U.S. General Services Administration
At Greenbuild, GSA Administrator Makes Commitment Toward Achieving Net-Zero Portfolio
Administrator Carnahan says none of GSA’s IRA funds will be used to install fossil fuel-based equipment
SAN FRANCISCO - U.S. General Services Administration Administrator Robin Carnahan was the keynote speaker at the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo on Nov. 3, and announced the agency’s commitment to ensuring that GSA’s Inflation Reduction Act funding will not be used to install fossil fuel-based equipment.
She highlighted the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to tackling climate change via historic investments from the Inflation Reduction Act, including achieving net-zero emissions in federal operations by 2050 and a net-zero buildings portfolio by 2045.
“This is an all-hands-on-deck moment. People across government, workers on the front lines, entrepreneurs, and businesses like yours have never been more aligned in working together to build a clean energy economy and make our planet healthier,” said Administrator Carnahan. “And, because of the Inflation Reduction Act, this isn’t a pipe dream - it’s an actual plan, and we have the momentum and the money to make it happen.”
Carnahan outlined GSA’s plans to work with industry to invest over $3 billion in low-carbon materials and emerging technologies to help drive the federal footprint to net-zero. She said that GSA would be announcing hundreds of millions of dollars in projects before the end of the year.
The Inflation Reduction Act provides a boost to GSA’s efforts to decarbonize its real estate portfolio—which will ultimately help reduce emissions and accelerate the adoption of emerging technologies. The law provides $2.15 billion for low-embodied carbon materials in construction projects; $975 million to support emerging and sustainable technologies; and $250 million for measures to convert federal facilities into High Performance Green Buildings.
“There’s no time to waste, which is why we’ll be announcing hundreds of millions of dollars in projects before the end of this year,” Carnahan continued. “As part of that, I’m pleased to be able to make a commitment to this community today. None of GSA’s $3 billion in funds I’ve just outlined from the Inflation Reduction Act will go toward installing new fossil fuel-based equipment.”
Read the full text of Administrator Carnahan’s remarks.
###
About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet, overseeing approximately $75 billion in annual contracts, and delivering technology services that serve millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.