Washington, D.C. — Today, President Barack Obama issued a memorandum instructing federal agencies to increase their use of renewable electricity to 20 percent by 2020 under his Federal Leadership on Energy Management Plan. In response to the president’s announcement, Daniel J. Weiss, Senior Fellow and Director of Climate Strategy at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
President Obama deserves hearty applause for using federal demand for renewable electricity to increase private investment in this growing industry. This new renewable standard will increase jobs, spur technological innovation, save taxpayers money, and slash carbon pollution. It’s great that the administration’s renewable electricity policy is more comprehensive than what we recommended a year ago.
In January 2013, the Center for American Progress proposed that the Obama administration increase federal agencies’ renewable electricity goal to 15 percent, with interim targets as well.
The previous requirement instructed federal agencies to generate 5 percent of their electricity from wind, solar, and other renewable sources with no date certain. Some agencies, such as the Departments of Health and Human Services and Transportation, met the 5 percent goal. Other agencies have not, including the Departments of Commerce and Justice.
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