|
|
Good
afternoon,
Building
a clean energy economy in this country is one of President Obamaâs top
priorities. As National Energy Awareness Month - a
national effort to underscore how central energy policy is to our national
prosperity, security, and environment â draws to a close, I wanted to
highlight some of the events and announcements from the Administration
that are helping us build a clean energy economy.
Weâre
installing solar panels on the White House, building the largest solar
energy power plant in the world on our public lands, and proposing the
first-ever greenhouse gas and fuel efficiency standards for heavy-duty
cars and trucks. All told, the Administration held and made over
140 energy-related events and announcements this month. Below are
just a few of the highlights, but you can see the full calendar of events
here.
- Solar Power and the Clean Energy
Economy. President Obama kicked off the month by highlighting a revolutionary new
solar power plant in California that will employ 1,000 people and
power nearly 140,000 homes. The plant is possible because of
the Presidentâs investments in the clean energy economy.
- Empowering Defense through Energy
Security. The Department of Defense and the Navy hosted events to discuss how
they can turn their energy use from a strategic and
operationalliability to a key strength for the men and women of our
armed forces.
- Solar Panels on the White House. At the Green Gov Symposium in Washington,
DC, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu and Chair of the Council on
Environmental Quality Nancy Sutley announced that solar panels and a
solar water heater will be installed on the roof of the White House residence this spring.
- Cleaner Trucks, Buses and Vans. The
Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency
announced the first-ever proposed national standards for greenhouse
gas emissions and fuel efficiency for heavy-duty trucks, vans and buses.
- Ramping Up Solar Power on Public
Lands. In October, Secretary of the Interior
Ken Salazar announced a series of six new solar power projects on
public lands including the first-ever solar power plant on
public lands and the largest solar power plant in the
world.
- You Asked, Chu Answered. Secretary
of Energy Steven Chu answers your questions on making your home
more energy efficient.
- 36 Billion Gallons of Biofuels. Secretary
of Agriculture Tom Vilsack outlined the steps USDA will take to
reach a national goal of producing 36 billion gallons of biofuel a
year in the United States by 2022, with 21 billion gallons coming
from advanced biofuel production.
- Building More Sustainable
Communities. The Department of Transportation,
Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Housing and Urban
Development joined forces to support communities who are providing
Americans more housing choices, make transportation systems more
efficient and reliable, and support vibrant neighborhoods that
attract businesses. This is good for our communities, our
environment and our economy.
- Preparing for and Responding to
Climate Change. The Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task
Force released a report with recommendations that
will help strengthen the Nationâs capacity to prepare for and
respond to the risks associated with climate change.
- Historic Investments in High Speed
Rail. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced
that 54 high-speed rail projects in 23
states will receive a combined total of $2.4 billion to continue
developing Americaâs first nationwide program of high-speed
intercity passenger rail service. These investments will ease
our reliance on foreign oil and reduce our nationâs carbon
pollution.
Since
taking office, President Obama and his Administration have invested over
$90 billion in clean energy technology through the Recovery Act, advanced
new fuel-economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards for cars, light
trucks and heavy duty trucks, and lead by example by cutting the federal
governmentâs own carbon footprint. But there is still much work to
be done. We will continue to invest in clean energy technologies
and energy efficiency to create jobs and compete in the global
marketplace.
Sincerely,
Carol
Browner
Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change
Please do not reply to this email. Contact the
White House
The White House â 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW â Washington,
DC 20500 â 202-456-1111
|
|
