Presidential Documents

Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 195 / Friday, October 8, 2010 / Presidential Documents 62305 

Proclamation 8576 of October 1, 2010 

National Energy Awareness Month, 2010 

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation 

America’s energy resources are inextricably linked to our continued prosperity, security, and environmental health. When it comes to our Nation’s 

energy future, we face fundamental choices between action and inaction, 

between embracing the possibilities of a new clean energy economy and 

settling for the status quo, and between leading the world in clean energy 

and lagging behind. We must choose wisely and invest in clean energy 

technologies to position our country for a sustainable future, create new 

jobs, improve the health of our environment, and lay the foundation for 

our long-term economic security and prosperity. 

The time to act is now. Every year our overdependence on fossil fuels 

sends billions of dollars overseas to buy foreign oil instead of supporting 

American workers and farmers, rewarding innovation, and developing clean 

energy industries here at home. Fossil fuel pollution has already begun 

to change our climate, posing a grave and growing danger to our economy, 

our national security, and our environment. 

Over the last year and a half, we have taken unprecedented action to 

build a clean energy economy. The American Recovery and Reinvestment 

Act made a $90 billion down-payment on a clean energy future for our 

country. This critical investment is expanding manufacturing capacity for 

clean energy technologies; advancing vehicle and fuel technologies; spurring 

the development of renewable fuels; and catalyzing progress towards a bigger, 

better, smarter electric grid; all while creating new jobs that cannot be 

shipped overseas. My Administration also set tough new fuel-economy standards and the first greenhouse gas emissions standards for cars and light 

trucks. Additionally, I signed an Executive Order that empowers the Federal 

Government to lead by example by cutting its energy use. As our Nation’s 

single largest energy consumer, the Federal Government has an obligation 

to improve its energy efficiency, increase its use of renewable energy, cut 

greenhouse gas pollution, and leverage its purchasing power to advance 

a clean energy economy. 

Across the country, citizens themselves are helping to lead the way. In 

small towns and city neighborhoods, on college campuses and in houses 

of worship, in office buildings and on the shop floor, Americans are standing 

up and building a clean energy economy together through community information, education, and action. 

This progress must mark the start, not the end, of our efforts. Today, countries 

around the world are competing to create the clean energy economy and 

jobs of tomorrow, and the country that harnesses the power of clean energy 

will lead the global economy. As a Nation of scientists and engineers, 

farmers and entrepreneurs, we must continue to invest in clean, domestic 

sources of energy, harness the innovation of our brightest minds, promote 

our world-leading industries, and find lasting solutions to our energy challenges. 

If we seize this moment, we stand to strengthen our economy, enhance 

our national security, and preserve our environment. During National Energy 


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62306 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 195 / Friday, October 8, 2010 / Presidential Documents 

Awareness Month, let us commit to embarking on a new course to achieve 

our clean energy future. 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States 

of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution 

and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2010 as 

National Energy Awareness Month. I call upon the citizens of the United 

States to recognize this month by making clean energy choices that will 

help build a stronger Nation, a more robust economy, and a healthier environment for our children. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of 

October, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence 

of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth. 

[FR Doc. 2010–25576 

Filed 10–7–10; 8:45 am] 

Billing code 3195–W1–P 


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