Transitioning to a New Green Agenda 

Cynthia VallinaEOP/OMB/OFPP

Cory ClaussenProfessional Staff Member, Senate Committee

on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry

Robin HeardDeputy Assistant Secretaryfor Administration, USDA

2009 GSA International Products and Services Expo

Transitioning to a New Green Agenda

Cynthia VallinaEOP/OMB/OFPP

Obama Administration

Priorities• Recovery Act Infrastructure

Investments• Greening the Government

--- Green Procurement--- Reduce Environmental Impact

• Continuation of OMB Scorecards• Results and Transparency

Recovery Act Guidance

• 2.8 “Federal Infrastructure Investments: a description of agency plans to spend funds effectively to comply with energy efficiency and green building requirements and to demonstrate Federal leadership in sustainability, energy efficiency and reducing the agency’s environmental impact.”

• 2.9 What is Required in program-specific plans for Federal Infrastructure Investments?

Recovery Act Funding

• > $24 billion provided for infrastructure (Construction, R and A, O and M backlog)

• At least $11.8 billion tagged specifically for greening and/or energy efficiency

• 15 agencies received funds from $25 million to $10.4 billion

• Others will need to utilize ESPC/UESC to meet federal sustainability requirements

OMB Recovery GuidanceHow will agencies comply with green building

requirements?

• Energy Efficiency• Sustainable Design & Construction

(GP)• Energy Efficient Capital Equipment• Metering • Solar Hot Water• Technical Assistance Opportunities• Maximize investments and leverage

Performance with ESPC/UESCs• Report!

Sustainable Guiding Principles

• Employ Integrated Design Principles• Optimize Energy Performance• Protect and Conserve Water

↓20% indoor ↓50% outdoor• Enhance Indoor Environmental Quality• Reduce Impact of Materials• Apply to new, existing and leased space

Green ProcurementMaterials Impact

• Recycled Content (RCRA)• Energy Star/Efficient (EPACT 2005)• Biobased (FSRIA)• Alternative Fuels (EPACT 1992 and 2005)• Non-Ozone Depleting Substances (CAA)• Environmental Preferable (EO13423)• Priority Chemicals (EO13423)• Water Efficient/Water Sense• Renewable Energy from new sources (>1999)

Federal Goals

• Reduce energy 3% annually/30% by 2015

• Reduce water 2% annually/16% by 2015

• Use renewables 3-5-7.5%/half new

• Achieve 15% sustainable buildings by 2015

• Acquire Green Products and Services

• > 80% Green and < 5% Red on facility EMS report card metrics

OMB Scorecard Measures• Green Procurement: Has a comprehensive,

written affirmative procurement program that includes all green products and services covered in EO 13423, demonstrates compliance annually, develops corrective action plans to address shortcomings and conducts training.

• Green Buildings: Demonstrates comprehensive implementation of sustainable guiding principles for new, existing and leased buildings; consistent with EO and statutory requirements. Agencies must demonstrate that they are on tract to meet 15% in 2015 goal.

Transparency & Results

• Transparency & Accountability

• Beyond ARRA (Recovery) Tracking

• Web-based reporting

• Reporting to Congress

• Posting results

• Individual Agency Scorecards?

On the Horizon

• Exceeding the Goals

• New Executive Order

• New Statutes

• Updates to Scorecards

• Quarterly White House Meetings

• Annual Reporting

Contact Information

• Questions? Comments? Your input is welcome

Cynthia VallinaOMB-EOP725 17th Street, NWWashington, DC 20503

vallina@omb.eop.gov202-395-4544

Transitioning to a New Green Agenda

Cory ClaussenProfessional Staff Member

Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

Transitioning to a New Green Agenda:

• Congressional Who’s Who

• Time for Change

• Programs of Interest

• Current Issues

• Challenges to Reform

Calls for Change – Why Now?Why Now? Congress responds to pressure from

the ground up… • Oil Prices and Volatile Markets• Global Warming• Geopolitical Concerns• Job Creation• Change in Leadership• Desire to Lead• Unintended Consequences of Inaction• Public Consciousness and Interest Group

Effectiveness• Global Pressures

Congressional Who’s WhoCommittees of Importance

Senate Committee Chair

Environment and Public Works Sen. Barbara Boxer (CA)

Energy and Natural Resources Sen. Jeff Bingaman (NM)

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Sen. Tom Harkin (IA)

Appropriations Sen. Daniel Inouye (HI)

House Committee Chair

Agriculture Rep. Collin Peterson (MN)

Energy and Commerce Rep. Henry Waxman (CA)

Natural Resources Rep. Nick Rahall (WV)

Ways and Means Rep. Charlie Rangel (NY)

Programs of Interest Executive Order 13423

• VEHICLES: Increase purchase of alternative fuel, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles when commercially available.

• PETROLEUM CONSERVATION: Reduce petroleum consumption in fleet vehicles by 2% annually through 2015.

• ALTERNATIVE FUEL USE: Increase alternative fuel consumption at least10% annually.

• ENERGY EFFICIENCY: Reduce energy intensity by 3 % annually through2015 or by 30% by 2015.

• GREENHOUSE GASES: By reducing energy intensity by 3% annually or 30%by 2015, reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

• WATER CONSERVATION: Reduce water consumption intensity by 2% annually through 2015.

• PROCUREMENT: Expand purchases of environmentally-sound goods and services, including biobased products.

Programs of Interest, (cont.) Executive Order 13423

• ELECTRONICS MANAGEMENT: Annually, 95% of electronic products purchased must meet Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool standards where applicable; enable Energy Star® features on 100% of computers and monitors; and reuse, donate, sell, or recycle 100% of electronic products using environmentally sound management practices.

• ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS: Implement EMS at all appropriate organizational levels to ensure use of EMS as the primary management approach for addressing environmental aspects of internal agency operations and activities.

• RENEWABLE POWER: At least 50% of current renewable energy purchases must come from new renewable sources (in service after January 1, 1999).

• POLLUTION PREVENTION: Reduce use of chemicals and toxic materials and purchase lower risk chemicals and toxic materials from top priority list.

• BUILDING PERFORMANCE: Construct or renovate buildings in accordance with sustainability strategies, including resource conservation, reduction, and use; sitting; and indoor environmental quality.

Programs of Interest• USDA BioPreferred Program – Marketing and

Procurement– History of Program– Opportunities– Strengths– Challenges and Threats

• Consumer Awareness• Procurement Challenges• Measurement• Funding

Programs of Interest

RFS -Renewable Fuel Standard (EPA)

Programs of Interest

Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (IRS)

Small Ethanol Producer Credit (IRS)

Biodiesel Tax Credit (IRS)

Small Agri-Biodiesel Producer Credit (IRS)

Renewable Diesel Tax Credit (IRS)

Cellulosic Biofuel Production Tax Credit (IRS)

Depreciation Allowance for Cellulosic Biofuel Plant Property (IRS)

Programs of Interest

Bioenergy Program (USDA)

Renewable Energy System and Energy Efficiency (USDA)

Value-Added Producer Grants Program (VAPG) (USDA)

Biorefinery Development Grants (USDA)

Business and Industry (B&I) Guaranteed Loans

Rural Business Enterprise Grants (RBEG)

Programs of Interest

Biorefinery Assistance

Repowering Assistance

Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels

Feedstock Flexibility for Producers of Biofuels (Sugar)

Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP)

Programs of Interest

Biomass Research and Development Initiative (DOE)

Biorefinery Project Grants (DOE)

Loan Guarantees for Ethanol from Alt Feedstocks (DOE)

DOE Loan Guarantee (DOE)

Cellulosic Biofuels Production Incentive (DOE)

Programs of Interest

Import Duty for Fuel Ethanol (Customs)

Current Issues

• Biofuels Interagency Working Group• Indirect Land Use & Renewable Fuel Std

Rulemaking (RFS-2)• CAFE Standards• Climate Change Legislation & Cap and Trade• Renewable Energy Standards• Technology – Opportunities and Challenges• Efficiency Standards• Other Issues on the Legislative Agenda (Health

Care, Regulatory Reform, Economic Recovery)

Challenges to Reform

• Funding– Appropriations Process– Budgets

• Buy-In– Public– Implementing Agencies

• Complexity• Rule Making• Science• Controversies

Leading: Greening Congress

Greening of the Capitol

Program Description

Successes

Challenges

Transitioning to a New Green Agenda:

USDA Walking the Walk 

Robin HeardDeputy Assistant Secretaryfor Administration, USDA

USDA Green Agenda

• A key part of USDA's approach to the new Administration's green agenda is to lead by example …"to walk the walk"

• We're leading by example in

– Employing sustainable landscaping around our headquarters building

– Making our food services more sustainable

– Green building design, construction, and renovation

– Increasing use of biobased products

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Concept to Reality

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Sustainable Landscape

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Stage 1 - Clearing

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Stage 2 - Seed Planting

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Planting Continues…

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Gardens as Carbon Sinks

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Landscape Practices

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Sustainable Foodservice

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Foodservice Products

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Foodservice Facilities

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Facility Renovations

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Furniture and Furnishings

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Facility Cleaning

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Administration andAgency Commitment

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