President Obama promotes renewable energy and efficiency in climate plan

by Brianna Crandall — July 10, 2013—President Obama recently announced his climate action plan, which includes significant goals related to renewable energy and energy efficiency. As summarized by the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the plan directs the U.S. Department of the Interior to issue permits by 2020 for enough renewable energy projects on public lands to power 6 million homes, while also designating the first-ever hydropower project for priority permitting, setting a new goal to install 100 megawatts of renewable energy on federally assisted housing by 2020, and maintaining the existing commitment to deploy renewable energy projects on military installations.

The plan also expands the president’s Better Buildings Challenge to help a wide range of buildings become at least 20 percent more energy efficient by 2020; sets a goal to reduce carbon emissions by at least 3 billion metric tons by 2030 through efficiency standards for appliances and federal buildings; and commits to partnering with industry and stakeholders to develop fuel economy standards for heavy-duty vehicles.

“A low-carbon, clean energy economy can be an engine of growth for decades to come,” said President Obama. “And I want America to build that engine.”

The president’s climate action plan also directs the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to establish carbon pollution standards for both new and existing power plants, while making up to $8 billion in loan guarantees available for advanced fossil energy projects. It also leverages new opportunities to reduce emissions of highly potent greenhouse gases known as hydrofluorocarbons, directs agencies to develop a comprehensive methane strategy, and commits to protecting our forests and critical landscapes. The climate action plan also commits the United States to lead international efforts to address climate change, while proposing a number of actions to help prepare the United States for the impacts of climate change.

The nonprofit Alliance to Save Energy’s Rob Mosher lauded the president’s plan, saying that it “impacts our communities while keeping our economy strong — with energy efficiency playing a major role. We are thrilled that Obama’s Climate Plan follows through on his State of the Union address and the Alliance to Save Energy’s Energy 2030 goal to double U.S. energy productivity by 2030. If we can achieve this goal, the U.S. can cut carbon emissions by a third below 2005 levels and reduce nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide by about one half.” Mosher added, “We look forward to working with the Administration to advance his vision and goals over the coming months and years to strengthen our economy and our environment.”

However, the day after the president’s speech, Congress took actions that prompted ASE’s Mosher to state the following: “The House Appropriations Committee stated yesterday that its highest priorities are to lower gas prices, support American manufacturing, and strengthen the electricity grid — it then slashed investments to energy efficiency programs, making achieving these goals decidedly more difficult.

“Cutting important R&D programs, like ARPA-E, by as much as 80 percent would dramatically harm our nation’s ability to develop the new technologies and products that drive our economic competitiveness. And it is disappointing that the Committee has recommended zeroing out federal energy management programs, which actually saves taxpayer money by reducing agency energy bills.

“While we recognize that the federal government faces significant challenges in decreasing spending, it is critical that these energy efficiency programs are appropriately funded at levels that would advance our national economic, environmental and security interests.”