GSA's Wind Energy Contract Wins White House Award

GSA #10020

June 10, 2003
Contact: Viki Reath (202) 501-1231
viki.reath@gsa.gov

WASHINGTON - The U.S. General Services Administration's (GSA) wind power contract, which supplies full power to two New York State federal buildings, has won a White House Closing the Circle Award recognizing outstanding federal environmental efforts.

"Responsible environmental stewardship is an integral part of GSA's programs," said GSA Administrator Stephen A. Perry. "We strive to carry out social, environmental and other responsibilities as a federal agency, while operating efficiently and effectively, and ensuring financial accountability. These goals are consistent with our mission, which is to help federal agencies better serve the public."

GSA's contract with Select Energy New York Inc. of Syracuse, N.Y., won the White House award that recognizes best examples of acquiring environmentally sensitive products or services at significant cost savings. The 94,918-square-foot Pirnie Federal Building in Utica consumes 500-megawatt hours (mWh). The 105,000-square-foot Binghamton Federal Building consumes 600 mWh.

GSA's wind power contract helps reduce dependence on fossil fuels and provide clean, reliable electricity. Wind power environmental benefits also include:
An expected 8,437-pound-per-year decrease in the release of sulfur dioxide (S02), which contributes to acid rain, brown clouds and regional haze.
An expected 3,332-pound-per-year decrease in nitrogen oxides (N0x), which should decrease ground-level ozone and smog.
An expected 1.7-million-pound-per-year decrease in the release of carbon dioxide (C02), which is implicated in global climate change.

The GSA team responsible for the agency's first 100 percent wind power contract includes: Louis Lozito, Public Buildings Service (PBS) Chief Facility Support Branch, Region 2; Linda Collins, Director, National Gas Acquisition Program, PBS Energy Center of Expertise; and Brian K. Magden, Regional Energy Coordinator, Region 2. The Region 2 members work under the direction of Regional Administrator Karl Reichelt.

GSA is a centralized federal procurement and property management agency created by Congress to improve government efficiency and help federal agencies better serve the public. It acquires, on behalf of federal agencies, office space, equipment, telecommunications, information technology, supplies, and services. GSA's 14,000 associates provide services and solutions for the office operations of more than one million federal workers in 8,000 government-owned and leased buildings in 2,000 U.S. communities.