Remarks at Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center on June 20, 2023 Prepared for Administrator Robin Carnahan

June 20, 2023

Thank you, Regional Administrator Doomes and Deputy Administrator Adams-Allen.

It’s also great to be here with Senior Advisor John Podesta, White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory, and our partners from Johnson Controls - John Kliem, Lee Comer, and Chris Landro.

The Biden Administration has big goals for tackling the climate crisis and Investing in America. That’s why the historic Inflation Reduction Act is so important because it positions government to lead by example in moving our country toward a clean energy economy.

We’re catalyzing investments in communities across the country, driving toward a triple-win - 1) creating good jobs and accelerating American innovation, 2) reducing costs, and 3) ensuring a healthier planet for our kids.

And we’re already making big progress. 

For example, GSA has already reduced greenhouse gas emissions from federal buildings by more than half – a decade ahead of schedule. But that’s only part of the story…we’re also saving taxpayers $638 million by cutting energy use.

And our plan is to do more of that all over the country. 

In Texas and Louisiana we’re investing in energy efficient upgrades, in northern Ohio we’re electrifying buildings, in Oklahoma we just launched a grid-interactive efficient building which is a model for the country, and in DC, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, and Wisconsin we’re investing in more deep-energy retrofits. All of these investments are good for jobs, good for taxpayers and good for the environment.

Today we’re taking our biggest step yet to show that we’re leading the way toward cleaner buildings.

We’re announcing the investment of $975 million from the Inflation Reduction Act to deploy emerging and sustainable technologies across the federal footprint.

Even better news, that funding will unlock even more dollars because we’re leveraging public-private partnerships to do this work. By entering into Energy Savings Performance Contracts, Utility Energy Savings Contracts with private companies we’ll bump up the total investments in these projects to nearly $1.9 billion. All focused on improving our buildings and making them run cleaner.

Those upgrades will result in 28 new, net-zero energy buildings and 100 new, all-electric buildings - all across the country.

To put that into context, GSA’s sustainable buildings portfolio will grow to over 130 million square feet covering almost two thirds of our entire portfolio.

And what better place to start than right here at one of the biggest federal buildings in the country.

I’m pleased to announce that the Ronald Reagan Federal Building will be going all-electric with help from the Inflation Reduction Act and our key partner, Johnson Controls.

When all is said and done, this building will leverage up to $13.5 million IRA dollars with support from over $90 million in private sector financing. That’s nearly 8 dollars of private investment for every 1 dollar of taxpayer funds.

That’s going to enable us to make some big changes that will lead to impressive savings and reduced emissions – 57,000 LED lightbulbs, 500 high efficiency transformers, and a reverse osmosis groundwater recovery system.

Listen to these estimates…

reduce energy use by 40 percent;
Emissions cut by almost 16,000 tons;
Save 35 million gallons of water each year;
And cost savings of over $6 million every year. 
This is what it looks like to have the government’s buyer put its full buying power behind transforming the market and driving progress on sustainability…

Billions for clean construction materials made right here in the USA… 
Hundreds of projects turning our federal buildings into testbeds of clean energy innovation…
And all of this accelerating market transformation and creating good jobs along the way.
Projects like these are a smart and lasting way to Invest in America. They help revitalize manufacturing, support workers, bolster resilience, reduce pollution, increase our national security, and build an economy that works for everyone.

And by showing that it’s possible in government buildings, more and more folks can join us in driving to net-zero emissions in buildings nationwide.

But we can’t do this alone, it will take all of us working more closely together than ever before.

That’s why - just two weeks ago - I announced that we’re quadrupling the number of companies in our Green Proving Ground program - from about five in recent years to about 20 this year.

We also announced our biggest notice of opportunity ever through our National Deep Energy Retrofit program for projects at 41 facilities in DC and the Midwest.

These partnerships are going to play a key role in helping us achieve the ambitious target of transitioning the federal buildings portfolio to net-zero by 2045.

So, I know we have some industry folks and other partners here today - so let me spend a few minutes on how you can get involved.

First, I hope you dive in and learn more about the work GSA is doing here and in places across the country. We need more companies like Johnson - as well as utilities and other folks - to partner with us. Advancing sustainability is going to require everyone at the table.
Second, That includes making sure that entrepreneurs and innovators in your orbit know about GSA programs like the Green Proving Ground and the National Deep Energy Retrofit program. And third, be sure to respond when government calls for your input.

I’ve been around long enough to know that this is a unique moment where we have momentum and money at the same time to tackle these critical issues. And I know the innovation and ingenuity of the American clean energy community will help us meet the President’s ambitious goals of transitioning our federal portfolio to all-electric and net-zero buildings. We’ve got no time to waste.

As the President often reminds us, there’s nothing we can’t achieve when we work together – so, again, let’s deliver a triple win for America: creating good jobs and economic opportunity for our people, saving money for taxpayers, and creating a healthier planet for our kids.

Thank you. Now I’ll turn it to a wonderful partner in this work, Senior Advisor to the President for Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation, John Podesta.