Biden Administration Saves $20B with Sustainability Goals; Achieves $2B Annual Savings

Last updated Dec 10, 2024

TL/DR –

The federal government is expected to meet sustainability goals set by the Biden administration, reportedly saving $20 billion through energy efficiency programs over the past two decades. The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) official stated that the government is on track to achieve a 70% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, surpassing the 65% target set by Biden. Significant sustainability measures include the purchase of approximately 82,000 zero-emission vehicles, the installation of over 10,500 charging ports at federal facilities, and the investment of $12 billion in sustainability projects.

Administration officials have announced that the U.S. federal government is not only progressing towards the Biden administration’s sustainability goals but also saving costs in the process. The government has reportedly saved approximately $20 billion through energy efficiency and savings initiatives over the past two decades, resulting in around $2 billion in annual cost savings lately.

As part of a [executive order] signed three years ago, President Biden set a goal to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across all federal operations by 2050, including a 65% reduction by 2030. According to a White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) official, with the current pace, a 70% reduction could be reached by 2030, surpassing the target.

The federal government, under President Biden, has invested $12 billion in numerous sustainability projects, such as transitioning the government to electric vehicles, enhancing energy efficiency in federal buildings, and using sustainable construction materials. So far, nearly 82,000 zero-emission vehicles have been ordered and over 10,000 charging ports have been installed at federal facilities, with an additional 52,500 in the pipeline.

The United States Postal Service (USPS) is a significant contributor to the government’s sustainable fleet progress, owning about a third of the total federal fleet. By 2026, USPS plans to purchase only electric Next Generation Delivery Vehicles and aims to make at least 75% of its fleet electric in the future. It is [spending about $10 billion] on this effort, supported by $3 billion from Congress via the Inflation Reduction Act.

However, this could be complicated by the incoming Trump administration, who, as [Reuters reported], is considering canceling the Postal Service’s electric vehicle contract. How this could be achieved remains unclear as USPS is generally an independent, self-funded agency.

In efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, federal employees have been instructed to prioritize sustainable transportation options, as indicated by the Office of Management and Budget in a [memo last year]. Also, the Biden administration has initiated steps to make federal buildings more energy efficient, with over 2,700 net-zero emission projects either completed or ongoing.

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