With the strong support of the people of Colorado, from the congressional delegation to Governor Hickenlooper to the Native American community and local residents, President Obama has ensured this extraordinary national treasure will be protected for generations to come. 

Chimney Rock, designated a national monument on Sept. 21, 2012, was home to the Ancestral Pueblo People about 1,000 years ago and is culturally significant for Native American tribes. The dramatic Great House Pueblo was likely was used as an observatory for the annual summer solstice. (Photo credit: U.S. Department of Agriculture)

A thousand years ago, Chimney Rock was home to Ancestral Pueblo People who built more than 200 homes and ceremonial buildings high above the valley floor. Many of the structures remain today, and are designed to perfectly align with lunar events such as seasonal solstices and equinoxes, drawing visitors from across the world. 

Beyond protecting this special place, this designation also ensures Chimney Rock will be a source of economic opportunity in Colorado, attracting new business and tourism. According to a study commissioned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the national monument designation is expected to double economic activity from tourism in the area over the next five years. Outdoor places like Chimney Rock provide us with opportunities for rest and respite, with a link to our Nation’s proud outdoor traditions and culture, and with jobs and economic opportunities across the country.  In fact, outdoor recreation alone contributes an estimated $650 billion a year to our economy, according to the Outdoor Industry Association.

Chimney Rock builds on the President’s strong record of supporting local conservation priorities through the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative. Under President Obama, we’ve marked the most extensive expansion of land and water conservation in a generation through the National Public Lands Act; enrolled hundreds of millions of acres of private land in voluntary conservation programs;  helped open up more than 2 million acres for hunting, fishing and other recreation on private lands; and made critical progress restoring iconic ecosystems across the country.

The Great House Pueblo is on the closest patch of ground to the twin pillars, on the highest level area above the valley floor 1,000 feet below. (Photo credit: U.S. Department of Agriculture)

Yesterday, I had a chance to meet with a group of Colorado Latino youth who traveled to Washington D.C. to speak with Administration officials about the importance of conservation. Their stories of experiencing America’s great outdoors, and the economic and environmental opportunities the great outdoors provide, were an inspiration to me and my colleagues. These young people -- our nation’s future engineers, business leaders, ranchers and public servants – understood the power of protecting our national treasures for future generations, and were thrilled to learn the President has declared America’s newest national monument in their home state.

When President Obama made Chimney Rock our nation’s 103^rd national monument this morning, he followed a tradition begun by President Teddy Roosevelt nearly a century ago of protecting our greatest natural assets. Today, we can celebrate that a century from now, the unique landscape of Chimney Rock will continue to be cherished and enjoyed by generations of Americans.

Chair Sutley tours IceStone manufacturing facility in Brooklyn, NY (Photo Credit Flaam Hardy)

Throughout America, even in this difficult economic environment, there are examples of innovation and entrepreneurship that inspire us with their creativity and success.  I came across one of these places recently at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in not surprisingly, Brooklyn New York, a former shipyard that is now a thriving urban industrial park.  There, a small manufacturer named IceStone has capitalized on the demand for safe and sustainable products by creating countertops and surfaces from 100 percent recycled glass, diverting hundreds of tons of glass from landfills each year.  In doing so, they've created more than 40 good jobs in a daylit facility and sustainable work environment that their workers feel good about.  

As a New York native myself, I remember what the Brooklyn Navy Yard used to look like when I was growing up – a bleak space that was not an obvious boon to the community.  Today, it is transformed – it's a thriving place in a vibrant community.  With Federal, State and local support, it is an innovation hub, and a unique urban haven for small green manufacturers.  In addition to Icestone, this includes companies like Duggal, which has designed and manufactured a wind-solar street lamp, and SMIT, which is designing an ivy-inspired wind and solar energy system that can be draped over the sides of a building.  To support homegrown jobs and manufacturers like these, the Brooklyn Navy Yard has 12 new green industrial buildings in design or construction, and is adding 2 million square feet of space over next two years.

President Obama has launched a plan to spark manufacturing growth and new jobs for American families. The Navy Yard is a great example of the growth of small green manufacturing across industrial sectors, and it's a model that can be replicated in other urban centers for how to grow a city's economy, grow good middle class jobs, and build a more sustainable city. Manufacturing remains one of America's most globally competitive economic sectors, and even amid the biggest recession since the Great Depression, we are seeing this sector bounce back. My time at the Brooklyn Navy Yard gave me a valuable opportunity to engage in a conversation about how the Federal Government can better support small manufacturers that provide good middle-class jobs in their communities.  We will keep engaging in these types of conversations and following them up with action to ensure we are investing in the spark and ingenuity of our entrepreneurs, good American jobs, and a strong foundation for the American economy in the 21st century.  

Besides all this, I got to be an honorary Brooklynite for the day!

Nancy Sutley is Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality

In 2010, the President announced that the Federal Government will reduce its direct emissions such as those from fuels and building energy use, by 28 percent by 2020 and will reduce its indirect emissions by 13 percent by 2020, like those from employee business travel and employee commuting.  By measuring, reporting, and reducing the GHG emissions from agency operations to achieve these goals, we can save up to $11 billion dollars in energy costs over the next decade and eliminate the equivalent of cumulative 235 million barrels of oil.

Each agency has set their own GHG reduction goals and reported their agency's direct and indirect GHG inventory as part of their sustainability efforts under the President's Executive Order 13514. These goals reflect the unique mission and activities of agencies and allow us to build government-wide goals and targets with the input of each agency.
 
We are already seeing results from this important effort. The 2010 GHG inventory shows that the Federal Government successfully reduced GHG pollution by 2.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (MMTCO2e) from its 2008 baseline. The Federal Government's emissions totaled 66.4 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions (MMTCO2e). By gathering and collecting this information, agencies know where they stand and the steps they must take to meet their GHG reduction goals.  While we have already seen progress, there is more to do over the next 10 years to meet the President’s 2020 GHG pollution reduction goal, and these numbers provide us the necessary information to ensure the Federal Government is on track to meet this important goal.

You can't manage what you don't measure; this first-ever comprehensive GHG inventory allows agencies to leverage data to gauge the effectiveness of their renewable energy investments and their energy and fuel efficiency efforts.  We look forward to receiving in June, agencies' updated Sustainability Plans that will address areas needing improvement, and expand on successes. These plans, required by EO 13514, will be posted publically on agency websites.

The idea behind the President’s Executive Order is simple: it's about promoting sustainable growth and ensuring that it has wide-spread benefits.  These changes will help save the American people billions of dollars and put in place a government that is more efficient and sustainable, that cuts bureaucracy and embraces technology, and that better serves the American taxpayer.  That's the government we are building each day, and that's the kind of government the American people deserve. 

And to continue the Obama Administration's commitment to ensuring a transparent, responsive and interactive government, you can view the comprehensive Federal Government's GHG inventory for 2010 at http://www.data.gov/raw/4769. 

Nancy Sutley is Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality

Clean water has been a priority for this Administration from day one. Through an extensive set of policies and initiatives, we are working across Federal agencies, across governments and across sectors to use every tool in our toolbox to make sure Americans have the clean and healthy waters they need and deserve.

Today, we released a national clean water framework that affirms the Obama Administration’s comprehensive commitment to ensuring clean water and healthy waterways for American families, American communities, and the American economy.  We're taking strong action to reduce contaminants in our drinking water by using the latest science to update drinking water standards, and by better protecting drinking water sources from pollution.  We’re giving farmers incentives to reduce pollution, and giving landowners incentives to open up their lands for fishing, swimming, and other activities that promote public stewardship of our waters. We're working with states to make sure rural communities have affordable and modern clean water systems.

And we're partnering with states, communities, and stakeholders to restore valuable but deteriorating natural systems around the country. This includes iconic places like the Everglades, which supports tens of thousands of jobs and contributes billions to our economy. And places like the Chesapeake Bay, which supports billions each year in agriculture, forestry, fisheries and tourism – and where the cultural value to communities is immeasurable.

We’re also updating the Nation's water policies to ensure they meet modern challenges, reflect the latest science, and respond to Americans' goals for healthy and safe water resources and communities.  This includes draft guidance, released today, that would clarify where the Clean Water Act applies nationwide.  This will help restore long-standing protection to critical waters and provide clearer, less burdensome guidelines for determining which water bodies we can keep safe from pollution and other pressures. This draft guidance will be open for 60 days of public comment to allow the public and stakeholders to provide input and feedback before it is finalized.

Since the beginning of this Administration, we have been working hard to ensure clean water.  Today we've reaffirmed that commitment, and promised to continue to lead on clean water, and to support our partners across the country who are working to ensure the health and economic vitality of American communities.

Nancy Sutley is Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality

Chair Sutley joins LA Department of Water and Power General Manager Ron Nichols, LA District 1 City Council Member Ed Reyes, and LA District 13 City Council Member Eric Garcetti in announcing energy efficiency grants to local non-profit organizations.

This week, people all around the globe will come together to honor and appreciate our environment.  Since its establishment over 40 years ago, Earth Day in America has given us the opportunity to renew our commitment to protecting and preserving the natural treasures and resources vital to our health and prosperity.  The investments that make the water we drink and the air we breathe clean and healthy, and protect the health of the lands on which we work, farm, live, and play will continue to pay immeasurable dividends for generations to come.

As I travel across the country visiting communities, students, educators, businesses and innovators building the path to winning the future, I am reminded of how interconnected a robust economy and a thriving natural environment are.  Our clean energy economy will harness and protect the power of the sun, the wind, our waters, our resources, and our Earth. To ensure their success we must also play our part.

As I visited with the Los Angeles Conservation Corps members in Los Angeles, California, I heard how the training they received helps small businesses save energy and money, thanks to the Department of Energy’s Recovery Act investments.  By partnering with local governments, these Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants create projects that will train workers and drive technology, and build sustainable, energy-saving communities. 

Partnership and investment by the Federal and local governments will be vital to our success as a country.   I saw, firsthand, how these strategic investments empower and lead the way toward the future and impact the everyday lives of Americans.

The Los Angeles skyline serves as a backdrop during Chair Sutley outdoor events during Latino Earth Day.

The lasting benefits of a sound natural environment don’t end there.  Our nation’s traditions are built on the connection that America’s natural heritage has with our health and livelihood.  In Los Angeles I joined young Angelenos camping with their families, some of them for the first time, in the shadows of downtown LA skyscrapers. I saw the President’s America’s Great Outdoors initiative in action.  Once a massive rail yard, now a magnificent expanse of urban green space, the Los Angeles State Historic Park brings this community, especially its  youth, closer to each other and closer to the outdoors.  Often lacking access to the outdoors, our urban populations can miss the important opportunity to learn from, connect with, and continue the natural traditions that have defined this nation.  That’s what the President’s 21st century common sense conservation agenda is all about.

In all of this, we must remember the President’s challenge to us to give back as much as we take, so that our way of life and the natural world on which we depend can maintain the harmony vital to our future. Last Saturday, I kicked-off Earth Week in service to our environment by joining students and the local community in planting trees in this historic state park in Los Angeles.  Today, I will join Heather Zichal, Deputy Assistant to the President in a live Facebook chat to answer your questions about what the Obama Administration is doing to protect our environment and build a clean energy economy for generations to come.  I hope you will join us in this conversation at 4:30pm (EDT) by asking your questions at obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/live

Tomorrow, First Lady Michelle Obama, National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis and I will commemorate Earth Day by working to help improve the habitat at Fort Dupont Park in Washington, DC, an urban green space in DC’s historic Anacostia neighborhood.    Joined by mentees, and local students, we will commemorate Earth day and Mrs. Obama will present Let’s Move! Outside Junior Ranger certificates and Presidential Active Lifestyle Awards (PALAs) to celebrate Americans who enjoy being healthy and active in the outdoors.

Chair Sutley joins the local Los Angeles Community in Tree Planting.

Protecting the vibrancy and resilience of our environment affects all nations across generations impacting our health, to our prosperity, and our daily lives.  Millions of Americans from all walks of life have come together and heeded that call.  That is the spirit behind Earth Day. That as long as we embrace and encourage the innovation and commitment to service in each and every one of us, we have the capacity to make an enormous difference for our country, and for our world.

And across the Administration, Cabinet Members and agencies are participating in events, including several today. For example, after hosting the National Sustainable Design Expo on the National Mall this past weekend,  EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson will  join Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter to highlight the Philadelphia Water Department’s green stormwater infrastructure investments; Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan are in Long Island to unveil a new pilot program that will offer credit-worthy borrowers low-cost loans to make energy-saving improvements to their homes; United States Trade Representative Kirk will visit American University where he will tour solar installations and speak with students; and the Department of Transportation will host the largest Earth Day celebration in its history.  And tomorrow, among other events, Interior Deputy Secretary David Hayes will host a live webchat at www.doi.gov/live at 11:15 a.m. to discuss Interior’s renewable energy initiatives and Earth Day-related activities, and Veterans Affairs Secretary Shinseki will speak at the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the wind turbine at Massachusetts National Cemetery.

Nancy Sutley is Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality

CEQ Chair Nancy Sutley tours the Carrier Corp manufacturing plant for high-efficiency chillers in Charlotte, NC

By investing in clean energy sources and developing 21st century clean energy technologies, we are moving to make America stronger, safer and healthier. Over the past few weeks, I saw this American ingenuity and the role our government has in sparking it firsthand.  In Charlotte, N.C., workers at Carrier Corp. are building high-efficiency commercial HVAC systems that lead the global market and surpass energy efficiency standards by 40 percent.  The workers I met are rightly proud of the products they make that help businesses and governments across the U.S. and throughout the world save money by lowering their energy bills.  And they are pretty excited about their role in creating a clean energy economy.

CEQ Chair Nancy Sutley participates in a roundtable discussion with engineering students at the University of North Carolina Charlotte

At the University of North Carolina Charlotte's William States Lee College of Engineering, which received grant money from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), students discussed the projects and work they are doing in energy-efficient and sustainable building systems design.  These students told me about their projects that are focused on tackling real world challenges to save energy and reduce pollution.  Through DoE's Recovery Act investments, we can help ensure that they receive an education second to none.

CEQ Chair Nancy Sutley visits the Green Vehicle Showcase with EPA Regional Administrator Jared Blumenfeld, Chief Technical Officer for Coulomb Technologies Richard Lowenthal and San Francisco Department of the Environment Director Melanie Nutter (left to right)

And in San Francisco, I joined Mayor Edwin Lee and Bay-Area clean energy technology manufacturers in celebrating the expansion of a cleaner, smarter transportation infrastructure.  With help from investments by the Federal and local governments, the city's Green Vehicle Showcase, which features locally manufactured electric vehicles (EV) and their charging stations, highlights their expanding efforts to grow across the metro area throughout 2011.

Thanks to President Obama's commitment to invest in American schools, communities and, technologies, we're not just investing in factories, or in products.  We're investing in the spark and ingenuity of America's entrepreneurs.  We're investing in the jobs and futures of the American people.  And we're investing in our collective future as the United States of America. 

Last week, President Barack Obama announced the Administration’s action plan, under the America's Great Outdoors initiative, to achieve lasting conservation of the outdoor spaces that power our nation’s economy, shape our culture, and build our outdoor traditions. This initiative seeks to reinvigorate our approach to conservation and reconnect Americans, especially young people, with the lands and waters that are used for farming and ranching, hunting and fishing, and for families to spend quality time together.  Recognizing that many of these places and resources are under intense pressure, the President established the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative last April to work with the American people in developing a conservation and recreation agenda that makes sense for the 21st century.

This report is the product of 51 listening sessions across the nation—21 specifically with young people—consisting of more than 10,000 participants spanning all ages and backgrounds, plus more than 100,000 comments from citizens across the nation sharing with us your priorities for the lands and waters that you know best. We built this plan with your input and your involvement doesn't stop there.

On March 3, 2011, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson and I will continue the conversation by hosting the first America’s Great Outdoors live chat.  You can join by video before the chat or by Facebook during the chat.  You can post your YouTube video questions by responding to the video above, or by sending your questions to policyoutreach@ceq.eop.gov.  To submit by Facebook during the live chat, sign on to our Facebook chat application on Thursday March 3rd at 4:30 pm (EST).

We look forward to talking to you!

Nancy Sutley is Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality

These bills will curb lead levels in water pipes, a major source of harmful lead exposure for children, and help address diesel engine pollution that is linked to serious health conditions like asthma and heart and lung disease.  They also hold the Federal Government accountable for the water pollution it contributes to American communities; encourage volunteer opportunities in National Wildlife Refuges; and help conserve vulnerable shark populations. These measures are just the beginning of what we can accomplish in 2011.  We look forward to a year of continued progress toward a healthy and prosperous future for our country. 

The President signed the following environmental bills into law on Tuesday:

• H.R. 81, the "Shark Conservation Act of 2010 and International Fisheries Agreement Clarification Act," which generally prohibits the removal of shark fins at sea and amends certain laws related to international fisheries;
• H.R. 4973, the "National Wildlife Refuge Volunteer Improvement Act of 2010," which reauthorizes and amends authorities relating to volunteer programs and community partnerships for national wildlife refuges;
• H.R. 5809, the "Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2010," which modifies and reauthorizes through FY 2016 the Environmental Protection Agency's Diesel Emissions Reduction Program;
• S. 3481, which clarifies the Federal Government's responsibility to pay reasonable service charges to a State or local government to address stormwater pollution from Federal properties; and
• S. 3874, the "Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act," which modifies the Safe Drinking Water Act definition of "lead free" with regard to pipes, pipe fittings, plumbing fittings, and fixtures

Nancy Sutley is Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality

CEQ Chair Nancy Sutley, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, Attorney General Eric Holder, and HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan discuss environmental justice issues in September.

Tune in on Wednesday, December 15th at 12:50PM EST to participate in the discussion live at whitehouse.gov/live.  To submit your questions on Facebook, sign on to http://apps.facebook.com/ObamaWhiteHouselive/.  Also, watch the White House Forum live all day, beginning at 10am, at obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/live.

Nancy Sutley is Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality

Secretary Chu and Chair Sutley announce plans to install solar panels on the White House Residence, October 5, 2010. (William Atkins, the George Washington University)

It was just one year ago today that President Obama signed an Executive Order asking the Federal Government to look inward and push ourselves to operate more sustainably.  He asked us to set, and then meet, some aggressive goals, and to leverage our assets, our purchasing power, and our large and dedicated work force to help advance clean energy opportunities, cut the pollution that is degrading our planet, and save American taxpayer dollars in the process.  Agencies across the Federal Government are excited and proud of what they are doing and what they intend to do to live up to the promise of GreenGov.

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, CEQ Chair Nancy Sutley, GW President Steven Knapp, and Director of GW Office of Sustainability Meghan Chapple-Brown participate in the first annual GreenGov Symposium, October 5, 2010. (William Atkins, the George Washington University)

Over the next few days, the Symposium will cover a broad range of topics including clean energy, water efficiency, achieving zero waste, greening the supply chain, and sustainable communities.   To view the complete workshop agenda, visit: obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/greengov/symposium

Nancy Sutley is Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality

CEQ Chair Nancy Sutley joins Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District Executive Director Kevin Shafer to tour projects that will help meet GLRI restoration goals.

President Obama created the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to target the most significant problems facing the Great Lakes, and track progress in addressing them.  Through this initiative, we have proposed the largest investment in the Great Lakes in two decades.  The grant awarded to the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District will fund projects to help meet these restoration goals. 

Chair Sutley and Executive Director Shafer view a Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District project

The Great Lakes support a multi-billion dollar economy, provide drinking water for 30 million people, and help shape the culture and environment of the region.  But just like many of our nation’s ecosystems, the Great Lakes face challenges like pollution, invasive species, habitat loss and environmental degradation that threaten to erode them.  The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative calls for aggressive action to address priority areas such as cleaning up toxics and toxic hot spots, combating invasive species, protecting watersheds from polluted run-off, and restoring wetlands and other habitats.

Restoring the Great Lakes is a national priority.  Working together, we can protect this magnificent resource for the benefit of Great Lakes communities and all Americans.

Nancy Sutley is Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality

In the President's 2009 Executive Order on Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy and Economic Performance, he asked agencies to develop, implement and annually update a plan that prioritizes sustainability actions based on a positive return on investment for the American taxpayer.  The goal is to meet energy, water, and waste reduction targets that will save taxpayer dollars, create clean energy jobs, and reduce pollution.

Federal agencies of all sizes came up with a range of sustainability actions that align with their individual missions and responsibilities.  At the Department of Defense, for example, the Air Force has a plan to certify all of its aircraft to operate with a 50 percent alternative fuel blend by 2011. And at the Department of Transportation, they've established an awards program to highlight and promote intra-agency best practices in waste prevention, recycling, and green procurement.

The Federal Government has an obligation to lead by example toward a sustainable future.  Today we took another step in the right direction.

Nancy Sutley is Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality
 

Rep. Zoe Lofgren, Chair Nancy Sutley and Nanosolar co-founder Brian Sager on the manufacturing floor at Nanosolar (photograph courtesy of Rafi Litmanovitz). July 6, 2010.

At Nanosolar, a San Jose solar production facility, I witnessed a company addressing the need for cost-efficient solar power through thin film solar cells and utility-scale solar panels. Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren and I saw the production of the solar panels from the manufacturing floor.

Later, we made our way to Cisco Systems, also in San Jose, to discuss some of the smart-grid technology that is advancing America’s transition to a more intelligent, strong, secure power system. My final stop of the morning was at SunPower, a solar technology company. I sat down with a group of local renewable-energy business leaders for a roundtable discussion about the challenges and opportunities we encounter as we build a clean energy future.

Thanks to the investments made through the Recovery Act and other measures, we are building on innovative work and increasing opportunities in the clean energy sector throughout the Nation. We must continue to unleash the ingenuity of this country’s entrepreneurs, create permanent private-sector jobs, and keep America strong, safe and prosperous in the 21st century.

Nancy Sutley is Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality

Many of my fondest memories took place outside. I recall playing in my small backyard in Queens, NY, and sledding with friends in our many neighborhood parks. I also remember my family’s annual vacations to the beach or the mountains, and how I marveled at their beauty. Our outdoor spaces provide a sense of peace and add immeasurably to our quality of life. They give us a chance to experience nature and to be around wildlife, and they fuel our imaginations and our spirits. These places and experiences embolden our sense of duty to protect the environment and our planet from the threat of pollution.

The Obama Administration has taken great strides to keep our air and water clean, and understands that a healthy environment and a healthy economy go hand in hand. We have made a historic investment through the Recovery Act in clean energy that will create the jobs of tomorrow and lay the foundation for long-term economic growth. In March 2009, the President signed the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, the most extensive expansion of land and water conservation in more than a generation. And just last Friday, the President signed a Presidential Memorandum establishing the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative to promote and support innovative community-level efforts that will help us build a community-centered 21st century conservation agenda that protects the many beautiful places and outdoor traditions of our great Nation from the ground up. We are developing recommendations for a national ocean policy to protect our oceans, coasts, and the Great Lakes; we are working to protect and restore Louisiana and Mississippi coastal ecosystems; we have renewed our commitment to restore the California Bay Delta and to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay and the Great Lakes.

And that’s just a snapshot of our efforts. But, while the Federal Government must and will play a role, we also need Americans to help lead. The story of the last four decades is about innovation. It’s about the American spirit of ingenuity that we called upon to answer the environmental and public health challenges of 40 years ago, and that will also meet the challenges of today. 

This Earth Day, we can all learn about the environmental issues of today, and how to take action in our own homes or communities. obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/earthday is a valuable resource where you can begin. Happy Earth Day!

Nancy Sutley is the Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality

My first stop was at one of Orlando's six LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified fire stations. With a focus on energy efficiency and sustainability, the fire station has employed innovative techniques to save energy and conserve water. For example, the lighting and hot water are powered through rooftop solar panels, a cistern system collects rain water for use in the station's toilets, and native plant species, which require less water, are planted around the fire station -- including on the green roof.

Nancy Sutley visits Fire Station 1, one of Orlando's six LEED certified fire stations. April 5, 2010.

In the afternoon, I toured the Iron Bridge Regional Water Reclamation Facility, where the city is testing technology for an innovative process to reuse water. It also creates byproducts, such as clean sand and recovered metals, which can then possibly be sold in established markets. Additionally, the process generates a significant amount of heat energy, which can be captured and used to generate electricity.

Under President Obama's Executive Order 13514 on Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance, we will improve energy efficiency, conserve water, reduce waste, use less petroleum in our vehicle fleets, and leverage Federal purchasing power to promote environmentally-responsible products and technologies.

Over the past 15 months, I've had the chance to travel coast to coast seeing first-hand how the United States is building a greener future. Communities across the nation are planting the seeds of a new prosperity -- one that is based on the promise of good, high-paying, American clean energy jobs. Together, with the hard work and innovation that have always defined Americans, we are on our way to a healthier, more prosperous future.

Nancy Sutley is the Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality

Last fall, President Obama asked all Federal and military personnel to join in the GreenGov Challenge to share their ideas on how we can lead by example, green the government, and meet the goals of the Executive Order on Federal Sustainability.  Today, the President is calling on us to turn those ideas into action to put the Federal Government on the path to a clean energy future, and to meet our greenhouse gas pollution reduction target of 28% by 2020.

The GreenGov Challenge gathered more than 5,300 ideas and 165,000 votes from thousands of our colleagues in the Federal and military community from every agency, across America and around the globe.

The top ideas are summarized in the GreenGov Final Report.  Among the most popular ones were expanding teleworking, landscaping with native plants that require less watering, making use of digital signatures to reduce printing documents, replacing non-recyclable materials with biobased cups and other service items in Federal cafeterias, and installing solar panels of Federal buildings. An initial summary of the GreenGov Challenge was presented to the Steering Committee on Federal Sustainability at a recent meeting, and each Federal Agency’s Senior Sustainability Officer is already working to incorporate your suggestions into their annual Sustainability Plans.

Today President Obama is issuing a new challenge to Federal and military personnel to put these ideas to work. To get started, check out the GreenGov Challenge Final Report and pick an idea you can champion in your workplace. Then sign up for the GreenGov Collaborative to work with colleagues across the government to put your ideas into action. You’ll be able to share your strategies, ask questions, and create a “green team” in this online community.

You answered the GreenGov challenge, now be part of the GreenGov transformation.

Nancy Sutley is the Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality

So what does this goal mean?  Achieving this 28 percent reduction will reduce Federal energy use by 646 trillion BTUs, which is equal to 205 million barrels of oil, or taking 17 million cars off the road for one year.  And this is also equivalent to a cumulative total of $8 to $11 billion in avoided energy costs through 2020 based on current energy prices.  Now that is impressive.

The next step towards Federal Sustainability is an important one: each agency is developing a “Sustainability Plan” that defines how they’ll meet their GreenGov goals, reduce energy use, drive long-term savings, save taxpayer dollars, and help create local clean energy jobs.

Cities, states, and American businesses have helped to forge the way by showing that greening their operations is not only good for the environment, but good for business; we have ample best practices and lessons to look to from our colleagues around the country.

And Federal Departments and Agencies are already taking actions to achieve greenhouse gas pollution reductions, such as installing solar arrays at military installations, tapping landfills for renewable energy, putting energy management systems in Federal buildings, and replacing older vehicles with more fuel efficient hybrid models.   You can view examples of projects that are underway here.

The 28% Federal target announced on Friday is the aggregate of 35 Federal Agency self-reported targets.  For example, the Department of Defense announced it will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from non-combat activities by 34% by 2020  and the Department of the Treasury will reduce its emissions by 33%.

We are very excited by the progress that is already occurring, and will continue to watch these developments in the future.  Moving forward, implementation of the Executive Order will focus on integrating achievement of sustainability goals with agency mission and strategic planning.  The goal is to optimize performance and minimize costs.

You will all be able to chart the Federal government’s progress through “scorecards” that will grade each agency on how well it is meeting its performance targets.  And to ensure transparency and accountability, annual progress will be reported online to the public.  I’m looking forward to sharing more updates in the months ahead!

Nancy Sutley is the Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality
 

Later, I visited my home borough of Queens, where I toured the Mason Tenders Training Center to see workers being trained in energy efficiency upgrading and weatherization.  The work they are learning to do -- caulking windows and doors, adding insulation, investigating HVAC systems, replacing energy inefficient light bulbs -- is the type of work that will lower home owners’ energy bills, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create good, green jobs.

Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley views retrofit plans on the rooftop of the West 135th St. Apartments in New York City. January 14, 2010.

Afterwards, I traveled to the West 135th St. Apartments in Harlem to visit the first Section 8 multi-family housing property to receive Recovery Act funding through the Green Retrofit Program from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.  Jonathan Rose Companies, a New York-based property owner and developer is receiving a $3.6 million loan to retrofit this 198-unit, 10 building historic property.  This loan will fund a comprehensive energy retrofit project that, when completed, will enhance quality of life for the residents, reduce energy costs, cut water consumption, improve indoor air quality, and create quality local jobs.

We see home energy upgrades and retrofits as a part of the President’s vision for a clean energy economy.  That is why I am leading the Administration’s work on Recovery Through Retrofit, which builds on the foundation laid in the Recovery Act to expand green job opportunities and boost energy savings by making homes more energy efficient.  In the U.S., 130 million homes are responsible for more than 20 percent of our carbon emissions.  Energy efficiency retrofits present the opportunity to increase energy efficiency, while also creating new businesses and good green jobs. 

You can learn more about Recovery Through Retrofit on our website.

Nancy Sutley is the Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality

Nancy Sutley and Jo Ellen Darcy participate in the Picayune Strand Restoration Project Groundbreaking Ceremony. January 7, 2010.

On Thursday I attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the Picayune Strand Restoration project, that will work to preserve and enhance native Florida wetlands by restoring the natural hydrology of the area, and improving the water quality of downstream coastal estuaries.  On Friday, I participated in the Everglades Coalition Conference and discussed ways to meet the challenges that growth and climate change place on the long-term sustainability of the Everglades.  I enjoyed speaking with so many of the people who are working to preserve this region and was happy to have the opportunity to recognize incredible accomplishments of those dedicated to Everglades restoration and applaud their energetic advocacy.

I conveyed to the people of Florida a simple message: we are committed to the conservation and restoration of this iconic ecosystem and it is a key priority for the Obama Administration.  I look forward to continuing to work with this region in the future.

The Everglades, seen from the air, make up the largest wilderness east of the Mississippi River and the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. January 7, 2010.

Nancy Sutley is the Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality

Nancy Sutley is the Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality

Dr. Hector Abruna shows Chair Sutley an ultra-high-vacuum chamber for coupled electrochemical and surface studies of single crystal electrocatalyst materials for fuel cells at the Cornell Fuel Cell Institute. November 14, 2009.

While at Cornell, I had the opportunity to check out the Cornell Fuel Cell Institute and the Energy Materials Center, a U.S. Department of Energy designated Energy Frontier Research Center. Héctor Abruña, the director of the Center presented some of their fascinating advances in fuel cell technology and told me about Cornell’s partnerships with major companies to develop efficient, high-performance batteries and fuel cells for industry and consumer products.  These technologies have an amazing potential to revolutionize our transportation and energy sectors.

Chair Sutley speaks with Dr. Frank DiSalvo, Dr. Paul Mutolo, and Dr. Hector Abruna about the importance of research universities. November 14, 2009.

Needless to say, I really appreciated the opportunity to get a back-stage tour of the University’s fuel cell labs and enjoyed being back on campus.  Research universities all over the U.S. are doing groundbreaking work in developing clean energy technology and training the next generation of scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs.

Nancy Sutley is the Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality

NOAA Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenco (facing camera, seated in center), CEQ Chair Nancy Sutley (facing camera, seated on right) and Rear Admiral Mary Landry (seated front right corner) take an airboat tour of the Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge. October 20, 2009. (by NOAA)

On Tuesday, we toured the Gulf Coast region to get a first-hand view of the issues. We took an aerial tour of New Orleans’ 9th Ward, coastal wetlands and barrier island chains, and the Mississippi river, followed by an airboat tour of the Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge and its unique habitats and diverse plant communities. Our trip allowed us to see both the bird’s eye view of the Gulf from the air, and actual restoration efforts on the ground. The Obama administration is working to strengthen the wetlands and barrier islands that are the first line of defense for the Gulf Coast – a priority that, while critical to this region’s physical protection, is also critical to our environment and to our economy.

It was a truly pleasure to return to New Orleans so soon after my visit the week before. Before the President’s town hall, I had the opportunity to meet with leaders from the community engaged in coastal restoration efforts and to witness first-hand the degree of environmental degradation plaguing the region. I also visited the Central Bayou Bienvenue wetlands restoration site, which is utilizing wetland assimilation of wastewater effluent to restore approximately 10,000 acres of the critical cypress wetlands that have historically served as a natural defense against storms.

Standing on the viewing post of Bayou Bienvenue and seeing the extent to which the wetlands have disappeared was a humbling experience that reinforced my belief in the importance of this, and other coastal restoration projects. As the President said during the Town Hall, it is inspirational to spend time with the citizens there who have persevered in the face of the tragedy that was Katrina and are steadfast in their resolve to rebuild. The Obama Administration is committed to enhancing the environmental and economic sustainability of New Orleans and coastal Louisiana, and we recognize that coastal wetland restoration is a key path toward achieving this type of long-term resiliency. I would like to thank the individuals who provided us with valuable insight on the restorative work being accomplished there, and I look forward to continue to work with this region in the future.

Nancy Sutley is the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality.

Nancy Sutley is the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality