President Bush yesterday reiterated his commitment to bolstering US renewable energy capacity, as it emerged his appeal to OPEC to tackle record oil prices by increasing supply has fallen on deaf ears.

Despite calls from the US administration earlier this week for more oil on the global market, OPEC members meeting in Vienna yesterday chose to leave production levels unchanged.

Speaking at the meeting, OPEC president Chakib Khelil said that the high price of oil was the result of "mismanagement of the US economy" and the falling value of the dollar as opposed to a lack of supply. "There is sufficient supply," he added. "There is plenty of oil there."

The decision, combined with growing tensions between major oil producer Venezuela and its neighbour Columbia, pushed the price of a barrel of oil on the New York Mercantile Exchange up $5 (£2.51) to a record $104.52 (£52.43).

In a speech to the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference, Bush underlined the growing tensions between the US and OPEC, telling the audience that "it should be obvious to you all that the demand [for oil] is outstripping supply, which causes prices to go up".

Bush argued that the rising prices meant that "America has to change its habits. It has to get off oil. Until we change our habits, we are going to be dependent on oil."

He observed that the US now imports 60 per cent of its oil, up from 20 per cent in the 1980s, leaving it vulnerable to economic disruptions and security threats.

The White House has faced hefty criticism in recent months from the US renewables sector over its failure to support the extension of a package of green energy tax credits that is due to expire at the end of the year.

However, Bush argued that despite "stereotypes" that presented the administration as hostile towards the environment and renewables sector, it was in fact highly committed to curbing carbon emissions and establishing energy independence through alternative energy. "America is in the lead when it comes to energy independence, we are in the lead when it comes to new technologies, we are in the lead when it comes to global climate change and it will stay that way," he insisted.

In particular, Bush reiterated support for nuclear and wind power, underlined the administration's commitment to bioethanol and signalled his awareness that second-generation technologies were needed to address the rising food prices resulting from demand for corn-based biofuels.

He pointed to last year's Energy Independence and Security Act as an example of legislative measures being taken to bolster biodiesel production, raise fuel economy standards, and incentives for hybrid cars.

Bush again underlined the administration's view that any international agreement to replace the Kyoto Accord should include all countries and argued there was an urgent need for a clean technology fund to aid developing nations and the elimination of trade barriers on green technologies.