Biden seals net-zero executive order for govt agencies

US President Joe Biden on Thursday signed an executive order that envisions federal government agencies to reach net-zero emissions level by 2050, in concert with a broader sustainability plan.

The order builds upon the Department of Energy (DOE) Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan, which was released earlier this year, and aims to make the federal agencies more adaptive and resilient to the impacts of climate change.

Under the plan, government agencies are expected to use 100% carbon pollution-free electricity by 2030, with at least half of it set to be locally supplied, while another goal calls for directing the government to purchase 100% zero-emission vehicles by 2035 and only zero-emission “light duty” vehicles by 2027. Greenhouse gas emissions across all federal operations should be 65% lower by 2030.

Among the other benchmarks included in the order is making the federal building portfolio net zero-emission by 2045, and reaching a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2032.

The Biden administration expects the federal government’s purchasing power, as directed under the executive order, to support the industry’s capacity to produce electric vehicles and batteries, as well as accelerate job growth in manufacturing and engineering.

Via the proposed measures, the government will transform its portfolio of 300,000 buildings, fleet of 600,000 cars and trucks and annual purchasing power of USD 650 billion (EUR 574.4bn) in goods and services, according to the statement.

The order was applauded by DOE and the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE). Commenting on its release, ACORE’s president and CEO Gregory Wetstone said: “This directive will help catalyze the development of thousands of megawatts of new pollution-free power, leading to a cleaner grid and more good-paying jobs for American workers.”

(USD 1.0 = EUR 0.884)

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