The measure deregulated the sale of natural gas, dropped a longstanding pricing disparity between intra- and interstate gas, and created tax credits to encourage energy conservation and the use of non-fossil fuels.[142]
On March 1, 1979, Carter submitted a standby gasoline rationing plan per the request of Congress.[143] On April 5, he delivered an address in which he stressed the urgency of energy conservation and increasing domestic production of energy sources such as coal and solar.[144] During an April 30 news conference, he said it was imperative that the House commerce committee approve the standby gasoline rationing plan and called on Congress to pass the several other standby energy conservation plans he had proposed.[145]
On July 15, 1979, he delivered a nationally televised address in which he identified what he believed to be a "crisis of confidence" among American people,[146] under the advisement of pollster Pat Caddell who believed Americans faced a crisis in confidence from events of the 1960s and 1970s prior to his presidency.[147] Some later called this his "malaise speech",[146] memorable for mixed reactions[148][149] and his use of rhetoric.