Washington, DC — Today President Barack Obama announced plans to reduce the federal government's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 28 percent by 2020, a move that would save up to $11 billion and the equivalent of 205 million barrels of oil.
The goal comes on the heels of the administration's commitment to the Copenhagen Accord and to lower the U.S.'s nationwide GHG emissions by 17 percent by 2020, compared to 2005.
The U.S. government spent $24.5 billion on electricity and fuel in 2008, the year that its 28 percent goal is based on. A reduction of that level would save the U.S. $8-11 billion and reduce energy need equal to 646 trillion BTUs.
The specific reduction is an outgrowth from an executive order laid out by Obama in October that required federal agencies to set GHG reduction goals as well as plans to increase energy efficiency, and reduce fuel use, water use and waste.
Federal agencies are able to set their own individual targets, with the Defense Department pledging to cut noncombat GHG emissions by 34 percent by 2020.
President Barack Obama - http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/ / CC BY 2.0