President Barack Obama signs a proclamation regarding the establishment of the Fort Ord National Monument, in the Oval Office, April 20, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Sonya N. Herbert)
On April 22nd, more than 1 billion people in 192 countries participated in the 42nd Earth Day. The President celebrated by designating a new National Monument at Fort Ord, a former military base in California. By protecting Ford Ord, President Obama has ensured that the area's vast canyons and grasslands will provide enjoyment and recreation to generations of Americans.
Earlier in the week, the President spoke in the White House rose garden about increasing energy market oversight to make sure that excess speculation is not impacting gas prices. While reiterating that there are no silver bullets to increased gas prices, the President urged Congress to further strengthen market oversight and detailed the steps he has taken to protect consumers.
These actions represent just a snapshot of the Administration's efforts to promote American-made energy. For more information, check out the highlights below and read the blog posts by Heather Zichal, the Deputy Assistant to the President on Energy and Climate Change, about natural gas production and building efficiency.
Events
President Obama announces new steps to strengthen oversight of energy markets
On April 16th, President Obama spoke in the White House rose garden, announcing that the Administration is taking new executive actions to analyze trading activities in energy markets and implement consumer protections. During his remarks, the President called on Congress to provide increased funding for market surveillance and enforcement, to increase the civil and criminal penalties for illegal market manipulation, and to grant new authority to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to protect against excess speculation. Read the President's speech and check out this White House blog post.
Secretary Salazar travels to North Dakota, unveiling new energy development initiatives
Concluding his two-day visit to North Dakota on April 3rd, Secretary Salazar unveiled new initiatives to expedite safe and responsible development of domestic energy resources on U.S. public lands and Indian trust lands. As part of the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) ongoing efforts to ensure efficient processing of oil and gas permit applications, the agency will implement new automated tracking systems that could reduce the review period for drilling permits by two-thirds. Learn more about the Secretary's visit and the Agency's new initiatives.
The Clean Energy Ministerial announce new commitments for energy sustainability
On April 26th, the 23-government Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) concluded its two-day meeting in London and, together with the UN Secretary-General's Sustainable Energy for All initiative (SE4All), outlined specific commitments by participating countries and private sector leaders which will promote improved energy efficiency, renewable energy technologies, and increased energy access around the world. Read more about these important commitments.
News
President Obama designates Fort Ord a National Monument
On April 20th, President Obama signed a Proclamation to designate federal lands within the former Fort Ord as a National Monument under the Antiquities Act. Fort Ord, a former military base located on California's Central Coast, is a world-class destination for hikers, mountain bikers, and outdoor enthusiasts who come to enjoy the area's history and scenic landscapes. Read the full proclamation and learn more about Ford Ord.
The Energy Department announces the first-ever "Apps for Energy" Competition
On April 5th, the Department of Energy's launched the first-ever "Apps for Energy" competition, offering $100,000 in cash prizes. "Apps for Energy" challenges innovative software developers to build new apps – for mobile phones, computers, tablets, software programs and more – that utilize data from major utility companies to help consumers and businesses use less energy and save money. Learn more about the competition and then take up the challenge.
Secretary Chu announces $30 million for next generation energy storage technologies
On April 11th, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced a $30 million research competition that will engage our country's brightest scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs in improving the performance and safety of energy storage devices, including hybrid energy storage modules being developed by the Department of Defense for military applications. Learn more about this announcement.
Army announces "Green Warrior Convoy"
On April 11th, the Army announced plans for a "Green Warrior Convoy" to demonstrate and educate the value of science and technology in Army vehicles. The announcement was made during the opening of the Army's new Ground Systems Power and Energy Laboratory, or GSPEL, at the Detroit Arsenal, Warren, Mich. The "Green Warrior Convoy" will launch next year and will travel from Detroit to Washington as part of the road testing of technologies and systems developed at the Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center, or TARDEC. Learn more about the "Green Warrior Convoy" here and read more about the military's commitment to advanced energy technologies at this White House blog post.
Get Updates
To learn more about the President’s vision for a more secure energy future and sign up to get updates, please visit: WhiteHouse.gov/energy.
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