President Barack Obama promised on Tuesday to hold BP Plc accountable for its negligence in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and urged the public to channel their outrage into a national effort to reduce America's reliance on fossil fuels. Obama declared that every effort would be made to combat the spill and ensure that BP takes responsibility for the harm caused by their actions. The President's firm stance towards BP, conveyed with seriousness, was a key element of his televised address addressing the crisis in order to restore confidence in his leadership. The response to this environmental catastrophe will not only impact BP, but also influence the future of offshore drilling in the US and Obama's efforts to advance climate change legislation in Congress. Obama encouraged Americans to take advantage of the current opportunity to break free from dependence on fossil fuels, without providing a detailed plan or timeline for achieving this goal. He emphasized the importance of American innovation and taking control of the country's future. Although he supports comprehensive energy legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and believes in putting a price on carbon pollution, he did not specifically address climate change in his speech, likely due to political challenges. Obama expressed willingness to consider ideas from both Democrats and Republicans to reduce oil dependency, but emphasized that he will not tolerate inaction. Obama's decision to address the nation from the Oval Office emphasized the seriousness of the situation at hand. Previous presidents, such as Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, have utilized this setting to respond to national tragedies. In an election year, it is crucial for Obama to appease frustrated voters as his party's control of legislative power is at stake. Public opinion suggests that many Americans feel Obama has not been sufficiently engaged in handling the crisis and has not been strong enough in dealing with BP. In an effort to combat criticism of his leadership, Obama took a tough stance against BP, although he stopped short of repeating his earlier statement about wanting to hold someone accountable. He stated that he will meet with the chairman of BP tomorrow and instruct him to allocate necessary resources to compensate those affected by the company's negligence. The fund will be managed independently to ensure fair distribution of payments. Oil company executives admitted at a congressional hearing that BP did not follow industry standards in building the well responsible for the massive oil spill. Democratic lawmakers criticized industry plans for handling deepwater oil disasters as inadequate. Investors were also hoping Obama would push forward alternative energy initiatives like solar, wind, and geothermal that have been stalled in Congress. Shares in US solar companies increased before the speech. In his first nationally televised address from the Oval Office, Obama aimed to demonstrate his control over the oil spill crisis that has tested his presidency and overshadowed his efforts to reduce US unemployment and reform Wall Street. Most Americans believe Obama has not been involved enough in handling the spill, and he has been under pressure to show more leadership. Additionally, a team of US scientists recently raised their estimate of the amount of oil flowing from the well by 50 percent.