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Federal agencies aim for major reduction in greenhouse gas emissions

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Federal agencies aim for major reduction in greenhouse gas emissions

A 42% cut to come from buildings, vehicles, supply chain.


By Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor | November 30, 2015
Federal agencies aim for major reduction in greenhouse gas emissions

Photo: Ian Britton/Creative Commons.

Federal agencies will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from their operations to 41.8% below 2008 levels by 2025, according to a statement from the Obama Administration.

The cuts will come from operations of the government's 360,000 buildings, 650,000 vehicles, and from its extensive supply chain.

"Federal agencies have developed targeted strategies to cut their GHG emissions by reducing energy use in their buildings, making their vehicles more efficient, using clean energy sources like wind and solar, and employing energy savings performance contracts," the White House said.

NASA said it will reduce its energy consumption at the Johnson Space Center in Houston by 17% and break ground on a 1.6 megawatt solar plant to power the White Sands test facility in New Mexico. The Department of Homeland Security will boost the energy efficiency of its operations and install solar power at facilities in California and Puerto Rico.

The federal government is the nation’s largest energy consumer.

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