The White House released a plan on June 25 that lays out several goals for combating anthropogenic climate change. As their report points out, 65 percent of greenhouse gas emissions results from energy use and procurement, meaning that if the country intends to put a dent in this problem, it needs to begin with rebuilding the U.S. power infrastructure so that it relies more heavily on renewables and less on fossil fuel sources.

Part of the President Obama’s plan is to have the federal government derive 20 percent of its energy using clean technology such as solar power and wind. This is certainly a positive step, and very similar to the renewable portfolio standards (RPS) that many states, including California, have adopted to accelerate the transition to a clean technology future (California’s RPS is 33 percent).

Another aspect of the new climate plan is to continue the growth of solar and wind power. During the President’s first term, America doubled its generating capacity in these areas, but continuing and accelerating this trend is vital to the country’s long term energy goals. Though natural gas, which has become one of the major sources of electricity after coal, emits less carbon dioxide than coal, it is still a fossil fuel that is neither renewable nor entirely clean. Solar energy, by contrast, emits none of these gases and relies solely on sunlight to provide electricity for homes and businesses.

If you’re running an institution with federal contracts, you can help the government meet its goal of deriving 20 percent of its energy from renewable sources by going solar. Contact West Coast Solar today for more information.