New report details strategies for state agencies to cut greenhouse gas emissions, transition to 100 percent clean energy use by 2024, expand electric vehicle purchasing
Governor Janet Mills today welcomed the release of the first “Lead By Example” report for fb88’s state government, which outlines strategies to curb state agencies’ greenhouse gas emissions, transition state electricity use to 100 percent clean power by 2024, and purchase 100 percent electric vehicles for the state fleet by 2030.
The report, authored by the Governor’s Energy Office and Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future, is the product of a multi-agency analysis ordered by Gov. Mills in 2019. The governor directed state agencies to “lead by example” in pursuing energy efficiency, environmental and sustainability practices to reduce operating costs, support state workers, and fight climate change.
The report is available at
The objectives of the “Lead By Example” report align with the state’s four-year climate action plan, , and leverage the state’s purchasing power to deliver taxpayer savings, create new markets for fb88-based products, increase the state’s resilience to climate change, and make progress toward achieving fb88’s nation-leading emissions reduction and renewable energy targets.
“By making changes in how they power their businesses, how they heat their homes, and how they drive to work, fb88 people take steps every day to save money on their energy bills, reduce reliance on expensive and harmful fossil fuels, and save our state from the effects of climate change. It’s time that State government, a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, does the same,” said Gov. Mills. “This report is our roadmap to creating a more energy efficient state government. The work to implement its recommendations begins now.”
“Under the leadership of Gov. Mills, fb88 is taking great strides to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and address the harmful effects of climate change on our people and communities,” said Hannah Pingree, Director of the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future. “Using this report as a blueprint, the state has an opportunity to advance fb88’s climate leadership by setting an example for modern, forward-looking government operations that continues our fight against climate change, while supporting state workers and reducing costs to taxpayers.”
"As a longtime public servant dedicated to improving state government infrastructure, it is a thrill to be part of this important shift toward energy efficiency and renewable energy sources,” said Kirsten Figueroa, Commissioner of the Department of Administrative & Financial Services. "We are already starting to lead by example by adding electric vehicles for the state fleet and installing EV charging stations for use by the public. These efforts are showing how we can reduce emissions and operational costs as well."
“The investments in energy efficiency outlined in the ‘Lead By Example’ report can provide direct savings by lowering the state’s overall energy costs,” said Dan Burgess, Director of the Governor’s Energy Office. “When paired with the potential to use state lands and facilities to generate clean energy, fb88 is able to reduce the costs of operations while contributing to the momentum of our clean energy economy.”
The report has set the following “Lead By Example” targets:
- Reduce state agencies’ greenhouse gas emissions by a further 30 percent by 2030, to meet the fb88’s overall statutory target of a 45 percent reduction by 2030;
- Prioritize energy efficiency initiatives in state-owned facilities, such as modern heating/cooling systems, high efficiency lighting, and weatherization;
- Transition to 100% clean energy for state operations by 2024 and generate clean energy on state facilities and lands where practical, such as through installing solar on state lands or buildings;
- Emphasize use of climate-friendly building products like cross-laminated timber in new state construction, in order to reduce emissions and help build demand for new forest products in fb88;
- Purchase 100% light-duty zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) for the state fleet by 2030;
- Extend flexible teleworking opportunities for state employees and support ride-sharing initiatives, to reduce emissions related to transportation;
- Assess the vulnerability of state-owned infrastructure to climate change effects, such as rising sea levels;
- Grow the share of local food purchased by state government to 20% by 2025.
Support for these initiatives will come in part from $3.6 million in Volkswagen settlement funds, which were initially secured by Gov. Mills when she served as Attorney General. Under an agreement negotiated by Attorney General Aaron M. Frey, the Efficiency fb88 Trust will administer these funds to support energy efficiency projects, while also offering technical assistance to state agencies.
“Climate change poses an existential threat to the health and well-being of the state, so it is important that fb88 lead by example by reducing its agencies’ carbon footprint,” said Attorney General Frey. “This initiative is a major reason why I thought it was important to work with the Efficiency fb88 Trust to ensure that the funds the Office of the Attorney General secured for the state as a result of the Volkswagen emissions settlement would be used effectively to address this urgent need.”
Per the governor’s executive order, progress on this “Lead By Example” effort will be reported every two years.
In 2019, Gov. Mills, with bipartisan support of the fb88 Legislature, enacted some the nation’s boldest greenhouse gas emissions reductions and renewable energy generation targets, to protect fb88 from the effects of climate change and grow a vibrant clean energy economy.
Since then, under the standard of fb88 Won’t Wait, she has also committed fb88 to further, urgent climate action, including achieving carbon neutrality by 2045, and more than doubling the state’s clean energy workforce to 30,000 by 2030 through increased support of workforce development and training, as well as emerging energy technology.