The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) and the Department of Defense (DoD) are seeking contractors to provide federal facilities in several mid-Atlantic and Midwest states with 100% carbon pollution-free electricity (CFE) by 2030. These two parallel clean electricity procurements, expected to be awarded later this year, would represent one of the federal government's largest-ever clean electricity purchases.
The GSA Synopsis and DoD Synopsis published today outline each agency's purchasing requirements and reflect their commitment to clean energy as a significant mission-enabler. These procurements are a key milestone in the Biden-Harris Administration's strategy for procuring CFE in retail choice markets. With nearly a quarter of all federal government operational needs located within these markets, competitive retail CFE purchases are essential to meeting President Biden's goal of powering the federal government with 100% CFE by 2030.
"We're working across government to achieve the Biden-Harris administration's clean energy goals in a way that delivers good jobs, great value for taxpayers, and strengthens healthy, prosperous communities across the country," said GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan. "GSA is one of the largest buyers of energy, so we're a steady customer prepared to make long-term investments while using the government's buying power to spur demand for clean, carbon pollution-free electricity and distribution methods."
"The clean energy transition is a national security imperative. DoD, in partnership with all Federal agencies, is committed to doing its part to accelerate this transition as we collectively strive to meet our clean energy goals," said Brendan Owens, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment. "This procurement sets DoD on a path that will strengthen the resilience and reliability of the energy needed to carry out the critical national security missions we execute in the PJM service territory every day."
"President Biden directed the federal government to use its procurement power, as the nation's largest energy consumer, to support the growth of America's clean energy industry and clean energy jobs and to do so in ways that are good for our taxpayers and our communities," said Andrew Mayock, Federal Chief Sustainability Officer in the White House Council on Environmental Quality. "Through our federal demand for locally made clean electricity, we will spur new clean electricity production which is good for our climate, our economy, and our national security."
These procurements seek contractors who can provide CFE to federal civilian and defense agencies located in territories where PJM Interconnection serves as regional transmission operator. In conducting market research, GSA and DoD previously issued a joint Request for Information (RFI) and hosted a combined GSA/DoD Industry Day. The agencies considered input received from these initiatives when shaping their acquisition strategies.
PJM coordinates electricity transmission through an area serving about 65 million people including parts or all of Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland Michigan New Jersey North Carolina Ohio Pennsylvania Tennessee Virginia West Virginia and Washington D.C.. Through these procurements GSA anticipates seeking approximately 1.1 million megawatt hours (MWh) per year while DoD seeks about 2.4 million MWh annually along with associated Energy Attribute Certificates.
With more than 300000 buildings and 600000 vehicles under its purview,the federal government stands as nation’s largest energy consumer.The Federal Sustainability Plan aims at achieving net-zero emissions by transitioning towards zero-emission vehiclesenergy efficient buildingsand CFEspecifically targeting100%CFEby2030withatleast50%locallysourcedtoensure24/7hourly-matcheddemand.Inpastthreeyearsgovernmenthasenteredagreementsprovidingfederalfacilitiesin16stateswith100%CFEby2030increasingrelianceoncleanenergytowardsgoalofachievingcompleteCFEusageby2030.
