On April 24, 2024, the Department of Energy finalized a rule that will accelerate the electrification of new federal buildings and major renovations and reduce fossil fuel pollution. The Clean Energy for Federal Buildings rule requires a 90% reduction in direct fossil fuel consumption during the next five years and the elimination of burning fossil fuels on-site by 2030.
By mid century, the new rule will deliver $134 million in savings and cut carbon emissions by roughly 2 million metric tons, the DOE estimates. The rule follows a federal Building Performance Standard announced in December 2022, which will enhance energy efficiency and drive down carbon emissions from the federal government’s over 300,000 existing buildings, managed by the General Services Administrations (GSA).