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Page added on December 5, 2013
Obama orders feds to nearly triple use of renewable energy
As part of an unfolding administrative effort to curb U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, President Obama announced an executive order on Thursday that would nearly triple the share of energy federal agencies obtain from renewable sources.
To “promote energy security, combat climate change, protect the interests of taxpayers, and safeguard the health of our environment, the federal government must lead by example,” declared a memorandum from the president announcing the order.
The government currently obtains more than 7 percent of its energy from renewable sources, according to a fact sheet distributed by the White House, but the president says recent increases in domestic energy production make a 20 percent target feasible by 2020. The higher target, the White House argued, would “reduce pollution in our communities, promote American energy independence, and support homegrown energy produced by American workers.”
It’s the latest in a series of unilateral steps Mr. Obama’s administration has taken to ward off the most pernicious effects of climate change. In June, the administration announced a plan to cap the carbon emissions from new and existing power plants.
In August 2012, the administration finalized new vehicle fuel standards that would require cars and light duty trucks to average 54.5 miles per gallon by model year 2025.
And just on Tuesday, the administration unveiled a plan to help retrofit multifamily housing units and condominiums with energy efficiency upgrades, and it released a 2014 fuel economy guide to promote efficient vehicles among consumers.
Federal agencies have already decreased their carbon emissions by 15 percent since he took office in 2009, the president noted in his memorandum.
5 Comments on "Obama orders feds to nearly triple use of renewable energy"
rockman on Thu, 5th Dec 2013 5:56 pm
Nice thoughts. But what is the net effect? According to the EIA US energy consumption is around 100 quadrillion Btu’s per year. And they estimate US govt energy consumption around 1.17 quadrillion Btu’s in 2011. So all of the US govt consumes less than 2% of the energy consumed by the US. Cutting that back to 1% would be nice…every little bit helps. But a 0.7% cut is just that…a little bit.
At the same time the US has become the 4th largest coal exporter on the planet. In the last several years US coal exports to China have increased 500% with much of it coming from western govt lands that hold huge reserves of high sulfur coal. And more on the way: the head of the Interior Dept pledged to expedite the permit process to allow the expansion of coal export terminals on the Texas coast to offset resistance the govt is having to building new coal export terminals on the west coast. But even with such a reduction the in consumption US govt will remain the single largest energy consumer on the planet.
The POTUS also stated in a public speech that expediting the completion of the pipeline system carrying Canadian oil sands production from OK to Texas refineries has critical for the US economy and instructed all his depts. to expedite that process by cutting the red tape. The line will begin moving oil next month…max capacity: 700,000 bopd. Offshore fossil fuel development is also an important part of the administration’s energy agenda. Since the Macondo blow the US govt has offered over 100 million acres of leases in the GOM as well as approving hundreds of new drill permits. In 1Q 2014 the govt will be leasing more acreage in the GOM off the west coast of FL.
Again, nothing wrong with any govt effort to reduce GHG. But I think it’s useful to keep in mind the scale of such efforts compared to all the other efforts to increase the production of North American fossil fuels. Net it out and it’s apparent the US intends to have its relative small percentage of the global population continue to consume a disproportionately large share of all global energy sources. But we are trying to help the rest of the global economies by increasing our export of LNG, coal and refined products.
Feemer on Thu, 5th Dec 2013 11:03 pm
This is great news! as said by rockman ^ it will have only a small impact nationally and globally, but 1, every bit helps, and 2, it sets an example for the US, and shows internationally that the US is transitioning and leading in this. Although we are far behind European countries. Hopefully they aren’t classifying nuclear energy as a renewable source.
BillT on Fri, 6th Dec 2013 2:05 am
Perhaps he could cut the military’s use? After all the US military uses more oil than most countries. Mothball 7 or 8 carrier fleets. Close 800+ overseas bases. Get rid of the NSA, TSA, CIA, and all other Police State apparatus. THEN worry about energy use by what is left.
Kenz300 on Fri, 6th Dec 2013 4:39 pm
The longest journey begins with a single step……..
GregT on Fri, 6th Dec 2013 6:29 pm
There’s that media buzzword again, ‘renewable’. Anything that requires finite resources, is NOT renewable.
“In August 2012, the administration finalized new vehicle fuel standards that would require cars and light duty trucks to average 54.5 miles per gallon by model year 2025.”
Meanwhile……….the scientific community is calling for a complete ban on all fossil fuel usage by 2035, to give us a 50/50 chance of averting ‘catastrophic runaway climate change’, and many are saying now, that even THAT is far too optimistic.
Hang on, we’re in for quite the ride.