Abby L. Harvey
GHG Monitor
10/3/2014
When considering the energy security of the United States, climate action must be a part of the conversation, a senior White House official said this week during a panel discussion hosted by the Department of Energy. "The future of energy security … must be met against a second dimension and that’s climate security,” said John Podesta, who serves as Counselor to President Obama. "Our task now, and our energy security task, is to transition to an ultra-low-carbon energy sector and that, I think, is the context in which we need start thinking about energy security." The panel discussion was held during DOE’s first Schlesinger Medal Ceremony and Symposium on Energy Security, an event to commemorate the 37th anniversary of the Department of energy and kick off Energy Action Month.
Progress has been made in addressing the energy security risk of climate change, Podesta said, mentioning several steps being taken by the Obama Administration. "As we’re pursuing an all-of-the-above energy strategy, which includes energy efficiency, I think it’s essential that we do so in the context of climate change and the context of the urgent need to sharply reduce carbon pollution. I think we’re on our way to doing that,” Podesta said. "As a result of the climate action plan we’re on track to meet our goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the range of 17 percent below the 2005 level by 2020. A lot of that comes from the power sector and particularly from the [Environmental Protection Agency’s] Clean Power Plan which will provide a big chunk of that reduction by cutting carbon pollution from power plants 30 percent by 2030.”
The EPA’s Clean Power Plan is a proposed regulation which would set emissions reduction targets for each state and require states to develop action plans to meet those goals. Regulations have also been proposed for new-build coal-fired power plants which would essentially mandate the installation of carbon capture and storage technology on any new-build coal-fired power plant. The regulations have been controversial and have been referred to by some as part of the administration’s alleged “war on coal.”
