Earlier today President Barrack Obama released a memorandum ordering federal agencies to increase their usage of renewable energy. The announcement declared that all federal agencies should receive 20% of their power from renewable sources by the year 2020. The memo also listed milestones towards that eventual goal, such as at least 10% of energy from renewable sources by the year 2015. As it currently stands, federal agencies use less than 10% of their energy from renewable sources, so this effort requires a doubling in the next seven years.
Further items of note in the memo include a push to increase energy efficiency in federal buildings and power management systems. The executive order applies to both civilian and military agencies. Exemptions from this mandate were included to protect national intelligence and classified information.
This is part of a wider effort on Obama’s part to push energy independence and reduce greenhouse gases. This memo will put the federal government in line with many states that have already set a 20% renewable energy goal, as well as the Department of Defense which earlier this year set a goal of 25% renewable energy usage by the year 2025.
According to the memorandum, similar past efforts by the administration have already born fruit. The administration claims to have “reduced greenhouse gas emissions by more than 15 percent from FY 2008 levels – the equivalent of permanently taking 1.5 million cars off the road,” as well as “reduced energy use per square foot in Federal buildings by more than 9 percent since FY 2008, curbing pollution and reducing utility bills.”
Further items of note in the memo include a push to increase energy efficiency in federal buildings and power management systems. The executive order applies to both civilian and military agencies. Exemptions from this mandate were included to protect national intelligence and classified information.
This is part of a wider effort on Obama’s part to push energy independence and reduce greenhouse gases. This memo will put the federal government in line with many states that have already set a 20% renewable energy goal, as well as the Department of Defense which earlier this year set a goal of 25% renewable energy usage by the year 2025.
According to the memorandum, similar past efforts by the administration have already born fruit. The administration claims to have “reduced greenhouse gas emissions by more than 15 percent from FY 2008 levels – the equivalent of permanently taking 1.5 million cars off the road,” as well as “reduced energy use per square foot in Federal buildings by more than 9 percent since FY 2008, curbing pollution and reducing utility bills.”
