The 2011 Plan - Presidential Climate Action Project

Recovery through Retrofit Program (November 9, 2010)Vice President Joe Biden announced the “Recovery through Retrofit” program to address several barriersto energy efficiency improvements in residential buildings – improvements that reduce householdenergy costs and create jobs while cutting greenhouse gas emissions. As part of the new program, theAdministration announced a Home Energy Score rating system that provides a standardized systemfor utilities and contractors to assess the energy efficiency of a home, making it easier to identifycost-saving improvements. The Administration also announced a Power Saver Loan Program to providelow-interest loans from a variety of mainstream lenders. The Vice President said the Administration’sgoal is to upgrade 100 million homes nationwide.Guidance for States to Reduce Emissions from the Largest Industrial Facilities(November 10, 2010)EPA issued guidance to States on best available control technologies that coal plants and manufacturerscan use to cut their greenhouse gas emissions when they build or expand facilities. To address industryconcerns, EPA said it would not force the industries to adopt specific technologies to reduce their emissions,and it emphasized energy efficiency as a compliance tool.Greening the Federal Supply Chain (November 16, 2010)Martha Johnson, Administrator of the General Services Administration, announced a voluntarycollaboration – the GreenGov Supply Chain Partnership – between the federal government and itssuppliers to “create a greener, more efficient supply chain”. Administrator Johnson said the collaborationwill help GSA carry out its mandates under Executive Order 13514. The program includes a smallbusiness pilot program in which GSA will help small companies measure, report and reduce theirgreenhouse gas emissions. GSA’s goal in the collaboration is to develop an incentive-based approachthat gives contract advantage to companies that track and disclose their greenhouse gas emissions.Sustainability Concepts at EPA (November 30, 2010)EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson announced that the EPA commissioned the National Academy ofSciences to define how the principles of sustainability can be incorporated into the agency’s programs.The EPA asked for the Academy to develop a “Green Book” that identifies how sustainabilityprinciples can be guide the agency’s environmental protection activities.Carbon Sequestration Demonstration Initiative (December 9, 2010)Agriculture Secretary Vilsack announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture will demonstrate wayslandowners can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon sequestration while improvingtheir financial bottom line. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service will provide $15 millionin Conservation Innovation Grant funds and other assistance for large-scale demonstration projectsto accelerate the adoption of new approaches to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote carbonsequestration.Superior Energy Performance Program (December 10, 2010)DOE announced the first industrial plants in the United States to be certified under the Superior EnergyPerformance program – a new energy efficiency program for industries. The certification program isaccredited by the American National Standards Institute. DOE said the program will serve as a roadmapfor industrial facilities to “continually improve their efficiency and maintain market competitiveness.”The industrial manufacturing sectors account for one-third of U.S. energy use.63