Feds to Cut GHG Emissions 28% by 2020
DOE: $2.4B for Clean Energy, Efficiency in FY 2011 Budget
Ag, Interior Departments Propose Boosts for Clean Energy Funding
DOE, EPA Join States to Speed Progress on U.S. Energy Efficiency
Transportation Dept Awards $8B for High-Speed Rail
DOE Closes $1.4B Loan to Nissan
Under the Copenhagen Accord, 55 Countries Agree to Cut GHG Emissions
Federal Government to Cut GHG Emissions 28% by 2020
President Obama announced that the federal government-the largest energy consumer in the U.S. economy-will achieve a 28% reduction in its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2020.
The president issued the Executive Order on October 5, 2009, requiring each federal agency to submit by January 4 a 2020 target for reducing its GHG emissions from its estimated 2008 baseline. The new target is the aggregate of those set by 35 federal departments and agencies.
As a next step, the Office of Management and Budget will validate and score each agency's sustainability plan, assuring a long-term return on investment to the U.S. taxpayer. To ensure accountability, progress will be measured and reported to the public annually. See the White House press release and the Executive Order (PDF 87 KB).
Achieving the target will reduce federal energy use by 205 million barrels of oil, while avoiding $8-11 billion in energy costs by 2020. Agencies are already taking actions such as installing solar arrays, tapping landfills for renewable energy, putting energy management systems in federal buildings, and replacing older vehicles with more fuel-efficient hybrid models. See a White House compilation of federal projects that are helping to meet the GHG reduction target (PDF 313 KB).
DOE Requests $2.4 Billion for Renewable Energy, Efficiency in FY 2011
On February 1, President Obama unveiled a $28.4 billion budget request for DOE for fiscal year (FY) 2011, including $2.36 billion for the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE).
The proposed budget aims to reduce energy use, boost renewable energy sources, and strengthen clean energy research. The budget request for EERE represents a 5% increase over FY 2010, not counting funds provided through the Recovery Act.
The budget includes substantial increases for many EERE programs:
- 53% increase for wind energy
- 43% increase for the Weatherization and Intergovernmental program
- 32% increase for the Federal Energy Management Program
- 25% increase for geothermal energy
- 22% increase for solar energy
It also includes $57.5 million for facilities and infrastructure at DOE's National Renewable Energy Lab, including the completion of the Energy Systems Integration Facility.
It proposes $50 million for a new program called Regaining our Energy Science and Engineering Edge (Re-Energyse), an educational effort designed to guide students and workers to pursue careers in science, engineering, and entrepreneurship related to clean energy. And the budget asks for a 43% increase in funding for program direction and calls for nearly doubling the amount spent for program support.
The President's budget typically represents a starting point for the Congressional appropriation process. See the DOE press release and text pages 25-31 (PDF pages 30-36) of the DOE Budget Highlights (PDF 4.2 MB) on the DOE budget and performance Web page.
In addition to funding EERE, the proposed DOE budget includes:
- $500M to support an estimated $3-5 billion in loan guarantees for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects
- $10M to support continued administration of the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program.
- $35M for clean energy transmission and reliability
- $39.3M for Smart Grid R&D
- $40M for energy storage on the electrical grid
