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

  • A Snapshot of Our Nation’s Scientific Ocean Vessels

    Posted by Deerin Babb-Brott on May 28, 2013 at 12:23 PM EDT

    Today, the Administration released the Federal Oceanographic Fleet Status Report, a comprehensive Federal review of the Nation’s fleet of oceanographic survey and research vessels. These 47 ships are part of our Nation’s critical infrastructure, collecting vital information to help protect lives and property from marine hazards; measure and project global climate change and ocean acidification; enhance safety and security; and more. Here are just a few of the important activities our fleet conducts:

    • Oceanographic research and placement of sensors that enable hurricane and tsunami warnings;
    • Navigational mapping to facilitate safe and efficient transportation and trade among ports;
    • Collection of tactical and strategic oceanographic information in support of national defense and homeland security;
    • Assessments of living and non-living resources that can inform decision-making by managers and businesses; and
    • Marine-based biomedical research to accelerate the discovery of new pharmaceuticals and therapies. 

    This report fulfills an action identified in the National Ocean Policy Implementation Plan, and supports the objective of advancing fundamental science and information.

    The National Ocean Policy also called on agencies to work together cooperatively and share information. The new Fleet Status report indicates that interagency coordination is well-established among the Nation’s survey and oceanographic vessels, as manifested by data transmission practices and the sharing of equipment, scheduling, and ship design and construction plans.

    The new report notes a number of challenges facing the oceanographic fleet. The costs of operating ships have increased dramatically–fuel costs have risen 400 percent since 2003, personnel costs and safety, security, and environmental requirements have grown, and maintenance takes longer and is more expensive for an aging fleet–but Federal agency budgets have not kept pace. Conventional budgeting practices also make it difficult to plan for repairs and fleet updates in advance.

    The report concludes that the current US oceanographic fleet will maintain its capacity through 2020, and will become more efficient with the introduction of highly advanced ships and the retirement of older, less-capable vessels. Ongoing work to decrease fuel consumption and engine emissions will also reduce operating costs and help ensure that the Nation’s fleet continues to be versatile, efficient, and effective well into the future.

    Deerin Babb-Brott is the National Ocean Council Director.

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  • Weekly Wrap Up: “You Will Not Travel That Path Alone”

    Posted by Loren Mullen on May 24, 2013 at 4:06 PM EDT

    Watch the West Wing Week here.

    Responding to the Tornadoes in Oklahoma: On Monday, the President spoke with Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin to express his concern for those who have been affected by the tornadoes in Oklahoma. The President told Governor Fallin that the administration is committed to providing all the assistance it can to Oklahoma as the response effort unfolds, including approving a Major Disaster Declaration, making federal funding available to support affected individuals, and providing additional federal assistance to support immediate response and recovery efforts.

    On Tuesday, President Obama delivered a statement on the devastating tornadoes and severe weather that impacted Oklahoma. He outlined the response efforts underway, and assured the people of Moore and all the affected areas that they would have all the resources that they need at their disposal.

    "Americans from every corner of this country will be right there with them, opening our homes, our hearts to those in need.  Because we're a nation that stands with our fellow citizens as long as it takes. We've seen that spirit in Joplin, in Tuscaloosa; we saw that spirit in Boston and Breezy Point.  And that’s what the people of Oklahoma are going to need from us right now. "

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  • A Stronger and Sustainable Military for the 21st Century

    Posted by csponn on May 17, 2013 at 5:50 PM EDT

    As the single largest consumer of energy in the United States, the Department of Defense (DOD) knows that improving efficiency and harnessing new energy technologies is imperative – not only to achieve significant cost savings, but to give our troops better energy options on the battlefield, at sea, in the air, and at home.

    At DOD’s fixed installations alone – including, barracks, offices, and hospitals – energy bills come in around $4 billion each year. Given this large footprint as well as the importance of safe, secure, and affordable energy sources to mission readiness, the Department has made one of the largest commitments to clean energy in history, by developing a goal to deploy three gigawatts of renewable energy – including solar, wind, biomass, and geothermal – on Army, Navy, and Air Force installations by 2025 – enough to power 750,000 homes.

    When it comes specifically to solar power, a new report today from the Solar Energy Industries Association underscores the progress that DOD is making towards its goals.

    “Enlisting the Sun: Powering the U.S. Military with Solar Energy” highlights solar energy’s growing role in powering military installations and military homes across America. According to the report, as of early 2013, there are more than 130 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaic (PV) energy systems powering Navy, Army, and Air Force bases in at least 31 states and the District of Columbia. Combined, these installations provide enough clean energy to power more than 20,000 American homes.

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  • Happy National Bike to Work Day

    Posted by Jon Powers on May 17, 2013 at 3:50 PM EDT

    As the spring weather is upon us, more and more people are taking to their bicycles to get to work. Bike commuting reduces pollution and promotes health and well-being by incorporating active outdoor time into the workday.  In the Obama Administration, that’s something we encourage.

    Last year, some innovative Federal employees in Portland and Seattle decided to challenge each other during the month of May to increase the number of riders in their community.  As part of the White House’s GreenGov Spotlight Community Initiative, we worked with those innovative leaders and challenged the rest of the Federal government to the Federal Bike to Work Challenge for May 2013. All across the nation, Federal employees are straddling their bikes and achieving some exceedingly impressive results.

    There are currently 148 Federal teams and 1,097 riders, of which 260 are new bike commuters. We’re only halfway through May and already these riders have logged 66,000 miles, and more than 5,000 rides commuting to and from work. The Executive Office of the President, with 9 teams made up of 72 riders, has already commuted over 2,644 miles by bike.

    As the Federal Environmental Executive, I am proud of these teams that are reducing pollution and becoming healthier in the process as we burn not gasoline but calories instead.  We hope to continue the growing momentum. Happy National Bike to Work Day!

    Learn More about the GreenGov Spotlight Communities: http://www.epa.gov/fgc/spotlight/index.html

    Jon Powers is the Federal Environmental Executive.

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  • Building Infrastructure and Healthy Communities

    Posted by Nancy Sutley on May 17, 2013 at 1:54 PM EDT

    When President Obama signed an Executive Order last year to improve Federal review and permitting of infrastructure projects, he did so based on the belief that the Federal Government can work smarter and faster on projects that grow middle class jobs and maintain strong environmental protections for our communities.  We can already see the results of this initiative.  A progress report released today shows how Federal agencies have cut red tape to speed the review and permitting of dozens of major bridge, transit, railway, waterway, road and renewable energy projects, promoting jobs and strengthening our competiveness – and without compromising the important health and environmental protections Americans expect and deserve. 

    Today, the President signed a Presidential Memorandum that takes the next step by institutionalizing the time- and cost-saving tactics the agencies have identified over the past year. These best practices range from expanding use of information technology to cut paperwork and provide agencies with better information faster, to making time-saving collaboration the norm. For example, by having multiple agencies review a project at the same time, instead of one after the other.  The Administration is also working to expand innovative tools to improve environmental outcomes; develop more targeted and relevant environmental reviews; provide more opportunities for public input; and improve collaboration with State, local, and Tribal governments.

    This modernization effort reaches across the Federal Government and will shave months or even years off of project review and permitting decisions, allowing States, local governments and private developers to get started sooner on projects that grow jobs, fix our Nation’s infrastructure, and are good for communities.  It will also protect the health of our communities and give Americans a greater voice in Federal decisions on projects that impact them.  Moving forward, you can track the results of specific projects on the Administration’s Infrastructure Permitting Dashboard, which provides an unprecedented level of transparency into the Federal permitting and review process.

    This work is all part of the Administration’s effort to make America a magnet for jobs by building a 21st Century infrastructure. At a time when we must do more with less, we must operate more nimbly to continue to deliver on jobs and resilient infrastructure for our communities.  Ultimately, we can meet the President’s goal of cutting the timeline in half for major infrastructure projects and create better outcomes for communities and the environment. 

    Nancy Sutley is Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality

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  • National Strategy for the Arctic Region Announced

    Posted by Patricia F.S. Cogswell on May 10, 2013 at 5:41 PM EDT

    The Arctic is rapidly changing. While the Arctic region has experienced warming and cooling cycles over millennia, the current warming trend is unlike anything previously recorded. As sea ice diminishes, ocean resources are more readily accessible. This accessibility, along with recent scientific estimates indicating the presence of significant energy and other resources, have inspired strong interest for new commercial initiatives in the region, including energy production, increased shipping, scientific research, tourism, and related infrastructure development. As an Arctic nation, the United States must be proactive and disciplined in addressing changing regional conditions and in developing adaptive strategies to protect its interests. An undisciplined approach to exploring new opportunities in this frontier could result in significant harm to the region, to our national security interests, and to the global good.

    Today, we are releasing the National Strategy for the Arctic Region. Through this strategy, we are setting the United States Government’s strategic priorities for the Arctic region. These priorities are intended to position the United States to respond effectively to emerging opportunities – while simultaneously pursuing efforts to protect and conserve this unique environment.

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