Obama issues rules for federal gov't to reduce emissions by 28%

President Barack Obama issued new rules for the federal government to reduce its emissions by 28 percent over the next decade.

Obama said the federal government would slash its emissions by more than a quarter, as called for under an executive order, which will avoid between $8 and 11 billion in energy costs over the next decade.

“As the largest energy consumer in the United States, we have a responsibility to American citizens to reduce our energy use and become more efficient,” said President Obama.  “Our goal is to lower costs, reduce pollution, and shift Federal energy expenses away from oil and towards local, clean energy.”

Federal agencies will have to measure energy and fuel use, and begin using renewable energy resources like wind, solar, and geothermal energy in their operations. 

The reductions are a result of new guidelines put in place by Obama in Executive Order 13514, which he signed into law early last October.

The rules also come as his administration mulls, through the Environmental Protection Agency, putting in place new regulations on greenhouse gas emissions for the U.S. writ large.