Obama Orders Agencies to Raise Renewable Energy Use
President Obama has ordered federal agencies to more than double their renewable energy use over the next seven years, reported the Los Angeles Times late last week. In a presidential memorandum that was released on Thursday, Obama asked federal agencies to receive 20% of their energy from renewable sources by fiscal year 2020.
According to the Times, Obama’s memorandum specifically instructed agencies to increase the use of wind, solar, geothermal, and other energy sources to the extent that is “economically feasible and technically practicable.” The memorandum is one aspect of the president’s sweeping climate change plan that includes new regulations for existing power plants that theoretically would significantly cut U.S. greenhouse gas output by the end of the decade. Obama has also vowed to cease funding the construction of coal-fired power plants overseas, a stance which has since been echoed by Britain and Scandinavia.
In 2010, President Obama set a benchmark of achieving a 28% cut in greenhouse emissions by 2020. According to the White House, agencies have already reduced their greenhouse gas emissions by more than 15% since Obama first took office. The Department of Defense, which is the single largest consumer of fossil fuels in the United States, has set a 25% goal for renewable fuels by 2025.
The Chanler Group is actively engaged in the review and analysis of incentive-based renewable energy programs to determine potential benefits to our clients. Global energy consumption continues to increase each year and, with this increase, the demand for safe, clean, and unlimited energy is on the rise. The Federal and State governments promote this interest through a variety of financially-beneficial incentives. Our understanding of these laws allows us to guide homeowners, businesses, and/or developers through the various ways to take advantage of these incentive-based benefits. With the appreciation that renewable energy laws and regulations are constantly changing, The Chanler Group is committed to investing in its understanding and practice of this area of law.