President Biden, the White House, green, environment, tomorrow are some of the topics covered in this article.
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The federal government is now part of the White House's renewable energy push. President Biden has issued an executive order that would require the government to stop buying cars that burn fossil fuels by the year 2035 and to switch all buildings to renewable energy sources by the year 2050. The administration wants to cut building emissions in half by 2032.
The measure was seen by Biden as a way to lead by example and encourage both a carbon pollution-free electricity industry by 2035 and net zero emissions for the entire economy by 2050. The President said that the federal government is the largest employer, energy user and land owner in the US, and that its shift to renewables could affect private businesses.
It is a modest goal. For a start, the timeline is very long. Why would it take the federal government so long to switch a 600,000-vehicle fleet to electric vehicles and other emissions-free machines? The 300,000 buildings are more daunting than the 300,000 that have been ordered.
There are many challenges. Many of the buildings and vehicles used by the feds have different requirements. Even if the scale is relatively modest, it may take a highly coordinated effort to transition everything to zero-emissions transport and renewable energy. There is a question of future administrations. A new presidency can delay or even undermine emissions reduction plans. There are many opportunities for reversals at the targets.
Even if there are setbacks, the order is still noteworthy. Efforts to limit climate change aren't limited to the private sector, and it could prompt contractors to switch to eco-friendly products in a bid to win federal deals.
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