Left In Lowell

This sort of leadership has been a long time coming…from a Patrick press release (bold mine):

GOVERNOR PATRICK SETS AMBITIOUS NEW ENERGY STANDARDS FOR STATE BUILDINGS
Executive Order mandates tough conservation measures and requires greater use of renewable energy in state facilities

BOSTON – Wednesday, April 18 – Joined by Senate President Therese Murray and House Speaker Sal DiMasi, Governor Deval Patrick today issued an Executive Order setting higher standards for energy efficiency and mandating greater use of renewable energy throughout state government.

The “Leading By Example – Clean Energy and Efficient Buildings” Executive Order raises the Commonwealth’s clean energy and efficiency goals in the operation of state buildings. State agencies are responsible for consuming over 1 billion kilowatt hours of electricity, 22 million gallons of heating oil, and 46 million therms of natural gas annually, resulting in emission of 1 million tons of carbon dioxide – the equivalent of 200,000 automobiles.

Given the need to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases that cause global climate change, as well as cut electricity costs, throughout the Commonwealth, Governor Patrick insisted that state government “lead by example.” That, he said, means doing far more to constrain energy consumption and make use of renewable energy sources.

“In my administration, we intend to practice what we preach,” said Governor Patrick. “This Executive Order supersedes all previous administrative actions on energy conservation, and sets the clean energy bar far higher than ever before.”

The release gives some specifics. The part that everyone can agree on, is that this will save money on electricity as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions:

Over the last weekend, approximately 170 light bulbs were changed in the Governor’s office. In total 1,000 bulbs will be changed in the State House which will mean $15,000 in savings and a reduction of 56 tons in carbon emissions per year.

There’s more, lots more…

The new Executive Order requires that state agencies:

• Reduce their overall energy consumption 20 percent by 2012, from 2002 levels, 35 percent by 2020.
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions 25 percent over the next five years, 40 percent by 2020, and 80 percent by 2050.

In order to achieve these goals, state agencies are required to:

• Obtain 15 percent of their electricity from clean renewable sources by 2012, 30 percent by 2020
• Use biofuels for 3 percent of heating oil next winter, 5 percent in 2008-09
• Meet Massachusetts’s LEED-Plus green building standards for all new construction and major renovations, and consider energy performance in leasing decisions
• Reduce potable water use 10 over the next five years, 15 percent by 2020.

Under the new requirements, all facilities larger than 100,000 square feet will have to be retrofitted for energy efficiency by 2012, and small agencies will be allowed to take advantage of utility rebate programs. The Executive Order also prohibits the purchase of incandescent light bulbs in most cases, and requires the purchase of energy efficient products, such as high-efficiency lights, programmable thermostats, and Energy Star–qualified products. In the Executive Order, Governor Patrick also calls for changes in behavior in state offices.

“There will be no more leaving lights on at night or over the weekend,” said Governor Patrick.

Governor Patrick announced the new Executive Order, which was filed with the office of Secretary of State William Galvin this morning, at an event on the Grand Staircase of the State House launching a year-long energy efficiency campaign directed at households across the Commonwealth and throughout New England. Under the slogan “Start Small, Save Big,” myenergystar.com – a consortium of electric utilities including NSTAR Electric, National GRID, Cape Light Compact, and Western Massachusetts Electric Co. – is asking all consumers to take small steps to reduce their energy consumption and cut the emission of greenhouse gases.

“Our commitment to cost and energy savings starts right here – quite literally – in my office,” said Governor Patrick, just after youth volunteers from City Year replaced the incandescent bulbs in his desk lamps with compact fluorescent bulbs, which use a fraction of the electricity. As part of the event Sylvania, a Massachusetts–based company, donated 1,000 compact fluorescent bulbs for use in state buildings. “We will be making these changes in offices throughout the State House. It’s a small start, but such small starts add up to big savings – in our pocket books, and for our environment.”

Governor Patrick also issued a Proclamation declaring the year beginning April 22 (Earth Day) “The Year of Energy Efficiency.”

Forgive my skepticism that the electric companies really want us to buy less electricity from them, and they certainly do not want decentralized power generation, but this exec order is…well, nearly as sweeping and strong as I would want it to be. This is great news.