RESPONSE FROM THE SECRETARY TO THE LEAGUE OF

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