Consumer group lauds Obama's energy plans

January 26, 4:54 PMNY Consumer Affairs ExaminerAsa Aarons

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A leading consumer group hailed President Obama's quick action in support of clean energy. In a speech today, less than a week after taking office, Obama noted that “No single issue is as imperative to the economy as energy."

Kateri Callahan, president of the Washington, DC-based Alliance to Save Energy said Obama is "fulfilling his campaign promise to create a clean energy economy with incredible speed and determination of purpose. He is moving full-steam-ahead on energy efficiency, not despite but because of the fragile state of the economy.”

Callahan was one of several environmental and energy efficiency leaders nationwide  invited to the White House to witness the speech, which supporters claim signals a shift in the federal government’s approach to energy and environmental policy.

Obama signed memo at the ceremony directing the Transportation Department to establish higher fuel economy standards for vehicles by model year 2011 and directing the Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider the bid by California and 13 other states to set tailpipe carbon dioxide emission standards that also would require greater fuel economy.

Obama also confirmed his intent to weatherize two million homes in the next two years; make significant energy efficiency upgrades to 75 percent of federal buildings, saving taxpayers $2 billion in avoided energy costs; double the country’s renewable energy resource base; and create nearly 500,000 new “green jobs.”