A Proper Green Federal Government On A Mission To Reduce Their Carbon Emissions
By: Doug Busselman, Executive Vice President
On May 25, 1961, President John Kennedy said the United States would put a man on the moon and bring him safely back by the end of the decade. This launched a space race completed when the Apollo 11 mission successfully put Neil Armstrong and ‘Buzz’ Aldrin, Jr. on the moon’s surface, July 20, 1969. Those involved in the work knew what the goal was and were able to measure accomplishment with actual performance.
On January 29, 2010, President Barack Obama has declared that the United States government will reduce the carbon emissions generated by the U.S. government by 28 percent by 2020. The person heading the White House Council on Environmental Quality, Nancy Sutley, has indicated that the government’s reduction will be 88 million metric tons.
In addition to the federal government cutting carbon emissions by 28 percent in the next 10 years the President also pointed out…
In order to make this goal something to be meaningful (as opposed to a hot-air proclamation without an intent to do more than posture and grandstand) we need to obtain further specific information on the current level of carbon emissions by the federal government.
If the 28 percent reduction will mean an 88 million metric ton reduction – the current federal government level of emissions are 314.3 million metric tons. (Of course if someone has better information of the federal government’s level of carbon emissions – please drop us a note and tell us where our math is off…) How are these 314.3 million metric tons distributed across the range of federal government carbon generators?
It would also be helpful to see the actual accounting of federal energy expenses, clearly documenting the present levels of energy costs associated with federal government use.
The trick is going to be how to cut $8 Billion to $11 Billion while using alternative, less-carbon emitting energy. Given the way that alternative, less-carbon emitting energy, normally costs more than the current traditional, higher-carbon emitting energy sources…getting to both places (cleaner and cheaper) is very noteworthy.
It would be extremely helpful to see the specifics of measurements used to know that our current federal government carbon generation is 314.3 million metric tons. Knowing that the number is based on actual, verifiable measurements will greatly help us advance on doing better – since a lot of us non-technical people don’t know how information of that nature (at such a scope and scale) is determined.
When the administration was spending the unimaginable amounts of dollars expended to bolster the employment situation (before their accomplishment got us well above the current double-digit level of unemployment) a newly invented classification of “saved jobs” was created to help justify their progress.
The announcement points out that we’ll be able use an on-line reporting system where the measurements are presented to track our progress… Looking forward to getting that link.
On May 25, 1961, President John Kennedy said the United States would put a man on the moon and bring him safely back by the end of the decade. This launched a space race completed when the Apollo 11 mission successfully put Neil Armstrong and ‘Buzz’ Aldrin, Jr. on the moon’s surface, July 20, 1969. Those involved in the work knew what the goal was and were able to measure accomplishment with actual performance.
On January 29, 2010, President Barack Obama has declared that the United States government will reduce the carbon emissions generated by the U.S. government by 28 percent by 2020. The person heading the White House Council on Environmental Quality, Nancy Sutley, has indicated that the government’s reduction will be 88 million metric tons.
In addition to the federal government cutting carbon emissions by 28 percent in the next 10 years the President also pointed out…
"Our goal is to lower costs, reduce pollution, and shift Federal energy expenses away from oil and towards local, clean energy."We’re told that the costs savings will be somewhere from $8 Billion to $11 Billion – indeed a worthy accomplishment to be pursued.
In order to make this goal something to be meaningful (as opposed to a hot-air proclamation without an intent to do more than posture and grandstand) we need to obtain further specific information on the current level of carbon emissions by the federal government.
If the 28 percent reduction will mean an 88 million metric ton reduction – the current federal government level of emissions are 314.3 million metric tons. (Of course if someone has better information of the federal government’s level of carbon emissions – please drop us a note and tell us where our math is off…) How are these 314.3 million metric tons distributed across the range of federal government carbon generators?
It would also be helpful to see the actual accounting of federal energy expenses, clearly documenting the present levels of energy costs associated with federal government use.
The trick is going to be how to cut $8 Billion to $11 Billion while using alternative, less-carbon emitting energy. Given the way that alternative, less-carbon emitting energy, normally costs more than the current traditional, higher-carbon emitting energy sources…getting to both places (cleaner and cheaper) is very noteworthy.
It would be extremely helpful to see the specifics of measurements used to know that our current federal government carbon generation is 314.3 million metric tons. Knowing that the number is based on actual, verifiable measurements will greatly help us advance on doing better – since a lot of us non-technical people don’t know how information of that nature (at such a scope and scale) is determined.
When the administration was spending the unimaginable amounts of dollars expended to bolster the employment situation (before their accomplishment got us well above the current double-digit level of unemployment) a newly invented classification of “saved jobs” was created to help justify their progress.
The announcement points out that we’ll be able use an on-line reporting system where the measurements are presented to track our progress… Looking forward to getting that link.
Posted by Doug Busselman at 1/29/2010 8:52 PM 
Categories: Government
Tags: President Obama Executive Order Federal Government Carbon Emissions
Categories: Government
Tags: President Obama Executive Order Federal Government Carbon Emissions
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