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Welcome to the July edition of the Sustainability Spotlight! This edition of the Spotlight newsletter highlights notable wins in each of our primary goal areas, carbon pollution-free electricity (CFE), net-zero buildings emissions, zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) fleet, and climate and resilience.
On the CFE front, Idaho National Laboratory (INL) selected two qualified solar energy developers to enter into lease negotiations to add 400 megawatts (MW) of CFE to the grid. Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) recently began realty agreement negotiations to add 200 MW to the grid. Savannah River Site (SRS) has entered into lease agreement discussions to add 75 MW to the grid. These efforts are part of the larger, Clean Up to Clean Energy (CUCE) initiative which was just named a recipient of a 2024 Presidential Sustainability Award!
With regard to DOE’s transition to a green fleet, last month, the Office of Management awarded Green Fleet Awards to eight sites that demonstrated outstanding leadership in transitioning to ZEVs. Two million dollars in grants distributed to these sites will be used to fund additional ZEVs and electric vehicle charging infrastructure to further promote fleet electrification. To further promote ZEVs, Secretary Granholm recently signed the Accelerating the Deployment of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure memorandum. These important actions help ensure that DOE is a leader in the ZEV transition.
I look forward to seeing DOE’s continued progress as the year continues and sharing new accomplishments, best practices, and lessons learned at DOE’s second annual Sustainability Summit on September 10-12. If you have ideas of how to make the Sustainability Performance Office (SPO) Summit a success, please share them with sustainability@hq.doe.gov.
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CUCE Selects Developers and Receives Presidential Sustainability Award
Nearly a year ago, on July 28, 2023, the Department of Energy announced the CUCE initiative at the James V. Forrestal building in Washington, D.C. This initiative aims to repurpose parts of DOE-owned lands—portions of which were previously used in the nation’s nuclear weapons program—for clean-energy generation.
This June, DOE announced the first proposed projects selected under the CUCE Initiative. NorthRenew Energy Partners proposes to install photovoltaics (PV) with battery storage to produce more than 300 MW of CFE. Spitfire proposes to install PV with battery storage to produce 100 MW of CFE. The two companies will produce 400 MW of solar power—enough to power 70,000 homes across 890 square miles at INL. On June 7, NNSA selected Estuary Power LLC & NV Energy to begin realty agreement negotiations for a commercial clean energy solar project on 2,400 acres of land at NNSS. The proposed project is expected to generate at least 200 MW of clean energy. On June 20, SRS entered land lease negotiations with Steller Renewable Power to deploy 75 MW of CFE and the potential for battery storage on at least 500 acres of land at SRS. RFQ selections at Hanford Site and Waste Isolation Pilot Plant are expected in the upcoming months.
“Through the Cleanup to Clean Energy initiative, DOE will leverage areas that were previously used to protect our national security and will repurpose them to the same end—this time, generating clean energy that will help save the planet and protect our energy independence” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. This first of its kind game changing federal initiative was honored on June 25 by the White House as one of only 10 Presidential Federal Sustainability Award winners selected from a pool of over 140 nominations spanning 10 federal agencies.
Forrestal’s New Solar Panels
In February 2024, DOE’s James V. Forrestal Building achieved a significant milestone in its commitment to sustainability with the completion of the new solar panel project on the rooftop of the North Building. Compliant with the 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC) and Buy American Act, these panels ensure not only environmental benefits but also support domestic manufacturing and labor. Alongside the solar project, the building has undergone improvements such as a newly completed white roof with added insulation and cool roof technology.
The newly installed solar panels have a total 224kW module capacity and an estimated annual production of 285.1 MWh. The PV system is projected to deliver equivalent reductions of 223 tons of carbon dioxide emissions and prevent the burning of 226,322 pounds of coal annually.
Headquarters is leading by example in sustainability and moving the Department forward in achieving clean energy goals.
Photo: Solar panels atop the James V. Forrestal building roof.
Indian Energy Purchase Preference
The Indian Energy Purchase Preference (IEPP) provides Federal agencies with the authority to give preference to Tribal majority owned businesses and organizations when purchasing electricity, energy products, and byproducts. IEPP has the potential to support clean energy development by Tribes while supporting the acquisition and use of CFE pursuant to E.O. 14057.
Tribal lands hold considerable energy resources such as oil, gas, coal, solar, and wind. Developing these resources can lead to income, jobs, and other economic benefits for tribes. Since the IEPP was authorized in 2005, no federal agencies have used the tribal energy preference.
Secretary Granholm reaffirmed DOE’s commitment to purchasing clean power from Tribes which can help the agency meet the federal government’s clean energy and energy justice goals. The Office of Indian Energy oversees DOE's Indian Energy Purchase Preference Policy and provides resources on federal funding opportunities for tribes. SPO is working with the Indian Energy Office to understand ways in which the Department can better support development and use of tribal energy.
For additional information, visit:
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DOE's Performance Contracting Memo
On July 3rd, Secretary Granholm signed a new memorandum entitled Maximizing the Use of Performance Contracting. The memo sets an ambitious goal for the Department to leverage $100 million in performance contracts (PC) per year. Additionally, it requires sites to integrate PCs into their facility planning and budgeting, to operate with the presumption that energy conservation measures will be implemented through PCs unless deemed infeasible, and for MA and FEMP to provide support. SPO is developing an implementation strategy and will reach out to each of the programs to discuss next steps. The memorandum requires program offices to identify and report their PCs planned for FY 2024-25, to Ingrid Kolb by August 1.
AFFECT Applications Submitted!
Sixteen DOE sites submitted an outstanding number of Assisting Federal Facilities with Energy Conservation Technologies (AFFECT) requests, including 29 applications for $135 million - $20 million more than last year! DOE’s total committed leverage for the applications was over $670 million, translating to potentially over $800 million in project investments. The applications covered three of DOE’s four sustainability goals, including net-zero Buildings, carbon pollution-free electricity, and resilience. Projects ranged from developing enterprise building master plans to implementing ECMs, from electrification to waste heat re-use systems, and from solar PV with battery storage to microgrids.
Forrestal’s 50001 Ready Certification
In March 2024, DOE’s James V. Forrestal Building became the first DC-based Federal headquarters facility to achieve 50001 Ready certification. This tremendous achievement was the result of months of partnership between the Office of Management (MA), Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP), and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The 50001 Ready program was developed by DOE to provide a no-cost, self-paced framework for facilities and organizations to demonstrate implementation of an ISO 50001 based energy management system by:
- Developing a policy for more efficient use of energy
- Fixing targets and objectives to meet the policy
- Using data to better understand and make decisions about energy use
- Measuring the results
- Reviewing how well the policy works, and
- Continually improve energy management.
50001 Ready is a DOE designation for facilities and organizations that have implemented an ISO 50001-based energy management system using the guidance in DOE’s 50001 Ready Navigator online application. To be 50001 Ready recognized, organizations are responsible for completing the 50001 Ready Navigator tasks, self-attesting to their completion, and measuring and improving energy performance over time. The 50001 Ready designation is not a substitute for ISO 50001 certification.
 Photo: DOE staff pose against the James V. Forrestal 50001 Ready plaque. From left: David Brown, Director- Office of Administration; Ingrid Kolb, Chief Sustainability Officer and Director- Office of Management, Mary Sotos, Director- Federal Energy Management Program, and Jay Wrobel, Senior Advisor, Residential Programming and Utility Strategy, Building Technologies Office.
DOE’s Clean Energy Rule
In May 2024, DOE finalized the Clean Energy for New Federal Buildings and Major Renovations of Federal Buildings (Clean Energy Rule) which revises performance standards for the construction of all new Federal buildings, including commercial buildings, multi-family high-rise residential buildings and low-rise residential buildings. The final rule applies to building designs that commence on or after May 1, 2025, until then a grace period for compliance is in place.
Applicable Federal buildings shall be designed to reduce on-site fossil fuel-generated energy consumption, if designed for construction or major renovations, as compared to a similar building in FY 2003 by:
- 90% in FY 2025–FY 2029 and
- 100% in FY 2030 or later.
The rule applies to new construction and major renovations that exceed the following cost thresholds approximations (in 2024 dollars):
- $3.6 million for federally owned public buildings,
- $3.8 million for federally owned non-public federal buildings, and
- $1.8 million for leased federal buildings.
The Clean Energy Rule applies specifically to scope 1 emissions from fossil fuel use in building operations end-uses only, does not allow renewable electricity to off-set on-site fossil fuel use, and excludes industrial and manufacturing process loads. For more information visit the Clean Energy Rule page.
SPO is developing best practice documents which will help sites in addressing GHG reduction and buildings goals. The first of these are out for review and will focus on deep energy retrofits and electrification. This guidance will be followed by additional topics such as climate adaption. These documents will include case studies such as the one below:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s (LBNL) ongoing Commissioning (OCx) program has been the primary driver for significant reductions in energy and water consumption at the site as well as continual improvements in laboratory ventilation safety. The OCx team is actively maintaining 12,506 MWh electricity and gas (weather corrected) savings and annual water savings of 5.6 million gallons. The energy and water savings result in over $1.1 million in utility savings annually. LBNL recently participated in SPO’s Retro & On-Going Commissioning webinar hosted on June 13. Click here to listen to the recording.
Zero Emissions Vehicles
2024 Green Fleet Award Winners
DOE sites across the complex are rising to the challenge to meet the administration’s bold goal of achieving a 100% ZEV fleet by 2035, with 100% light-duty (LD) vehicle acquisitions by 2027. In 2024, 71% of all LD vehicles ordered by DOE were ZEVs. To reward the sites who replaced eligible replacement leases with the most LD ZEVs, the Office of Management awarded $2 million in grants to eight sites to use toward installing electric vehicle charging infrastructure at their site.
The winners of the 2024 Green Fleet Awards are:
Hanford Site, 84% LD ZEV Acquisitions
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, 94% LD ZEV Acquisitions
The Idaho Cleanup Project, 90% LD ZEV Acquisitions
Los Alamos National Laboratory, 87% LD ZEV Acquisitions
Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, 100% LD ZEV Acquisitions
Pantex Plant, 92% LD ZEV Acquisitions
Sandia National Laboratories - New Mexico, 88% LD ZEV Acquisitions
Savannah River Site, 100% LD ZEV Acquisitions
Headquarters Leases Electric Vehicle Chargers
To meet fleet electrification goals, DOE is leasing ChargePoint chargers in the Forrestal and Germantown buildings. Currently there are 24 charging ports at Forrestal and 4 charging ports at Germantown. When not in use by DOE's fleet, these chargers are available for employees to charge personally owned vehicles. Leasing these charging ports has provided HQ with several benefits:
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Quick installation – The Forrestal chargers were installed and operational within four months of the order.
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One Stop Shop – The lease costs include installation, configuration, warranties, and repairs. ChargePoint has been extremely efficient in fixing any problems with the chargers.
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Single Platform – Allows those who operate ZEVs in Forrestal and Germantown to use a single application for charging, reducing pain points related to multiple systems.
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Simple Payment System – ChargePoint provides an easy-to-use payment system and phases out cash and pay.gov transactions that were previously used with Forrestal’s old chargers.
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Flexibility as Technologies Change – HQ can decide to renew its lease at the end of five years or potentially lease newer chargers. This allows HQ to keep up with technology improvements in a rapidly changing industry.
DOE’s Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Policy
On July 14th, Secretary Granholm signed the Accelerating the Deployment of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure memorandum. This memo will ensure the availability of sufficient charging infrastructure by planning, funding, and deploying charging ports in advance of vehicle acquisitions. The memo also states that charging infrastructure specifications should be included in the design phase of new facilities and that within existing facilities, parking structures, and parking spaces, electric vehicle charging infrastructure is prioritized to the greatest extent possible. This memo is a significant step in ensuring DOE fulfills goals of 100% light duty ZEV acquisitions by 2027.
DOE’s Sustainable Travel Policy
On May 1st, 2024, Secretary Granholm signed the Promoting Sustainable Transportation at the Department of Energy Through Federal Travel memorandum. This memorandum allows DOE employees to rent a ZEV when: (a) the cost of the ZEV is no more than 30% greater than the lowest-cost compact vehicle; or (b) the cost exceeds 30% but is less than an additional $20 per day. For local travel, public transit should be prioritized. Interstate and commuter rail should be prioritized over air travel or long-distance automobile. When rail is available, employees should travel by rail to cities less than 250 miles apart, especially in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. DOE’s sustainable travel policy demonstrates DOE’s leadership in reducing GHG emissions and supports DOE’s transition to net-zero emissions by 2050.
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Photo: A ZEV rental car charges at one of NREL’s electric vehicle charging stations.
Recently, SPO’s Program and Management Analyst, Isabelle Heilman, rented a ZEV while visiting the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and charged her rental car using NREL’s public charging ports. As a first time ZEV renter, Isabelle highlights some best practices while renting a ZEV:
- Ask your DOE host if personal electric vehicle charging is available at the site and what apps are needed to charge your rental vehicle. Save time by downloading and set-up any apps before you arrive.
- If charging is not available at your site, look for a hotel with charging ports. GSA’s FedRooms maintains a list of hotel properties with EV charging.
- Confirm with the rental company the level of charge required upon vehicle return. Budget and Avis require vehicles to be returned with a battery of 70% or higher.
- Give yourself time to charge! A Level 1 charger generally charges vehicles 5 miles per hour while a Level 2 charger generally charges vehicles about 25 miles per hour.
- When submitting your voucher in Concur, select “Electric Car Charging” to account for the cost of charging.
View DOE’s Travel Website for more sustainable travel materials including a ZEV Rental 101 and FAQ.
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Climate
DOE’s 2024 Climate Adaptation Plan
Secretary Jennifer Granholm recently signed the 2024 Climate Adaptation Plan (CAP), which reinforces the importance of cross-functional work on climate adaptation and resilience. The CAP includes a risk assessment of the Department’s buildings and personnel, an implementation plan to build resilience against these risks, and a timeline to demonstrate progress. The CAP risk assessment leveraged site Vulnerability Assessments and Resilience Plans (VARPs). DOE’s top climate hazards for buildings and personnel are extreme heat, extreme precipitation, and wildfires.
The implementation plan of the CAP describes how DOE is integrating climate adaptation into Departmental policies and processes. DOE is implementing both structural resilience solutions, such as HVAC and drainage system upgrades, and operational strategies, such as improving indoor air quality standards and emergency communication systems. DOE is also institutionalizing climate adaptation and resilience through the revision of internal directives such as DOE Order 436.1A, Departmental Sustainability and Order 413.3B, Program and Project Management for the Acquisition of Capital Assets. These efforts collectively, aim to build a more resilient DOE, capable of withstanding the evolving challenges to our mission posed by climate change. Read the 2024 CAP here.
State and Tribal Government Working Group Spring (STGWG) Meeting
The STGWG convenes representatives from states and Native American tribes that host or are otherwise affected by DOE sites or facilities associated with the production and cleanup of the nuclear weapons complex. The impact of climate change on DOE operations is an important topic for State and Tribal governments and was one of the themes of the spring STGWG meeting held in Santa Fe, New Mexico. In one session, Isabelle Heilman of SPO briefed the group on the DOE 2024 Climate Adaptation Plan and Kassidy Boorman presented the Los Alamos National Laboratory VARP. In another session, Jay Glascock from the Office of Legacy Management (LM) spoke on the impacts of climate change on LM operations.
The STGWG is interested in engaging with sites in the development of future vulnerability assessments. This is in line with White House Council on Environmental Quality’s expectation that federal agencies consult with Tribal Nations on climate adaptation activities that have Tribal implications. SPO will work with site-level contacts to find ways for sites to meaningfully engage with State, Local, and Tribal governments for climate adaptation and resilience work.
SRS Reuse of Y-12’s Surplus R-123 Refrigerant
In December 2021, Y-12 National Security Complex (Y-12) replaced 11 outdated chillers containing R-123 refrigerant, with energy efficient models. The conversion to newer models resulted in a surplus of 16,794 pounds of the refrigerant.
Savannah River Site (SRS) expressed interest in reusing Y-12's unneeded R-123. Over the course of two years, the reclaimed R-123 was delivered. The total charge to SRS was $167,772, at $9.99 per pound, to safely transport, reclaim, and package 16,794 pounds of R-123. After the first of the two shipments, in early 2024, SRS reported that the cost savings so far were $131,537.
R-123 has a global warming potential of 79. By reusing R-123 from Y-12, as opposed to purchasing the same supply new, SRS was able to avoid approximately 606,058 metric tons of GHG emissions. Read the full story here.
Biden-Harris Administration Announces New Actions to Protect Workers and Communities from Extreme Weather
The week of July 1st, the Biden-Harris Administration announced new actions to protect workers and families from the impacts of extreme weather. DOE operations, particularly outdoor workers, are already affected by extreme heat and precipitation. The findings of the DOE Climate Adaptation Plan and DOE site Vulnerability Assessments and Resilience Plans show that the impacts of extreme weather on our workforce are projected to increase in the future.
To protect outdoor workers, the Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) proposed the first-ever federal safety standard to protect workers from excessive heat. If finalized, OSHA projects the rule would help protect approximately 36 million workers and substantially reduce heat injuries, illnesses, and deaths in the workplace.
More information about these extreme heat and climate resilience actions is available here.
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Announcements
Biden-Harris Administration Boosts Purchases of American-Made Sustainable Products
The Administration has finalized a rule to enhance the Federal Government’s sustainable purchasing standards. This move leverages the government’s purchasing power to promote American manufacturing and build sustainable supply chains. The new rule directs agencies to prioritize products certified to EPA-recommended ecolabels, aligning with President Biden’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions from Federal procurement by 2050. It covers over 40 environmental standards and addresses issues such as energy efficiency and PFAS chemicals. “This rule supports sustainability and U.S. industry, using Federal procurement to build a cleaner, more sustainable future,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, these standards help prioritize sustainable products and create good-paying jobs at home,” added Brenda Mallory, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. The Federal Government -- the world's largest buyer, expects this initiative to significantly reduce supply chain emissions, furthering environmental justice and economic goals. Read the executive order, in full here.
Sandia National Laboratories Renewable Energy Newsletter
Stay up to date on SNL’s photovoltaic workshops, wind accomplishments HelioCon and more by subscribing to SNL’s Renewable Energy Newsletter.
Please reach out to SPO if your DOE site has a sustainable newsletter or announcements page that you would like to publicize among the sustainability community!
Save the Date- DOE Sustainability Summit - September 10-12!
 SPO is pleased to announce its second annual Sustainability Summit will take place on September 10-12th at the James V. Forrestal Building in Washington, D.C. This three-day event will bring together DOE leadership, including Deputy Secretary David Turk, and Chief Sustainability Officer Ingrid Kolb, along with program leads, and site subject matter experts to share knowledge, ideas, and best practices across CFE, ZEV, electrification, deep energy retrofits, climate and resilience. We also look forward to highlighting your achievements during the FY 2024 Sustainability Awards ceremony.
If you did not attend the Summit last year and would like to join this year, please reach out to your Program leads to discuss attendance. More details regarding registration will be coming soon.
Upcoming Events
- September 10-12: 2024 Sustainability Summit (Forrestal)
- September 19: EISA Training Webinar
- October 23: ESPC Brown Bag 3/3
Please reach out to sustainability@hq.doe.gov if you are interested in attending these events.
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Sustainability Resources
The DOE Sustainability Dashboard is a great resource to find updated training, links to relevant sustainability statutes/orders, view your site’s historical data, and more!
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Do you have a story to share, or would you like to put a "spotlight" on a sustainability champion at your DOE site?
Send us an email at sustainability@hq.doe.gov |
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