Biden-Harris Administration Honors Presidential Federal Sustainability Award Winners | CEQ

Federal agencies are recognized for advancing the sustainability and climate resilience of the U.S. Government in ways that cut energy costs, reduce emissions, and grow our economy

WASHINGTON — Today, the Biden-Harris Administration announced the recipients of the Presidential Federal Sustainability Awards. The Presidential Federal Sustainability Awards recognize federal agencies and employees who have made transformational efforts to advance sustainability and climate resilience and lead by example to deliver on President Biden’s goal to slash emissions from federal operations.

Awardees were selected from a pool of over 140 nominations and represent domestic and international facilities or projects spanning 10 federal agencies. Winners are being honored at a White House ceremony today.

“Our Federal Government is the nation’s largest energy consumer, building and vehicle owner, and purchaser of goods and services, and the Biden-Harris Administration remains committed to being good stewards of taxpayer dollars while delivering on the most ambitious climate and clean energy agenda in history,” said White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory. “The Presidential Federal Sustainability Award winners represent the very best of our Federal workforce and agencies who have tackled complex challenges and delivered results for a cleaner, more efficient Federal Government.”

In his first year, President Biden issued an executive order and plan directing the Federal Government to lead by example by achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, including a 65 percent emissions reduction by 2030. To accomplish this, and with support from the President’s Investing in America agenda, Federal agencies are electrifying and increasing the efficiency of 300,000 federal buildings, transitioning the federal fleet of 600,000 vehicles to zero-emissions vehicles, and moving to power all federal operations with 100 percent carbon-free electricity (CFE). These actions are supporting the growth of America’s clean manufacturing and clean energy industries and jobs, saving taxpayer dollars through reduced energy costs, and creating healthier communities.

The Presidential Federal Sustainability Award Winners are:

Electrifying the Federal Fleet

U.S. Postal Service: Electrifying the Largest Federal Fleet: In December 2022, USPS announced its bold commitment to put 66,000 electric delivery trucks on the road over the next five years and the expectation that its Next Generation Delivery Vehicle fleet purchases will be all electric starting in 2026. To power these vehicles, USPS is expeditiously installing electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the nation, with 14,000 charging ports in progress to be installed over the next few years. This represents one of the largest commitments to vehicle electrification in the nation and voluntarily exceeds the fleet electrification requirements in President Biden’s Federal Sustainability Plan.

Advancing Carbon-Free Electricity

Department of Defense, U.S. Air Force: Edwards Air Force Base Solar Project: In 2023, DOD cut the ribbon of the Edwards Air Force Base Solar Array project in California. This solar array joins what has become one of the world’s largest solar and battery storage projects, spanning more than 4,000 acres of public and private lands. The record-setting Edwards Sanborn Solar Storage Project marks the largest private–public partnership within the DOD and reflects DOD’s commitment to a more resilient clean energy future.

Department of Energy: Cleanup to Clean Energy Initiative: In 2023,DOE launched its innovative Cleanup to Clean Energy initiative that seeks to initially transform more than 34,000 acres of DOE-owned lands, many of which were formerly used for the nation’s nuclear weapons production and government-sponsored nuclear energy research, into sites of utility-scale clean energy generation and storage. DOE recently announced the first developer agreements through this initiative and plans on announcing more before the end of the year.

Department of State: Clean Electricity for the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Japan: In 2023, the U.S. Mission in Japan became the first U.S. diplomatic mission with multiple facilities in a country to procure 100 percent CFE for its operations, becoming a better neighbor to their communities and providing a model now being replicated by other U.S. Missions around the world.

General Services Administration: First Federal 100% 24/7 Carbon-Free Electricity Buy: In 2023, GSA made history twice: first by executing the first-ever whole-of-government approach to procuring clean electricity in order to realize greater cost savings for taxpayers; second by executing the Federal Government’s first-ever contract for locally-supplied CFE delivered on a 24/7 basis. Through GSA’s contract with a utility in Arkansas, the Government’s demand—spanning seven federal agencies—for 24/7 CFE will drive new clean energy projects and jobs in Arkansas while delivering cleaner air for Arkansans.

Advancing Climate Adaptation and Resilience

Department of Defense, U.S. Air Force: Tyndall Air Force Base: Integrating Nature into Resilient Infrastructure: In 2018, Tyndall Air Force Base (AFB) in Florida sustained a direct hit from Hurricane Michael, destroying almost 500 buildings on base. DOD used Tyndall AFB’s reconstruction as an opportunity to redevelop the base into a resilient, sustainable “Installation of the Future.” This includes integrating the use of nature-based coastal resilience solutions into the rebuild plan, serving as a model for other coastal federal facilities that need to adapt to the changing climate.

Department of the Treasury: Puerto Rico: Hurricane-Resilient Customer Call Site: As part of its Lifting Communities Up initiative, the Department of the Treasury selected Puerto Rico as the site for a new Internal Revenue Service call site. Today, eight centers of the call site are in operation, with the remaining center set to open in December 2024. Not only will this new call site create up to 2,000 jobs, all of the centers will be built with resiliency features to minimize the risk of weather-related disruptions and can serve as shelter for employees if needed.

Building Sustainable Supply Chains

Department of the Interior: Department-Wide Approach to Reducing Plastic Pollution: In June 2022, the Department of the Interior announced its goal to phase out single-use plastics (SUP) on Interior-managed lands by 2032. Since then, Interior facilities, including national parks, national wildlife refuges, and conservation lands, have made significant strides toward this goal by installing water bottle filling stations, increasing recycling, and working with concessionaires to reduce sales of SUP bottles, utensils, bags, straws and other plastic products.

Buying Clean

General Services Administration: Extraordinary Leadership on the Federal Buy Clean Initiative: GSA has supercharged the Administration’s Federal Buy Clean Initiative to grow the market for American-made, lower-carbon construction materials. Through its robust engagement, GSA helped spur the publication of 17,000 additional Environmental Product Declarations for lower-carbon American-made glass, steel, cement, and concrete products. GSA also worked with stakeholders to pilot a set of Buy Clean specifications for use in its federal building and infrastructure modernization projects. These requirements have been incorporated into 150 GSA construction projects and serve as a model for other large purchasers.

Decarbonizing Federal Buildings

General Services Administration: Electrifying D.C.’s Largest Building: In June 2023, GSA announced its plan to electrify the largest building in Washington, D.C.: the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. By transitioning the 3 million-square-foot building from fossil fuel-based steam to all-electric heat pump technology and making other energy efficiency upgrades, GSA expects to cut the amount of energy the building uses by almost 50 percent, reduce emissions by over 50 percent, and save taxpayers $6.2 million annually in energy costs. This project is expected to finish construction by spring 2025.

Investing in Climate Smart Buildings

Department of Transportation and General Services Administration: Advancing Innovation while Strengthening a Massachusetts Community: In September 2023, the re-imagined John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts, opened its doors. The Center was the result of a property exchange between GSA, acting on behalf of DOT, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Through the agreement, MIT replaced the former Center’s six aging buildings and sprawling parking lots with a new federal building which is highly energy efficient and climate-resilient. As part of the agreement, MIT is now collaborating with the local community and City of Cambridge to create a dynamic mixed-use center on 10 acres formerly owned by DOT, which will connect the surrounding neighborhood with new open spaces, pedestrian links, affordable housing, retail, and science and innovation spaces.

The Biden-Harris Administration is also pleased to recognize the following agencies with honorable mentions:

Department of Defense, U.S. Army: Fort Hunter Liggett: Transitioning to Net-Zero Energy
Department of the Interior: Strengthening the Federal Government’s Climate Resilience through Public-Private Partnerships
Department of Homeland Security: Climate Change Professionals Program

Department of Defense: Leading the Way to an All-Electric Future
General Services Administration: Oklahoma City Federal Building: Innovating Net-Zero
Department of Defense, U.S. Navy: Electrifying the Navy’s Non-Tactical Vehicle Fleet
Department of Homeland Security: Leading the Charge for an All-Electric Law Enforcement Fleet
National Aeronautics and Space Administration: Leveraging a Public-Private Partnership to Deploy EV Charging Infrastructure at Kennedy Space Center

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