US President Joe Biden has issued a sweeping executive order aimed at decarbonising the federal government, Kallanish reports. 

A key chunk of future decarbonisation policy will be transitioning to a 100% zero-emission light vehicle fleet by 2027. 

“As the single largest land owner, energy consumer, and employer in the nation, the federal government can catalyse private sector investment and expand the economy and American industry by transforming how we build, buy, and manage electricity, vehicles, buildings, and other operations to be clean and sustainable,” the order states in its preamble. 

By no later than fiscal 2027, every federal agency’s light-duty vehicle acquisitions must be zero-emission, the order states. 

Additionally, every agency with 20 vehicles or more shall “develop and annually update” a fleet strategy that outlines plans for further optimisation and “maximising acquisition and deployment of zero-emission light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles where the General Services Administration offers one or more zero-emission vehicle options for that vehicle class.”

In tandem with a zero-emission vehicle strategy, the executive order demands 100% carbon pollution-free electricity on an annual basis and 50% 24/7 carbon pollution-free electricity on an hourly basis by 2030. 

“In addition, agencies shall facilitate new carbon pollution-free electricity generation and energy storage capacity by authorising use of their real property assets, such as rooftops, parking structures, and adjoining land, for the development of new carbon pollution-free electricity generation and energy storage through leases, grants, permits, or other mechanisms, to the extent permitted by law,” according to the order.