Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) introduced the Green Energy for Federal Buildings Act and the Green Federal Fleet Act to direct federal resources towards renewable energy initiatives at federal facilities and on federal lands and when procuring vehicles. The Green Energy for Federal Buildings Act would require the federal government to increase the amount of renewable energy it consumes. Additionally, the Green Federal Fleet Act would require all new, non-tactical, passenger vehicles purchased or leased by the federal government to be zero-emission vehicles.

“As the impacts of the climate crisis become all the more clear, it is high-time that we leverage the resources of the federal government to aid in our transition to a renewable energy economy,” said Congresswoman Brownley. That is why I have introduced legislation to address the rapidly intensifying climate crisis by executing a whole-of-government approach to transition the federal government to zero-emission vehicles.

“Because the federal government is the single largest purchaser of electricity in the country, my legislation also requires the federal government to increase the percentage of renewable energy used for federal buildings to 100% by 2050, in-line with President Biden’s Executive Order.

“By leveraging its procurement power, the federal government will provide an important boost to the burgeoning renewable energy industry and make great strides in moving our nation towards a 100% clean energy future.”

Green Energy for Federal Buildings Act

Under current law, as adopted by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the federal government is required to utilize no less than 7.5% renewable energy for its electricity needs, a level that has held steady since 2013. The U.S. as a whole already produces 17% of its total electricity generation from renewables, as of 2019. Many states are far higher. California, for instance, received 36% of its 2019 retail electricity sales from renewable resources. 

Specifically, the Green Energy for Federal Buildings Act would require the federal government to increase the amount of renewable energy it consumes to 35% of its total electricity share by 2030, 75% by 2040, and 100% by 2050. This bill would also direct the federal government to use renewable energy that is produced on-site at federal facilities, on federal lands, or on Native American lands.

The text of the bill can be found here.

Green Federal Fleet Act

Under current law, federal agencies that purchase or lease new vehicles must meet limited goals for alternative fuel vehicles. Specifically, at least 75% of the vehicles acquired by a federal fleet are required to be alternative fuel vehicles (42 U.S.C. § 13212(b)(1)-(2)).

While that goal may have seemed ambitious in 1992 when it passed Congress, it now is antiquated. The Green Federal Fleet Act would require all new, non-tactical, passenger vehicles purchased or leased by the federal government to be zero-emission vehicles. The bill includes a reasonable exemption for agencies should unique circumstances make the purchase of zero-emission vehicles not feasible.

The text of the bill can be found here.

###

Issues: , , ,