Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management

This executive order mandates comprehensive environmental, energy, and transportation management reforms across federal agencies, setting specific reduction targets for energy intensity (3% annually or 30% by FY2015), water consumption (2% annually or 16% by FY2015), and petroleum use (2% annually), while requiring sustainable building practices, renewable energy adoption, and environmentally preferable procurement.

Federal Register Open PDF 72 FR 3919

Impact dates

Sep 30, 2015
End of FY2015; energy intensity, water consumption, building sustainability, and fleet reduction targets due
Jan 1, 2010
Final annual DoD energy efficiency report to Congress due
Jan 23, 2009
Federal Environmental Executive submits biennial report to President (not less than once every 2 years, ongoing)
Jan 1, 2008
Annual DoD energy efficiency report to Congress due (first of series through 2010)
Oct 1, 2007
FY 2008 begins; water consumption reduction and other annual targets commence
Feb 23, 2007
Agency heads designate senior civilian official for implementation and report to OMB and CEQ

Key directives

Reduce energy intensity by 3% annually or 30% by end of FY2015 relative to FY2003 baseline
Ensure 50% of statutorily required renewable energy comes from new renewable sources
Reduce water consumption intensity by 2% annually or 16% by end of FY2015 relative to FY2007 baseline
Require 30% post-consumer fiber content in paper acquisitions
Ensure 15% of existing federal building inventory incorporates sustainable practices by end of FY2015
Reduce fleet petroleum consumption by 2% annually through FY2015 relative to FY2005 baseline
Increase non-petroleum-based fuel consumption by 10% annually
Acquire EPEAT-registered products for 95% of electronic product requirements
Designate senior civilian official within 30 days of order
Implement environmental management systems at all appropriate organizational levels
Require contractor compliance for operation of government-owned facilities or vehicles
Amend Federal Acquisition Regulation as necessary

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Designation of senior agency environmental official due within 30 days
Revocation of five prior executive orders (13101, 13123, 13134, 13148, 13149)
Establishment of Steering Committee and Office of the Federal Environmental Executive

Near term (90d)

Agency official designations reported to OMB and CEQ
Steering Committee convened and operational
Implementation instructions from OMB on acquisition regulations and evaluation procedures

Long term

Energy intensity reduction targets through FY2015 (3% annually or 30% total from FY2003 baseline)
Water consumption intensity reduction through FY2015 (2% annually or 16% total from FY2007 baseline)
Petroleum product reduction in federal fleets through FY2015 (2% annually from FY2005 baseline)
15% of federal building inventory incorporating sustainable practices by end of FY2015
Biennial reporting to President through FY2015 and beyond
Annual DoD energy efficiency reports to Congress through January 1, 2010

Risks & tensions

Exemption provisions (Secs. 7-8) for intelligence, law enforcement, military tactical, and overseas activities may substantially reduce effective coverage
'To the extent feasible' and 'life-cycle cost-effective' qualifiers create implementation flexibility that may weaken outcomes
Dependent on appropriations availability (Sec. 10a), creating uncertainty during budget constraints
No private right of action (Sec. 10c), limiting enforcement to internal administrative mechanisms
FY2015 targets set distant horizon with potential for non-compliance or successor policy changes
Baseline year asymmetry (FY2003 for energy, FY2005 for fleets, FY2007 for water) complicates unified tracking