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

  • Fueling the Future: Problem Solving for a Renewable Energy World

    Posted by James Liao on April 19, 2012 at 10:38 AM EDT

    James Liao is being recognized as a Champion of Change for his work advancing new ideas that are leading the way to a clean energy future and an economy that’s built to last.

    After a century of unprecedented growth in science, technology, and the economy, we now face tremendous challenges to our ability to fuel the future: a fluctuating oil price, a changing climate, and continued dependence on unreliable energy sources. These problems are increasingly personal, and the demand for solutions becomes increasingly urgent. There are many changes that we must make to address these challenges, but the ultimate solution(s) will only come from fundamental innovations in science and technology.

    Our laboratory at UCLA has been focusing on developing long-term energy solutions that are sustainable and not limited by current practice. These approaches aim to capture our ultimate energy source: the sun. The amount of energy in the sunlight that hits the earth totals 1,000 times more energy than we currently use in all applications, from household electricity to transportation to heavy industry. Solar power is abundant, but converting sunlight into a form of energy that can be easily used and stored is difficult. Even with the ability to convert sunlight into electricity with high efficiency using photovoltaic solar cells, many challenges prevent us from being able to power all our energy needs with solar panels. The biggest challenges for using solar power for energy are clouds and sunset—the electricity produced by photovoltaics needs to be efficiently stored to provide power on overcast days and overnight. Our ability to store electricity in batteries is improving, but current low energy density makes batteries an inefficient choice for large-scale storage. Instead of being stored in batteries, the electricity made by solar panels can be used to split water into oxygen and hydrogen molecules, the latter of which can be used as a fuel with high energy density. However, our current transportation infrastructure is unable to use hydrogen as replacement for gasoline.

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  • MFA Oil Company Says “Look to America’s Farmers to Solve America’s Biggest Challenges

    Posted by Jerome Taylor on April 19, 2012 at 10:37 AM EDT

    Jerome Taylor is being recognized as a Champion of Change for his work advancing new ideas that are leading the way to a clean energy future and an economy that’s built to last.

    Before ethanol as we know it today, MFA Oil Company was growing fuel for America. Prior to the oil embargo of the 1970’s, MFA Oil was producing gasohol. MFA Oil was one of the early producers of gasohol, which started America on the long road towards energy security and energy independence. MFA Oil was able to make that bold move because of its long history in Missouri and strong relationship with the region’s farmers.  From those days of gasohol, MFA Oil is now an investor in a biodiesel production facility in Missouri, offers E-85 at over 50 locations, and has a 10% ethanol blend at more than 300 MFA Oil fueling stations. Formed in 1929, MFA Oil has over 40,000 cooperative members today and is once again on the ground floor of moving America in the right direction.

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  • A Greater Calling: Saving Energy, Saving Lives

    Posted by Ed O'Rourke on April 19, 2012 at 10:34 AM EDT

    Ed O'Rourke is being recognized as a Champion of Change for his work advancing new ideas that are leading the way to a clean energy future and an economy that’s built to last.

    I am honored to be recognized as a White House "Champion of Change" for Innovations in Renewable Energy. As President and CEO of a small company dedicated to innovating alternative power, enhancing energy security by reducing dependence on foreign oil is the stuff of my daily work.

    The US Marine Corps has deployed our SPACES kit (manportable solar technology) along with other alternative energy solutions across Marine Battalions in Afghanistan at a cost of $25 million. These systems will save more than $50 million per year; paying for themselves in only six months. More importantly, this means a reduction in the number of resupply convoys, taking 180 trucks off the road and reducing the number of young men and women in harm’s way.

    First, let me tell you where I come from. I take pride in being an Air Force brat - my Dad served with distinction as a C-47 pilot in the Second World War. From our small town of Midwest City, OK; I went to college at Caltech to study Applied Physics and graduated as the Vietnam War was winding down. I entered the workforce with an immense sense of patriotic duty.

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  • Open for Nominations: 2012 GreenGov Presidential Awards

    Posted by Nancy Sutley on April 19, 2012 at 10:18 AM EDT

    In 2009, President Obama signed an Executive Order that challenged Federal agencies to lead by example in sustainable operations. He asked agencies to save energy and money, reduce their waste and water use, and use the Federal Government's purchasing power as the largest energy consumer in the U.S. economy to help grow clean energy jobs and reduce pollution in our communities.

    Each year, the GreenGov Presidential Awards celebrate extraordinary achievement in the pursuit of President Obama's challenge, honoring the best and most innovative sustainability efforts and practices among leaders in the Federal workforce. For example, just a few of the 2011 winners include:

    • A team from the U.S. Department of the Interior that helped neighboring rural communities to responsibly dispose of electronic and hazardous waste in the Grand Canyon National Park and surrounding areas. Through partnerships with other community organizations and local governments, the employees helped divert more than 6 tons of waste from local community landfills, and created a model for other Federal facilities that are located away from densely populated areas where conventional recycling efforts are not feasible.
       
    • A team from Naval Base San Diego that incorporated new ideas and equipment in its operations to reduce waste and pollutants across its facility. Naval Base San Diego now saves $834,000 annually thanks to its energy, water and renewable energy projects.
       
    • The Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Lab, which designed a net-zero energy data center that creates as much energy as it consumes by using the climate as a natural coolant, capturing waste heat to ventilate in the cooler months, and employing advanced equipment to minimize energy use. The data center consumes 81 percent less energy than its predecessor, and is expected to save $200,000 annually in electricity costs and reduce carbon emissions by nearly 5,000,000 pounds per year.

    Nominations are now open for the 2012 GreenGov Presidential Awards here. I look forward to learning about and sharing the outstanding, innovative sustainability efforts of Federal leaders across the country. 

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

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  • Green Jobs Make the Renewable Energy World Go Round

    Posted by Vernice Creese on April 19, 2012 at 10:18 AM EDT

    Vernice Creese is being recognized as a Champion of Change for her work advancing new ideas that are leading the way to a clean energy future and an economy that’s built to last.

    This is a great honor for Unlimited Energy Solar Solutions, Inc. (UESS, Inc.) to be recognized as a "Champion of Change" for Innovations in Renewable Energy. It has been an incredible venture for my organization over the last 28 years. Even though there have been so many changes within the industry, Unlimited Energy Solar Solutions, Inc. has stayed the course. UESS Inc. is currently a minority women owned solar company that: employs the leading solar industry contractors, engineers and specialists; has installed over 20 million watts and completed 8,000 projects since its inception. We are also licensed C-46 Solar and B-General contractors. 

    As one of the leading companies in design and implementation, other solar companies often contact us for assistance because we use advanced industry-specific computer technology to engineer each system we build. All key personnel are factory certified by every major equipment manufacturer we represent. We specialize in the design, sales and installation of solar equipment and systems for residential, commercial, municipal and agricultural customers. 

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  • Paving the Way for Clean Tech Innovations

    Posted by Erin Geegan on April 19, 2012 at 10:15 AM EDT

    Erin Geegan is being recognized as a Champion of Change for her work advancing new ideas that are leading the way to a clean energy future and an economy that’s built to last.

    It is a great honor to receive recognition as a Champion of Change for Renewable Energy as part of President Obama’s “Winning the Future” initiative.   It is my hope to capture the imagination of America by conveying the vital progress of clean tech innovation in the industries of energy and transportation. Now solar power can be delivered as a transportation fuel for all modes of travel including personal vehicles, motorbikes, and truck fleets.  Innovation is the hallmark of the clean tech industry. It is very exciting to be here telling you all about the possibilities for change that will make futuregenerations proud that America had the courage to make a necessary transition at a time when it was needed.

    I hope you will join me to make that change to benefit many generations ahead, now. Join me in your workplace and community and by contacting your congressional representatives to champion a vision where electric cars, parking lots, buildings and renewable energy sources enable collaborative communities.  A new vision supporting rewired ecosystems of people, devices, and electric cars, into a social network space interacting with sustainable sources of energy.

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