As part of tackling the climate crisis, GSA stands up task groups on decarbonization and partners with NAACP on environmental justice

(Black PR Wire) WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced its commitment to 100 percent renewable electricity sources for the federal real estate portfolio by 2025. By leveraging its purchasing power, GSA will provide renewable energy to its real estate footprint of 186 million square feet. GSA is continuing its plan to eliminate fossil fuel use in newly constructed facilities and facilities undergoing major modernization and achieving net-zero by 2030. This aligns with President Biden’s pledge to tackle the climate crisis and invest in innovation to spur transformational technologies that can help reduce emissions, while also creating new economic opportunities to build the industries of the future.

“I am proud to affirm GSA’s commitment to 100 percent renewable energy by 2025,” said Acting Administrator Katy Kale. “This is an important step in reasserting the federal government’s leadership role in addressing the existential crisis of climate change.”

“Buildings account for 40 percent of all energy consumed in the US, and 70 percent of the electricity. By the federal government demonstrating a path toward decarbonization, we can encourage greater use of renewable and clean electric resources across the country,” said Mark Chambers, Senior Director for Building Emissions, White House Council on Environmental Quality.

Additionally, to strengthen the mission of GSA and advance diversity, inclusion, equity, and accessibility into how federal buildings are designed and renovated, GSA collaborated with the NAACP to establish an Environmental Justice and Equity Task Group. This group’s mission is to improve engagement with diverse and underrepresented communities to create solutions throughout the federal sustainable building process. This includes design, construction, operation, renewal and occupancy leading to opportunities and green jobs.

“We are gratified and eager to begin this critical work of examining the past and present impacts of federal buildings on Black, Indigenous, people of color and low-income communities, as well as advancing the transformative possibilities through the work of the Environmental Justice and Equity Task Group,” said Jacqui Patterson, NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Program Senior Director. “In working towards centering equity in addressing our federal building infrastructure we aspire to spur a broader transition to a universally equitable and sustainable building sector.”

GSA also established the Federal Building Decarbonization Task Group. This group will explore opportunities and challenges for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, in alignment with national climate goals and action plans, through the use of renewable energy, energy efficiency, electrification and smart building technologies at federal buildings.

About GSA

GSA provides centralized procurement for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of more than 370 million rentable square feet and overseeing approximately $68 billion in annual contracts. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services across government, in support of the Biden-Harris administration’s priorities. For more information, visit: www.gsa.gov and follow us at @USGSA.

About NAACP

Founded in 1909 in response to the ongoing violence against Black people around the country, the NAACP is the largest and most pre-eminent civil rights organization in the nation. We have over 2,200 units and branches across the nation, along with well over 2M activists. Our mission is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons. In media attributions, please refer to us as the NAACP.

NOTE: The Legal Defense Fund, also referred to as the NAACP-LDF, was founded in 1940 as a part of the NAACP, but separated in 1957 to become a completely separate entity. It is recognized as the nation’s first civil and human rights law organization, and shares our commitment to equal rights.