The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Legacy Management (LM) recently leased three electric vehicles from the GSA leasing program to start replacing LM’s government vehicle fleet.
These recent leases align with both a bipartisan infrastructure plan that was signed into law in November and an executive order President Biden issued in December. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 outlines different manufacturing and infrastructure changes to create more employment opportunities, starting within the framework of the federal government.
Electric Car
Under the terms of the executive order, all government vehicles will be fully transitioned to electric vehicles by 2035 to address climate change, boost overall public health, and help the government reach its goal of net zero emissions by 2050. LM initiated the lease of these vehicles this month, and the vehicles are expected to arrive as early as the end of the year.
These leases are expected to be the first of many to address the new initiative.
“The leasing of these vehicles to support Legacy Management is a positive step forward in achieving a carbon neutral future protecting the environment,” said LM Organizational Property Management Officer and Fleet Manager Bruce Akers. “It will be a while before we receive the vehicles, and we have a lot of work left to ensure we have a charging infrastructure in place at our sites ready to support them when they arrive, but the benefits they bring will make the efforts well worth it.”
The vehicles leased will be used for all types of official LM business, including field work, routine maintenance, and other LM environmental stewardship activities.
“This is one of Legacy Management’s first steps in meeting the government’s goal of net zero emissions by 2050,” Akers said. “As technology for Electric Vehicles (EVs) advances, the auto industry will soon produce EVs that will support the LM Fleet Management in meeting the needs and requirements of ongoing projects in support of our workforce.”
LM will also address another aspect of the federal infrastructure plan by moving to install electric vehicle charging stations at LM sites to be part of the first-ever national network of electric vehicle charging stations.
Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg created the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation in December 2021 to support the deployment of these projects across multiple states. The goal of the joint office is to provide cleaner energy and create jobs across the United States.
