On January 29, 2010 President Obama today announced that the Federal Government will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 28 percent by 2020. While the base year was not specified in the press release (below) it is elsewhere defined as 2008, rather than the 2005 previously used by the U.S. Government or the base year of 1990 used by most other nations. As the nations largest purchaser of energy, this action has the potential to provide a significant stimulus for energy efficiency and innovation in the development of clean energy sources. This action follows the January 28th announcement of non-binding pledge to reduce national emissions of greenhouse gases by 17% reduction by 2020. This latter announcement was made in response to the Copenhagen Accord, has a base year of 2005, and is contingent upon action by the U.S. Congress.
The January 29th announcement establishes the targets required by the October 5, 2009 Executive Order 13514 (Federal Leadership in Environmental, energy and Economic Performance) mandated that Federal Agencies submit a 2020 greenhouse gas reduction target within 90 days; and, increase energy efficiency, reduce petroleum consumption, conserve water, reduce waste and increase recycling.
The announcement does not include any emission reductions by federal contractors and suppliers, or resulting from employee commuting as called for by the executive order.
The full text of the White House announcement is:
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
January 29, 2010
President Obama Sets Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Target for Federal Operations
Target to Drive Energy Cost Reductions in Federal Operations, Creating Clean Energy Jobs
WASHINGTON, DC – President Barack Obama today announced that the Federal Government will reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution by 28 percent by 2020. Reducing and reporting GHG pollution, as called for in Executive Order 13514 on Federal Sustainability, will ensure that the Federal Government leads by example in building the clean energy economy. Actions taken under this Executive Order will spur clean energy investments that create new private-sector jobs, drive long-term savings, build local market capacity, and foster innovation and entrepreneurship in clean energy industries.
As the single largest energy consumer in the U.S. economy, the Federal Government spent more than $24.5 billion on electricity and fuel in 2008 alone. Achieving the Federal GHG pollution reduction target will reduce Federal energy use by the equivalent of 646 trillion BTUs, equal to 205 million barrels of oil, and taking 17 million cars off the road for one year. This is also equivalent to a cumulative total of $8 to $11 billion in avoided energy costs through 2020.
“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 Departments and Agencies will achieve greenhouse gas pollution reductions by measuring their current energy and fuel use, becoming more energy efficient and shifting to clean energy sources like solar, wind and geothermal. Examples of agency actions that are underway are available on the White House Council on Environmental Quality website and can be found at www.whitehouse.gov/ceq.
On October 5, 2009, President Obama signed Executive Order 13514 on Federal Sustainability, setting measureable environmental performance goals for Federal Agencies. Each Federal Agency was required to submit a 2020 GHG pollution reduction target from its estimated 2008 baseline to the White House Council on Environmental Quality and to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget by January 4, 2010. The Federal target announced today is the aggregate of 35 Federal Agency self-reported targets.
Greenhouse gas emissions serve as a useful metric to measure the effectiveness of agency energy and fuel efficiency efforts as well as renewable energy investments. Agencies are already taking actions that will contribute towards achieving their targets, such as installing solar arrays at military installations, tapping landfills for renewable energy, putting energy management systems in Federal buildings, and replacing older vehicles with more fuel efficient hybrid models.
As a next step, the Office of Management and Budget will validate and score each agency’s sustainability plan, assuring a long-term return on investment to the American taxpayer. To ensure accountability, annual progress will be measured and reported online to the public.
