies went up before the speech. Obama, in his first nationally televised address from the Oval Office, aimed to demonstrate that he was effectively managing the oil spill crisis that has been a major challenge during his presidency, overshadowing his efforts to address US unemployment and reform Wall Street. Public opinion polls indicate that many Americans feel Obama has not been sufficiently engaged in handling the spill, and he is facing strong pressure to exhibit more leadership. To add to the sense of urgency, a group of US scientists recently increased their estimate of the amount of crude oil flowing from the well by 50 percent.