Executive Order 13514

Executive Order 13514
Number	13514
Signed	October 5, 2009
Signedby	Barack Obama
Subject	Federal sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions reduction

Executive Order 13514. Signed in 2009 by Barack Obama, this executive action set ambitious targets for federal sustainability, greenhouse gas reductions, and energy efficiency across civilian and defense-related federal operations. It framed federal purchasing, fleet management, and building operations within broader national initiatives such as the United States Climate Action Plan, the Paris Agreement negotiations, and interagency coordination involving entities like the Council on Environmental Quality and the Office of Management and Budget. The order influenced relationships among agencies including the Department of Defense, the General Services Administration, and the Department of Energy.

Background and Purpose

The directive emerged amid heightened attention from policymakers including Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and environmental advocates tied to organizations such as the Sierra Club, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the World Wildlife Fund. It reflected precedents in presidential actions like Executive Order 13423 and built on statutory frameworks in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the National Environmental Policy Act. International events contemporaneous with the order included the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change conferences and the Copenhagen Summit (2009). The purpose was to align federal operations with objectives promoted by leaders at the United Nations, private sector partners like General Electric, and research institutions such as Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Provisions and Requirements

The order prescribed targets for direct and indirect greenhouse gas inventories, influenced by methodologies from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and standards akin to protocols developed by the World Resources Institute and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. It mandated reductions in agency facility energy consumption, sustainable acquisition practices tied to the Federal Acquisition Regulation, and performance goals for federal fleets including vehicles managed by the United States Postal Service and the Department of Defense Vehicle Management. Requirements included implementation of comprehensive energy and water evaluation programs similar to those advocated by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and adoption of renewable energy sources promoted by the Renewable Portfolio Standard movement and projects like those at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Implementation and Agencies Involved

Primary coordination responsibilities were assigned to the Council on Environmental Quality and the Office of Management and Budget, with operational roles for the Department of Energy, the General Services Administration, the Department of Defense, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and civilian agencies including the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Homeland Security. Implementation drew on technical expertise from national laboratories such as Argonne National Laboratory and research centers at universities like Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University. Partnerships developed with nongovernmental organizations including the Environmental Defense Fund and corporate actors like Siemens and IBM to deploy technologies in federal buildings and fleets.

Compliance, Reporting, and Measurement

Agencies were required to develop greenhouse gas inventories and report progress through mechanisms coordinated by the Office of Management and Budget and overseen by the Council on Environmental Quality. Measurement approaches referenced guidance from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, standards from the International Organization for Standardization, and reporting practices used by corporations such as ExxonMobil and Microsoft in their sustainability disclosures. Compliance reviews involved inspectors general from agencies including the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office, which monitored progress and audited data quality. Reporting cycles linked agency performance plans to budgetary reviews and to metrics used by initiatives like the Federal Energy Management Program.

Impact and Outcomes

The order catalyzed increased federal investment in energy efficiency projects, procurement of renewable energy credits, and deployment of technologies exemplified by projects at Brookhaven National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories. It influenced federal building retrofits managed by the General Services Administration and accelerated fleet electrification trials with manufacturers such as Ford Motor Company and Tesla, Inc.. Quantitative outcomes cited in agency reports paralleled trends documented by the Energy Information Administration and analyses from think tanks like the Brookings Institution and the Rhodes Forum. The initiative contributed to broader market signals that affected sectors represented by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Criticism and Legal Challenges

Critics included members of Congress such as John Boehner and Mitch McConnell who argued about executive overreach and fiscal impacts on agencies, and industry groups like the National Federation of Independent Business who raised procurement concerns. Legal challenges and political debate referenced separation of powers disputes similar to litigation seen in cases involving United States v. Nixon principles and administrative law interpretations argued before courts including the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Some litigants invoked statutory preemption and questioned authority relative to laws such as the Antideficiency Act, prompting oversight hearings in the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives.

Category:United States executive orders