McCain, in a speech in Santa Barbara, Calif., stressed the need to bring the “smart ethic of environmental care to Washington.”

The GOP standard-bearer said he would make sure that the tens of thousands of cars that the federal government purchases each year will be “flex-fuel capable, plug-in hybrid, or cars fueled by clean natural gas.”

“If our great goal is to move American transportation toward lower carbon emissions, then it should start with the federal fleet,” McCain said.

He also noted that the U.S. government is also the “single largest consumer of electricity in the world,” adding that this “presents another enormous opportunity that my administration will take.”

“By retrofitting where possible, and by applying a higher efficiency standard to new buildings leased or purchased, we can save taxpayers billions of dollars in energy costs, and move the market in the direction of green technology,” the Arizona senator said.

McCain also stressed the danger of manmade global warming.

“The facts of global warming demand our urgent attention, especially in Washington,” he stated. “Good stewardship, prudence, and simple common sense demand that we act to meet the challenge, and act quickly.”

The senator touted his plan of introducing a “cap-and-trade” system that would allow the economy to “transition into a low-carbon energy future” while not threatening growth.

“My strategy gives people time to adapt, instead of causing a jolt to your electricity bill and widespread shutdowns of tradition coal-fired plants,” he said.