The executive order signed by Biden on Wednesday allowed the federal government to focus its annual spending on clean energy, electric vehicles and energy efficient buildings. The new goals include a reduction in carbon emissions by 65% by 2030.
The order is expected to spur the growth of climate-related union jobs, at least 10 gigawatts of new clean electricity production by the end of the decade, and increase demand from local solar and wind energy producers.
The Federal Government can transform how we build, buy, and manage electricity, vehicles, buildings, and other operations to be clean and sustainable by being the single largest land owner, energy consumer and employer in the nation.
Biden's executive order includes goals of transitioning the US electricity sector to clean energy by 2035 and a carbon-neutral economy by 2050. The world needs to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by the year 2050 in order to prevent more than 1.5 degrees of warming according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
All new federal vehicles will be zero-emission by the year 2035. It establishes a "Buy Clean" policy to promote the use of lower-emission construction materials. The purchase of sustainable products, including ones that do not contain the harmful chemicals known as PFAS, is prioritized.
The White House said in a statement that the executive order will reduce emissions across federal operations, invest in American clean energy industries and manufacturing, and create clean, healthy, and resilient communities.
Biden visited a transportation facility in Kansas City, Missouri on Wednesday to promote his infrastructure bill. He pointed out that there was an investment of $66 billion in passenger and freight rail as well as new funding for public transit.
