WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the intent of conducting energy assessments to improve environmental and energy management at U.S. embassies and consulates around the world. State Department and DOE officials jointly signed the MOU in the State Department’s Treaty Room. Under Secretary for Management for the State Department Patrick F. Kennedy and DOE Acting Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy John Mizroch signed on behalf of their agencies. This MOU will support the President’s goal of reducing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and improving energy security.

“DOE is pleased to partner with the Department of State to demonstrate worldwide leadership in energy efficiency and sustainability,” Acting Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy John Mizroch said. “It’s important that the U.S. lead by example to meet the energy and environmental challenges of this century by implementing innovative practices in energy management, improving our energy efficiency, and maximizing renewable energy resources in our overseas missions.”

“The Department of State welcomes the opportunity to both contribute to a sound environment and to reduce our operating costs through greater energy efficiency,” stated Under Secretary for Management Patrick F. Kennedy. “Our partnership with the Department of Energy will help further the twin goals of energy efficiency and environmental sustainability by leveraging the great expertise and professionalism that DOE can bring to bear on our behalf.”

This partnership between the Departments of Energy and State will globally advance the ambitious environmental, energy and transportation goals of the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) signed by President Bush on December 18, 2007. State operates and maintains over 18,000 facilities in more than 280 locations around the world, and has completed 62 new embassy compounds since 2001 with another 34 under construction as part of State’s twelve-year effort to build 180 new embassies and consulates.

Under this MOU DOE intends to provide assistance under its Super Energy Service Performance Contract (SESPC) to conduct evaluations of overseas facilities for opportunities to increase energy and water efficiency, utilize renewable energy applications, and implement environmental sustainability measures. This partnership provides tools and resources to the State Department’s Bureau of Overseas Building Operations (OBO) as it responds to the comprehensive energy and water audit requirements of EISA, as well as the energy, water, environment and transportation requirements of Presidential Executive Order 13423 – Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management.

As part of the partnership DOE will share with State protocols developed under DOE’s internal Transformational Energy Action Management (TEAM) Initiative. The TEAM Initiative was launched in August 2007 by Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman as an effort to rapidly institute transformative energy management practices rapidly across DOE facilities. To date, the evaluations conducted under the TEAM Initiative are expected to result in over $400 million in energy improvements across DOE.

Read a copy of the MOU.

Media contact(s):
Jennifer Scoggins, (DOE) 202-586-4940
Jonathan Blyth (STATE) 703-875-4131