The federal government will cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 28 percent in order to lead the way to building a “clean energy economy,” President Obama announced Friday, Jan. 29.

The federal government is the single largest user of energy in the U.S. – including $24.5 billion on electricity and fuel in 2008, the White House said. The president believes the 28 percent cut by the year 2020 will spur investments in clean energy that will create new jobs and build energy capacity.

“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 Obama, according to a statement from the White House. “Our goal is to lower costs, reduce pollution, and shift Federal energy expenses away from oil and towards local, clean energy.”

In October, President Obama signed Executive Order 13514 on Federal Sustainability. Each federal agency was required to submit a greenhouse gas reduction target from a 2008 baseline to the year 2020.

The 28 percent mark is a combination of 35 federal agency self-reported targets, the White House said.

– By Land Line staff