DOE's Cleanup to Clean Energy Initiative Recognized for Advancing the Sustainability and Climate Resilience of the U.S. Government in Ways That Cut Energy Costs, Reduce Emissions, and Grow Our Economy
Today (June 25), the White House announced the recipients of the Presidential Federal Sustainability Awards, which recognized the Department of Energy's (DOE) Cleanup to Clean Energy initiative. The Presidential Federal Sustainability Awards recognize federal agencies and employees who have made transformational efforts to advance sustainability and climate resilience within their organization. These actions are supporting the growth of America's clean manufacturing and clean energy industries and jobs, saving taxpayer dollars through reduced energy costs, and creating healthier communities.
"As we work to build a prosperous clean energy future, we need committed leaders who are eager to undertake any challenge before them with pride and passion," said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. "I'm so proud to see the Department's Cleanup to Clean Energy initiative honored as a Presidential Federal Sustainability Award winner a testament to our agency's enthusiastic approach to ensuring the benefits of clean energy are spread far and wide."
"Our Federal Government is the nation's largest energy consumer, building and vehicle owner, and purchaser of goods and services, and the Biden-Harris Administration remains committed to being good stewards of taxpayer dollars while delivering on the most ambitious climate and clean energy agenda in history," said White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory. "The Presidential Federal Sustainability Award winners represent the very best of our Federal workforce and agencies who have tackled complex challenges and delivered results for a cleaner, more efficient Federal Government."
In his first year, President Biden issued an executive order and plan directing the federal government to lead by example by achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, including a 65 percent emissions reduction by 2030. To accomplish this, and with support from the President's Investing in America agenda, federal agencies are electrifying and increasing the efficiency of 300,000 federal buildings, transitioning the federal fleet of 600,000 vehicles to zero-emissions vehicles, and moving to power all federal operations with 100 percent carbon-free electricity.
Awardees were selected from a pool of over 140 nominations and represent domestic and international facilities or projects spanning 10 federal agencies.
Award Winners include:
- Department of Energy: Cleanup to Clean Energy Initiative: In 2023, DOE launched its innovative Cleanup to Clean Energy initiative that seeks to initially transform more than 34,000 acres of DOE-owned lands, many of which were formerly used for the nation's nuclear weapons production and government-sponsored nuclear energy research, into sites of utility-scale clean energy generation and storage. DOE recently announced the first developer selections through this initiative and plans on announcing more before the end of the year.
Working with industry, federal entities, Tribes, communities, states, and local officials, DOE is exploring opportunities to lease tens of thousands of acres of DOE land for the buildout of utility-scale carbon-free electricity projects at the following five sites: Hanford Site, Richland, Washington; Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, Idaho; Nevada National Security Site, Nye County, Nevada; Savannah River Site, Aiken, South Carolina; and Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, Carlsbad, New Mexico.
On June 5, 2024, DOE announced the first two proposed projects selected under this initiative that would produce 400 megawatts of solar power enough to power 70,000 homes within the 890-square-mile INL site. Through its Cleanup to Clean Energy initiative, DOE has answered President Biden's call for federal agencies to transition to 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2030 and to authorize the use of federal real property assets for the development of new clean electricity generation and storage.
On June 12, DOE's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announced the selection of Estuary Power LLC and NV Energy to enter into negotiations for a realty agreement to develop a solar project at NNSA's Nevada National Security Site. The project is expected to generate at least 200 megawatts of clean electricity.
On June 20, DOE announced the selection of Stellar Renewable Power, LLC, to enter lease negotiations for a carbon-pollution-free electricity generation project within the 310-square-mile Savannah River Site (SRS). Stellar Renewable Power, LLC will have the opportunity to negotiate a land lease to deploy 75 megawatts of carbon-pollution-free electricity to the grid with the potential for a battery-energy storage system on at least 500 acres of land at SRS. DOE is currently finalizing its analysis for additional solar capacity at SRS, with an expected completion date next month.
More information on Cleanup to Clean Energy can be found here.
Read more about the Presidential Federal Sustainability Award Winners' achievements.
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