UNCLAS STATE 036849


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ABLD SENV TRGY KGHG ADCO KPAO
SUBJECT: RESPONSE FROM THE SECRETARY TO THE LEAGUE OF
GREEN U.S. EMBASSIES (S/ES: 200903860)

REF: FEBRUARY 26 LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM THE LEAGUE
OF GREEN U.S. EMBASSIES



1. Please deliver the following letter from the
Secretary to the appropriate representatives of the
Green League of U.S. Embassies. There will be no signed
original.


2. Begin text:

Dear Green League of U.S. Embassies Representatives:

Climate change is one of the greatest twenty-first
century global challenges. Tackling it requires U.S.
leadership in a partnership of nations committed to
reducing carbon production, and effective leadership
requires that we practice what we preach. Our potential
partners will judge us by our facilities, vehicles, and
business practices. I welcome the initiatives you have
each taken in our embassy facilities to show such
leadership.

The State Department is improving the energy efficiency
and environmental sustainability of its own facilities,
using internationally accepted third-party validation
processes. For example, several domestic Department
buildings have been certified as EnergyStar, while
several domestic buildings and overseas embassies are
being certified as LEED Silver or Green Globe buildings.
Reduction in energy consumption in the Department's
domestic buildings has been closely monitored since 2003
and is on-track for meeting the energy reduction goal of
30 percent in 2015, as stipulated in Executive Order
13423 and the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA
2007). The Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations is
assembling energy and water consumption metrics for all
embassies so that similar trending can be achieved
across the entire Department real estate portfolio.

We have used energy savings performance contracts
(ESPCs) to achieve some of these successes. In November
2008, the Bureau of Administration initiated an ESPC to
reduce energy consumption in the Harry S Truman Building
and the Beltsville Information Management Center,
focusing on energy savings in computing centers (one of
the most energy-intensive activities in the Department).
In February, the Office of Acquisitions Management
requested letters of interest from sixteen energy
savings performance contractors to pursue energy savings
projects in Conakry, San Salvador, and Santiago. These
are three of our highest priority projects and we are
planning many more in the future. The Departments of
State and Energy expect considerable interest in this
new program.

The State Department continues to develop its domestic
green fleet program. In FY 2008, we far exceeded the
Energy Policy Act alternative fueled vehicle (AFV)
acquisition requirement; although the acquisition of
only 33 AFVs would have met the requirement, DOS
acquired 156 AFVs. Further, we realized a 25 percent
reduction in petroleum fuel consumption compared to the
6 percent mandated by Executive Order 13423. Although
we did not meet the Executive Order 13423 mandate to
increase alternative fuel consumption by 10 percent, we
did realize an increase of almost 6 percent over the
prior year. The Department also introduced seven hybrid
electric vehicles into its domestic fleet in 2008.

We recognize the need to include hybrid and alternative
fuel vehicles in our overseas vehicle fleet. We are
developing the new standards, policies, and regulations
that are necessary for the procurement and operation of
these vehicles. You may have seen the survey sent to
posts in State 20845, March 2009, soliciting information
on that topic. Posts reporting conditions favorable to
the use and maintenance of green vehicles may be
provided alternative fuel vehicles or authorized to
procure such vehicles themselves.

Not only must we make progress on becoming more energy
efficient and environmentally sustainable, we must
continue to focus on outreach activities to show publics
around the world that the United States is committed to
these efforts. We are again showing leadership in the
global effort to fight climate change and we must find
public diplomacy opportunities to highlight Green League
and other initiatives that demonstrate we are leading by
example.

We will continue to build momentum in upcoming months to
assume a greater leadership role in promoting
sustainable policies. I welcome your continued good
ideas and look forward to working with you to accomplish
our shared goals.

Sincerely yours,

Hillary Rodham Clinton

END TEXT.


CLINTON