PCAP - Presidential Climate Action Project

This proposal is consistent with and supported by these provisions. 307 Although an executiveorder is not required to give effect to the newly enacted law, the President should still considerissuing one implementing these provisions of the Act. By issuing such an order the Presidentimpresses upon agencies his priorities, gives visibility to the effort, and encourages or mandatesaction at least as quickly as the statute allows. Further, for any standards that are minimalstandards the President can order agencies to pursue more aggressive goals and targets (i.e., if thestandards prescribe only the minimal target or goal that an agency must reach). For example, inregard to the building energy efficiency performance standards, “[t]he head of each Federalagency shall adopt procedures necessary to assure that new Federal buildings meet or exceed theFederal building energy standards established under section 6834 of this title.” 3082. Renewable energy goalsIn addition to the general statutory basis that provides authority for setting this target, see generalauthority for this proposal above, Chapter 2, Proposal C-3 and Proposal A, there is alsoadditional authority established by more specific congressional declarations and statutoryprovisions. A key policy pronouncement is found in 42 U.C.C. § 17285, “Sense of Congressrelating to the use of renewable resources to generate energy:”Congress finds that—(1) the United States has a quantity of renewable energy resources that issufficient to supply a significant portion of the energy needs of the UnitedStates;(2) the agricultural, forestry, and working land of the United States can helpensure a sustainable domestic energy system;(3) accelerated development and use of renewable energy technologiesprovide numerous benefits to the United States, including improvednational security, improved balance of payments, healthier rural economies,improved environmental quality, and abundant, reliable, and affordableenergy for all citizens of the United States;(4) the production of transportation fuels from renewable energy would helpthe United States meet rapidly growing domestic and global energydemands, reduce the dependence of the United States on energy importedfrom volatile regions of the world that are politically unstable, stabilize thecost and availability of energy, and safeguard the economy and security ofthe United States;307 See also, 42 U.S.C. § 6361 (President shall develop 10-year plan for energy conservation with respect tobuildings owned or leased by an agency of the United States).308 42 U.S.C. § 6835 (a).CEES 77 | P age