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

  • Students Go For Sun-Day Drive

    Posted by Phil Larson on July 30, 2010 at 9:42 AM EDT

    In a speech at the National Urban League yesterday, President Obama talked about the importance of getting students enthused about education and the particular importance of science and mathematics education.

    Well, there is no better example of how to generate that kind of enthusiasm—all the while helping to make renewable-energy vehicles more practical—than the recently completed American Solar Challenge. Students from 13 universities in the United States, Canada, Germany, and Taiwan competed in the challenge, which requires students to design, construct, and then race a vehicle over 1,100 miles, powered only by the sun.

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  • Biennial of the Americas Seeks Answers to Tough Energy, Climate Challenges

    Posted by Secretary Ray LaHood on July 29, 2010 at 11:11 AM EDT

    Cross posted from the DOT blog.

    Today was a great day to be in Colorado. First, I toured a Federal Railroad Administration facility--the work the FRA crew is doing there really deserves its own blog post, so stay tuned for that one next week.

    Then, I learned about an exciting new municipal bike-sharing program in Denver with 43 bike stations and more than 400 bikes spread around the city. Mayor Hickenlooper and I even had a chance to test the system by checking out a pair of bicycles and riding them to another station.

    But what really drew me to Denver was the Biennial of the Americas, a month-long celebration of the Western Hemisphere. I was there for the Americas Roundtable on Energy and Climate Change: Designing Answers for Today's Challenges and to discuss how DOT is working to manage those challenges.

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  • Clean Energy and National Security

    Posted by Heather Zichal on July 28, 2010 at 10:09 AM EDT

    Yesterday, we hosted a lively forum at the White House, which brought more than 130 stakeholders– civilian and uniformed officials from the Department of Defense (DOD) and our armed services, policy makers from the Department of Energy (DOE), think tanks, and business entrepreneurs – together for a discussion on the importance of clean energy for our national security.

    Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, delivered the keynote address, and highlighted not just the great progress happening at the Department of the Navy in terms of greening its fleet, powering its jets with biofuels, and testing new, experimental technology in efficiency and alternative energy, but also underscored just how much further we have to go to ensure our energy independence.  Deputy Secretary Dan Poneman of the Department of Energy echoed these sentiments, and challenged the audience to think about ways in which our challenges might instead be viewed as opportunities for both improved mission capability, and an enhanced energy security.

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  • Another Bipartisan Meeting: Help for Small Business & Energy Reform

    Posted by Jesse Lee on July 27, 2010 at 2:34 PM EDT

    Read the Transcript  |  Download Video: mp4 (62MB) | mp3 (6MB)

    In his latest meeting with Congressional leaders of both parties – a new tradition promised by the President in his State of the Union Address – the conversation was focused primarily on two topics.  The first was help for small businesses, one of the most straightforward things government can do to spur job creation; the second was the need for energy reform. 

    In remarks afterwards, the President touched briefly on the need to pass funding for our troops in Afghanistan, saying that documents recently leaked “don’t reveal any issues that haven’t already informed our public debate on Afghanistan,” and that they were precisely the issues that led to the review at the beginning of his presidency along with the new way forward that came out of it.  He also relayed the frustration he expressed to the Republican Leader in the Senate about the gratuitous delays of judicial nominations despite broad bipartisan support , which has left many courts nationwide short-handed.

    On small business as the engine of our economy:

    Includes Video
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  • West Wing Week: "A Sensible Mid Westerner"

    Posted by Julia Simmons on July 23, 2010 at 12:00 AM EDT

    Thanks for checking out the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that's happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. This week, walk step by step with the President as he speaks up for unemployed Americans, congratulates this year's WNBA champs, talks with astronaut John Glenn about space exploration, meets with British Prime Minister Cameron, signs the historic Wall Street Reform bill into law and much more.

    Find more video, photos, and information on the events featured in this episode below:

    Friday, July 16, 2010

    Monday, July 19, 2010

    Tuesday, July 20, 2010

    Wednesday, July 21, 2010

    Thursday, July 22, 2010

     

    Arun Chaudhary is the official White House videographer

    Learn more about Deepwater BP Oil Spill, Economy, Energy and Environment, Fiscal Responsibility, Foreign Policy

  • Vice President Biden’s Visit to Alabama

    Posted by Elizabeth Alexander on July 22, 2010 at 6:36 PM EDT

    Vice President Joe Biden is led on a tour of the boom repair area

    Vice President Joe Biden is led on a tour of the boom repair area by Walt Dorn of Patriot Environmental Services, at the Theodore Staging Area in Alabama, July 22, 2010. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

    Today, Vice President Biden traveled to Theodore, Alabama to assess efforts to counter the BP oil spill. During the visit, the Vice President toured the Theodore Staging Facility and met with fisherman and small business owners from the area. He was joined by National Incident Commander Admiral Thad Allen and NOAA Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenco.

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