Energy, Climate Change,
and Our Environment

The President has taken unprecedented action to build the foundation for a clean energy economy, tackle the issue of climate change, and protect our environment.

Energy and Environment Latest News

  • Hurricane Katrina: The Work Continues

    Posted by Chris Lu on August 31, 2010 at 10:16 AM EDT

    Over the past week, we’ve been remembering the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, highlighting the progress made, and restating the Administration’s commitment to the region.  This past weekend, several members of the Cabinet, the First Lady and President Obama traveled to the Gulf Coast, where the President spoke about the stories of communities and families working to restore what was lost.

    Watch the video:

    Read the Transcript  |  Download Video: mp4 (249MB) | mp3 (24MB)

    Throughout our Hurricane Katrina: 5 Years of Remembering & Rebuilding series, we heard stories of dedication and restoration from across the federal government.  Here are just a few examples of the Administration’s continued support for the individuals, families and communities who were affected:

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  • Five Years Later, Our Commitment Continues

    Posted by Secretary Ray LaHood on August 30, 2010 at 11:08 AM EDT

    It's difficult to look back on the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina with anything but sadness. Sadness for the lives lost, sadness for the displacement of so many people.

    As we mark the fifth anniversary of Katrina, there is still work to be done. And the Department of Transportation's (DOT) commitment to help rebuild Gulf communities remains strong.

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  • Helping New Orleans Rebuild Its Schools

    Posted by Secretary Arne Duncan on August 28, 2010 at 2:00 PM EDT

    Five years ago, Hurricane Katrina destroyed schools throughout New Orleans. Since then, the state and city have worked together to make the city’s schools a model for school reform. New Orleans schools have made remarkable progress. They have been an inspiration to those of us who are working to provide a world-class education to all of America’s children.

    Despite the progress, New Orleans still has a lot of work to do. More than 100 school buildings were devastated by the floods of Katrina. The city still needs to replace, rebuild and rehabilitate buildings that were destroyed by the floods. Working together, state and city leaders have produced a master plan to will rebuild and renovate its schools.

    Today, I joined Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano in announcing more than $1.8 billion in federal funds to support the rebuilding of New Orleans’ schools. This money will support the city in building the excellent learning environments that the children of New Orleans deserve.

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  • On the Road to Recovery – Manchester, New Hampshire

    Posted by Annie Maxwell on August 27, 2010 at 5:29 PM EDT

    Yesterday the Vice President traveled to Manchester, New Hampshire to mark the weatherization of 200,000 homes under the Recovery Act.  Across the country, thousands of construction workers are on the job making homes and office buildings more energy efficient.  This is done in simple ways like adding insulation, replacing windows and doors, and sealing up cracks in your home where air can leak out. This program reduces energy consumption, saves homeowners money, and creates jobs.

    The Vice President made the announcement in the backyard of Lynn Dumont, a local Manchester resident who is in the process of having her home weatherized. Lynn’s story provides a great opportunity to see what this program is all about.

    Vice President Joe Biden speaks in Lynn Dumont's back yard

    Vice President Joe Biden speaks in Lynn Dumont's back yard about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's weatherization program, in Manchester, New Hampshire. The Vice President was announcing that 200,000 homes have been weatherized under the program. August 26, 2010. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

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  • Setting the Record Straight on Weatherization

    Posted by Dan Leistikow on August 27, 2010 at 3:59 PM EDT

    Cross-posted from the Energy Department's blog.

    Yesterday, Vice President Biden visited a New Hampshire homeowner and announced that more than 200,000 homes have been weatherized as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, helping families across the nation cut their energy bills. The Associated Press ran an article today critical of the announcement and suggesting – incorrectly – that the Administration hasn’t acknowledged that the program got off to a slower start than was anticipated.

    While it is true that it took longer than hoped to ramp up weatherization efforts, it’s also important to recognize the incredible progress that has been made and dramatic acceleration of the program. In June, more than 31,000 homes were weatherized – the most in history, and above our target rate, putting us on track to meet the program’s goal of completing 600,000 homes.

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  • Improving America's Disaster Response

    Posted by Secretary Janet Napolitano on August 27, 2010 at 3:39 PM EDT

    As we approach the fifth anniversary of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, it’s important to note how far our nation has come in improving our ability to respond to and recover from disasters and the progress we’ve made in helping our Gulf Coast recover from one of the worst natural disasters in our country’s history. 

    Since taking office, the Obama administration has made Gulf Coast rebuilding a top priority. Over the past 20 months, we’ve obligated more than $2.5 billion in funding for new schools and universities, fire houses, police stations, and critical infrastructure, including roads, bridges, hospitals, and public health assets across the Gulf.

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