President Barack Obama
Federal Agency Fleets to Reduce Petroleum Consumption 2% p.a., Increase Alternative Fuels 10% p.a., from 2005 to 2020.
Last week USA President Obama signed a new Executive Order (13514) governing environmental, energy, and economic performance of federal agencies. As reported by NGVAmerica, the overarching objective of the order is to reduce energy consumption and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The order focuses on all facets of federal agency energy use. Of interest to the NGV industry, the order expands on previous executive orders concerning federal fleet use of alternative fuels and reductions in petroleum motor fuel use.
Federal law already requires federal agencies to acquire AFVs and to take steps to reduce their petroleum fuel consumption by two percent annually, through to 2015, compared with the baseline fuel consumption in 2005. Under the new Executive Order, the target for reductions extends until 2020. This means that the federal fleets are now expected to reduce total petroleum consumption in 2020 by 30 percent compared to the 2005 baseline level. Federal law also requires that federal fleets increased their use of alternative fuels by 10 percent annually through 2015 compared with 2005 baseline levels. The order also requires federal agencies to establish GHG emission reduction targets and to take actions that will reduce such emissions.
With respect to transportation, agencies are expected to increase the use low greenhouse gas emitting vehicles, including AFVs. Agencies also are expected to downsize fleets or optimize the number of vehicles operated. In addition, federal agencies are expected to consider ways in which public transportation by federal personnel (federal shuttle bus use, including the use of alternative fuels in federal shuttle buses) can be revised to support the objectives of the executive order.
For each agency, key milestones established in the order for transportation related activities include:
- Within 90 days, establish a percentage reduction target for GHG emissions relative to 2008 baseline emissions;
- Reduce vehicle fleet petroleum use 30 percent by 2020;
- Within 180 days, provide recommendations for improving federal local transportation including increasing use of alternative fuels in federal shuttle buses;
- Within 180 days issue guidance to federal agency fleets on the use of AFVs and alternative fuels, petroleum reduction strategies, and acquisition of low greenhouse gas emitting vehicles.
The Executive Order is available here
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