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Obama Imposes Limits on Carbon Emissions by Agencies (Update1)
2010-07-20 21:20:31.504 GMT
(Updates with response from Clean Air Watch in fourth
paragraph.)
By Jim Snyder
July 20 (Bloomberg) -- The Obama administration, which is
seeking support for climate-change legislation in Congress,
imposed greenhouse-gas limits on federal agencies.
President Barack Obama issued an order today requiring the
U.S. government to cut emissions from indirect sources such as
employee travel and commuting 13 percent by 2020. The
administration has also pledged to reduce carbon emissions from
direct sources such as buildings and vehicles.
The order would result in 101 million fewer metric tons of
carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere, the
equivalent to emissions generated by burning 235 million barrels
of oil, according to a White House statement.
"It's no substitute for comprehensive legislation, but
it's good for the federal government to set an example," said
Frank O'Donnell, president of Clean Air Watch in Washington.
Climate legislation passed the House in June 2009, with the
president's support. The Senate has been unable to pass its own
version, amid opposition from Republicans and Democrats who
worry the cap would raise energy prices.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, wants
to start debate on energy legislation by next week. That measure
could include emission caps for electric utilities, setting
aside new requirements on large manufacturers.
Senator Joseph Lieberman, a Connecticut independent, told
reporters today that power plant operators haven't signed off on
a utility-only emissions reduction plan. He said Democrats
should consider delaying a vote on the energy bill. Lieberman
has worked with Senator John Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat, on
climate legislation.
Biggest Energy Consumer
In the statement, Obama said the federal government is the
largest single consumer of energy in the U.S. It owns 600,000
vehicles and owns and manages almost 500,000 buildings,
according to the release.
The U.S. government paid $24.5 billion for utilities and
fuel in 2008, according to the statement.
The government has a responsibility to "reduce
consumption, improve efficiency, use renewable energy, like wind
and solar, and cut costs," Obama said in the statement.
For Related News and Information:
Top energy stories: ETOP <GO>
Carbon markets: EMIS <GO>
Top renewable-energy stories: GREEN <GO>
Top business and government news: GBIZ <GO>
--With assistance from Simon Lomax. Editors: Steve Geimann,
Romaine Bostick
To contact the reporter on this story:
Jim Snyder in Washington at +1-202-624-1972 or
jsnyder24@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editor responsible for this story:
Larry Liebert at +1-202-624-1936 or
lliebert@bloomberg.net.
