The Biden administration has taken an important step forward to decarbonize all U.S. federal facilities, with two major agencies launching a request for information (RFI) to help meet the clean energy goal.
Issued by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), the RFI aims to gather market information and capabilities in supplying 100% carbon-pollution-free electricity to the federal government. This RFI follows President Joe Biden’s signing of Executive Order 14057, Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability, which directed the federal government to use 100% carbon-free electricity on a net annual basis by 2030, including 50% on a 24/7 (hourly matching) basis.
With more than 300,000 buildings and 600,000 vehicles, the federal government is the nation’s largest energy consumer. The government buys most of its electricity via contracts issued by the GSA and DOD’s Defense Logistics Agency.
The objectives of this RFI are to:
- Demonstrate the intent to achieve 100% carbon-free electricity for federal operations by using a whole-of-government approach;
- Understand the ability of industry to supply 24/7 hourly matched carbon-free electricity, and gather pricing information based on scale; and
- Gather information from industry on potential approaches to meeting the targets set by the Federal Sustainability Plan.
Federal Chief Sustainability Officer Andrew Mayock said the RFI represents a “key initial milestone in meeting the president’s goal of powering federal facilities with 24/7 carbon-pollution-free electricity.”
The full RFI is available here.