Obama Orders Quadrennial Study of Energy Strategy

(AP)
By JOSH LEDERMAN
Associated Press
WASHINGTON
President Barack Obama is setting up a panel to study the United States’ energy strategy and then report to the president every four years.

In a presidential memorandum, Obama says the U.S. needs a comprehensive, coordinated strategy to improve economic productivity and quality of life, and to protect the environment and the nation’s security.

Top policy and technology officials at the White House will co-chair the review, but the Energy, Interior, Agriculture and other departments will participate, along with the Treasury and the Pentagon. Business groups, local governments and academics will also participate.

The goal is to identify opportunities and challenges in advance by studying U.S. energy supply, markets and infrastructure, plus potential threats like cyber threats and climate change.

The first report is due to Obama in January 2015.