WASHINGTON — In the latest step under his Climate Action Plan, President Obama has signed a memorandum directing federal agencies to consume 20 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020 — more than double the current level. The administration said that meeting this renewable energy goal will support homegrown energy produced by American workers, promote American energy independence, and reduce pollution in U.S. communities.

In 2009, the president directed the federal government to become a leader in clean energy and energy efficiency when he signed Executive Order 13514 on Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance, setting aggressive targets for federal agencies for reducing energy use, carbon pollution, and waste in their operations, and saving taxpayer dollars as a result. The administration said the federal government already has:

• Reduced energy use per square foot in federal buildings by more than 9 percent since fiscal year 2008.

• Consumed more than 7 percent of its electricity from renewable energy sources such as solar and wind in fiscal year 2013.

• Reduced greenhouse gas emissions by more than 15 percent from fiscal year 2008 levels.

To outline new actions to continue their progress on the president’s energy and sustainability goals, federal agencies have released their fourth annual sustainability plans, available at http://sustainability.performance.gov/.

Publication date: 12/9/2013

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