After California fundraising swing, Obama to focus on clean energy

After two days of fundraising in California and following the release of a major report urging leaders nationwide to take action against climate change, President Obama on Friday will announce a series of steps his administration is taking to increase the use of clean energy and improve energy efficiency.

The president is rolling out the initiatives at a Walmart in Mountain View, Calif. The chain store is doubling the number of on-site solar energy projects by 2020 and is one of more than 300 organizations that have committed to the White House to using cleaner and more efficient energy.

The president noted that his administration has increased fuel efficiency standards while the production of solar and wind power have increased. "But we're going to have to do more, and that should be a bipartisan issue because all of us want to make sure we're passing on an America to our kids and our grandkids that is as beautiful as the one that we inherited," he said.

• Obama: We can save lives and money by addressing climate change
• Climate change report says U.S. is getting warmer, urges action

Members of the Senate have managed to find bipartisan support for an energy efficiency bill, but the legislation has stalled over Republican-backed amendments over more controversial matters like the Keystone XL pipeline and regulations on coal-fired power plants.

With no action in Congress so far, the president is once again using his executive authority to advance his agenda.

For instance, Mr. Obama will announce on Friday a $2 billion commitment to improve the energy efficiency of federal buildings. The long-term energy savings will pay for the upfront costs, according to the White House.

When it comes to improving energy efficiency, "the president firmly believes the federal government should lead by example," Michael Boots, acting chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, told reporters Thursday.

Mr. Obama will also announce that the Energy Department will provide support for community college training to help more Americans enter the solar sector, while the Department of Housing and Urban Development will announce incentives to encourage the use of renewable technologies in public housing.

The president will also announce that the Energy Department has finalized efficiency standards for electric motors and walk-in coolers and freezers, greatly reducing carbon emissions. The department is also providing updated energy codes for residential and commercial buildings.

Meanwhile, the White House is announcing Friday that installation of American-made solar panels there is complete.

"Continuing President Obama's commitment to lead by example to increase the use of clean energy in the U.S., the White House has completed installation of American-made solar panels on the First Family's residence as a part of an energy retrofit that will improve the overall energy efficiency of the building," White House spokesman Matt Lehrich said in a statement, adding that the project is estimated to pay for itself in energy savings over the next eight years.