President Barack Obama promised on Tuesday to hold BP Plc accountable for their "recklessness" in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and aimed to use public anger over the disaster to push for a national effort to reduce US reliance on fossil fuels. Obama stated that the government will do everything possible to combat the spill and make BP cover the costs of the damage they have caused. His address, intended to restore confidence in his handling of the crisis, emphasized the need for BP to take responsibility. The response to this environmental catastrophe will not only impact BP but also affect the future of offshore drilling in the US and Obama's efforts to address climate change legislation in Congress. Obama is urging Americans to take advantage of the current moment to break their dependence on fossil fuels. He did not provide a detailed plan or timeline for achieving this goal, but emphasized the need for a national effort to promote innovation and take control of the country's future. Obama supports comprehensive energy legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and believes that putting a price on carbon pollution is crucial. He is open to ideas from both political parties to reduce America's reliance on oil, but he is adamant that inaction is not an option. Obama's decision to address the nation from the Oval Office emphasized the seriousness of the situation, a tradition followed by past presidents during times of national tragedy. In an election year, the crucial question is whether Obama can satisfy frustrated voters as his party's control of Congress is in jeopardy. Polls indicate that many Americans feel Obama has been too passive and lenient in handling the crisis and BP. To counter criticism of his leadership, Obama took a strong stance against BP, although he did not repeat his earlier statement about wanting to hold someone accountable. He stated that the following day, he would be meeting with the chairman of BP to instruct him to allocate necessary resources to compensate those affected by the company's negligence. He emphasized that the fund for compensation would be managed independently to ensure fair and prompt payment of all valid claims. Prior to a televised speech, executives from other oil companies testified in a US congressional hearing that BP did not follow industry standards in constructing its deep-sea well, which caused a massive oil spill. Despite attempts by oil company executives to distance themselves from BP, Democratic lawmakers still criticized industry plans for handling deepwater oil disasters as inadequate. Investors were also hoping for Obama to kick-start alternative energy projects like solar, wind, and geothermal that are currently stalled in Congress. US solar companies saw a rise in their shares before Obama's speech. In his first nationally televised address from the Oval Office, Obama aimed to demonstrate his leadership in handling the oil spill crisis, which has overshadowed his efforts to address unemployment and reform Wall Street. Public opinion polls indicate that most Americans believe Obama has been too distant in his response to the spill, putting pressure on him to show more decisive action. The urgency of the situation was highlighted by a team of US scientists who increased their estimate of the amount of oil flowing from the well by 50 percent, to a range of 35,000 to 60,000 barrels per day.