[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 102 (Monday, July 19, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S8797]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 PRESIDENT CLINTON'S EXECUTIVE ORDER TO INCREASE ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN 
                         THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

  Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I would like to speak for just few minutes 
today in support of President Clinton's Executive Order of June 3, 
1999, which ordered the Federal Government to undertake a comprehensive 
program to save energy, save money and cut pollution.
  The Federal Government is the nation's largest consumer of energy, 
purchasing energy to light, heat and cool more than 500,000 buildings 
and power millions of vehicles. Each year the Federal Government 
purchases more than $200 billion worth of products, including enormous 
quantities of energy-intensive goods. Current efficiency programs 
already save more than $1 billion a year according to an estimate in 
the Wall Street Journal of July 15, 1999. In addition, the government's 
vast purchases give it significant market influence to impact the 
development, manufacture and use of clean energy technologies.
  This Executive Order sets worthwhile--and unfortunately too long 
overlooked--goals, including the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, 
energy efficiency improvements, increased use of renewable energy, 
reduced use of petroleum, water conservation and changes in how we 
measure energy use. I believe these goals have tremendous merit and 
will deliver the ``win-win'' results of sound environmental and energy 
policy, because each goal stresses reduced pollution and reduced costs.
  To achieve these goals, the Order sets in place several new 
administrative policies for organization and accountability. To begin, 
each agency will designate a single officer to oversee implementation. 
Agencies will submit a budget request to the Office of Management and 
Budget for investments that will reduce energy use, pollution and life-
cycle costs, and they will track and report progress. The Order applies 
to all Federal departments and agencies, with an appropriate exception 
for the Department of Defense when compliance may hinder military 
operations and training.
  Federal agencies will be able to employ a range of Federal programs 
including Energy Star, sustainable building design research from the 
Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency and 
others. For example, to the extent practicable, agencies will strive to 
achieve the Energy Star standards for energy performance and indoor 
environmental quality for all facilities by 2002. Agencies will apply 
sustainable design principles to the siting, design and construction of 
new facilities--meaning energy use, costs and reduced pollution will be 
optimized across a facility's life. And such measures will extend to 
transportation, including the use of efficient and renewable-fuel 
vehicles.
  Finally, the Executive Order endorses the use of ``source energy'' as 
a measure of efficiency. Measuring energy consumption by ``source''--as 
opposed to ``site''--means taking into account not only the energy 
consumed by a light bulb, appliance or other product to perform a 
certain function, but also the energy consumed in the generation, 
transmission and distribution of that energy to the product in 
question. Research in energy use increasingly shows that a ``source'' 
measurement is a more accurate measure of the total costs that we pay 
to operate appliances and other equipment.
  Mr. President, I add my sincere appreciation to President Clinton for 
executing this Order and endorsing its policies. I believe that if this 
Executive Order is properly implemented, it will pay dividends for the 
environment and taxpayers.

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