Governor Announces Development of Statewide Energy Strategy

Thursday, March 2, 2006

Contact: Office of Communications 404-651-7774

Governor Announces Development of Statewide Energy Strategy

Creates Council to Prescribe Rules for State Government Procurement of Energy

ATLANTA – Today Governor Sonny Perdue announced two major efforts to support a statewide initiative on energy efficiency and conservation.  By Executive Order, Governor Perdue charged the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA) with the responsibility of assembling stakeholders to develop a long term, comprehensive statewide energy strategy.  Because state government as a business enterprise is a substantial consumer of energy, Governor Perdue also created the State Facilities Energy Council (SFEC) that will set procurement requirements for state agencies and departments for the purchase of energy.

“One of the lessons we learned from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita last fall was the importance of a statewide energy plan,” said Governor Sonny Perdue.  “ Georgia 's energy strategy will ultimately guide our state to a future of affordable and diverse energy supply.”

Yesterday GEFA held the first meeting of energy stakeholders including natural gas and utility industry representatives, environmental and consumer advocates, and state regulatory agencies to initiate the process of developing a statewide energy strategy for Georgia .  At the meeting, GEFA introduced a web site, www.georgiaenergyplan.org , a virtual forum for stakeholders to submit recommendations and comments.  Governor Perdue directed GEFA to complete the statewide energy strategy by December 15, 2006.

 The SFEC will set rules for state agencies that further maximize efficiency and diversity in Georgia 's energy procurement.  Members of the SFEC will be announced at a later date.

The state of Georgia consumes substantial amounts of energy, including transportation fuels, natural gas and electricity.  Georgia state government employs more than 120,000 people full-time, operates more than 19,000 vehicles and occupies more that 12,000 buildings. 

Text of the Executive Orders is provided below:

Executive Order

WHEREAS:     The government of the State of Georgia should lead by example in adopting, implementing and promoting energy efficiency and in using renewable, locally produced biofuels and bioenergy; and

WHEREAS:     The State of Georgia is a large business enterprise and a substantial consumer of energy, including transportation fuels, natural gas and electricity; the expense of this energy represents a substantial operating cost for State government; and

WHEREAS:     Transportation demand management programs, such as carpooling, van pooling, transit and teleworking, provide and promote alternatives to commuting in single-occupancy vehicles and reduce fuel consumption, mitigate traffic congestion and improve air quality; and

WHEREAS:     The state of Georgia saved over 30 million miles during 2005 through employee teleworking, alternate work week and compressed work week schedules; and 

WHEREAS:     Georgia agriculture and forestry offer rich biomass resources for the production of biofuels and biomass energy; in 2005, Georgia biofuel refineries produced over 3 million gallons of ethanol and biodiesel, but exported most of that fuel out of state; and

WHEREAS:     Several new biofuel refineries and bioenergy projects have been proposed in Georgia and require construction and operating permits from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division; and

WHEREAS:     The recently enacted federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 creates a number of energy efficiency and renewable energy incentives that can benefit Georgia businesses and families; and

WHEREAS:     New automobile technologies, such as hybrid power systems, can dramatically increase fuel efficiency and permit comparatively priced cars and trucks to operate on fossil and bio-derived fuels; and

WHEREAS:     Most commercially produced automobiles and trucks can run on either gasoline blended with 10% ethanol or diesel blended with 20% biodiesel; and

WHEREAS:     The increased use of biofuels and high fuel efficiency vehicles by the agencies and departments of the State of Georgia will result in economic and environmental benefits to the residents of Georgia, including:

Reducing Georgia 's and the United States ' reliance on foreign oil thereby enhancing our national security;

Augmenting the demand for locally produced biofuels and stimulating the state's agricultural and forest economies;

Creating new jobs in the construction and operation of biofuel refineries in the state; and

Reducing tailpipe emissions of harmful pollutants and improving air quality in the state; and

WHEREAS:     The Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority, Division of Energy Resources has the statutory authority set forth by Section 50-23-32 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated to conduct certain energy related activities.         

NOW, THEREFORE, BY VIRTUE OF THE POWER VESTED IN ME AS THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA , IT IS HEREBY

ORDERED:     That agencies and departments of the State of Georgia shall prioritize the procurement of high fuel efficiency and flexible fuel vehicles in their procurement decisions when such technologies are commercially available and economically practical.

IT IS FURTHER

ORDERED:     That all state-owned fueling facilities shall maximize the purchase of gasoline blended with ethanol and diesel fuel blended with biodiesel for use in state vehicles, when available and economically practical.

IT IS FURTHER

ORDERED:     That agencies and departments of the State of Georgia permanently increase employee commute miles saved by 20% through compressed work schedules, alternate work schedules and teleworking, where appropriate as determined at the agency or department level. Agencies and departments should also implement and measure the impact of transportation demand management programs, such as enhanced transit, vanpooling, and carpooling programs.  Agencies and departments are encouraged to partner with the Clean Air Campaign, local transportation management associations and other providers to design, implement and track results from these programs.

IT IS FURTHER

ORDERED:     That the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division shall conduct a review of permitting and regulatory procedures and streamline those processes to ensure all proposed renewable energy facilities receive a 90-day permit review from the submission of a complete permit application.

IT IS FURTHER

ORDERED:     That the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority, Division of Energy Resources shall develop an implementation strategy to ensure that Georgia fully leverages the federal energy efficiency, renewable energy and energy management incentives and complies with all requirements created through the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

IT IS FURTHER

ORDERED:     That the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority, Division of Energy Resources shall lead a statewide stakeholder process to develop a Comprehensive State Energy Strategy to be completed by December 15, 2006.

THIS 28 th DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2006

(Signed: Sonny Perdue)________

GOVERNOR

Executive Order

WHEREAS:     The efficient stewardship of energy resources is important for all Georgians; and

WHEREAS:     The State of Georgia is one of the largest purchasers and consumers of energy in the state; and

WHEREAS:     Rising energy prices resulting from changing market conditions and shortages of supply in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita have had a tremendous impact on the budgets and operations of state government agencies; and

WHEREAS:     Reducing the cost and consumption of energy through appropriate purchasing strategies and efficiency methods is in the best interest of the state; and

WHEREAS:     The Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority, specifically the Division of Energy Resources has the statutory authority set forth by Section 50-23-32 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated to conduct certain energy related activities.

NOW, THEREFORE, BY VIRTUE OF THE POWER VESTED IN ME AS THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA , IT IS HEREBY

ORDERED:     That there is hereby created a State Facilities Energy Council responsible for recommending energy policies, purchasing strategies, and optimization strategies for state facilities that will reduce the costs and consumption of energy by state government and help ensure consistent energy supply; and

IT IS FURTHER

ORDERED:     That the State Facilities Energy Council shall consist of the following membership: 

Chief Financial Officer of the State of Georgia , who will serve as chair

Chief Operating Officer of the State of Georgia

The State Property Officer of the State of Georgia

Representatives from the five state government entities that consume the largest amount of energy; and

IT IS FURTHER

ORDERED:     That the State Facilities Energy Council shall seek the advice of other state agencies and departments in the development of its strategies and decisions; and

IT IS FURTHER

ORDERED:     That the State Facilities Energy Council may establish by-laws for its governance, as deemed necessary, but it is under no duty to do so.  The members of the State Facilities Energy Council shall receive no compensation for their services, but may be reimbursed for travel and other expenses incurred while in the performance of their duties, consistent with state law and policies; and

IT IS FURTHER

ORDERED:     That the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority, with the assistance of the Office of Planning and Budget and the Department of Administrative Services, shall lead a State Government Energy Management initiative and shall have the following responsibilities:

Providing administrative support for the State Facilities Energy Council;

Developing a statewide energy database system in which consumption data will be collected directly from vendors and analyzed to develop purchasing and efficiency strategies;

Providing expertise and advice to state agencies on state facility energy savings opportunities, encompassing energy procurement and optimization strategies;

Tracking global, national, and state energy issues and advocating for state facility energy rates and policies that support the state's energy policy objectives; and

Supporting energy efficiency initiatives in state facilities.

THIS 28 th DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2006

(Signed: Sonny Perdue)_ _______

GOVERNOR

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