Executive Order 13514-Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance
Issued 2009-10-05 by Barack Obama
Plain-English Overview
AI-generated summary explaining what this action does, who it affects, and why it matters
Executive Order 13514 directs all federal agencies to reduce their environmental impact and greenhouse gas emissions. The order requires agencies to increase energy efficiency, measure and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, conserve water, eliminate waste and recycle, and purchase sustainable technologies and environmentally preferable products. Agencies must also design and operate high-performance sustainable buildings and involve federal employees in achieving these goals.
The order affects all federal agencies and their operations. Each agency head must establish specific targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 compared to 2008 levels, increase use of renewable energy, reduce fossil fuel use, and optimize vehicle fleets. Agencies operating fleets of at least 20 vehicles must reduce petroleum consumption by at least 2 percent annually through 2020. The order requires agencies to make their progress transparent by disclosing results on publicly available federal websites.
This matters because it directs the federal government to "lead by example" in creating what the order calls a clean energy economy. The order states this approach is intended to increase national prosperity, promote energy security, protect taxpayer interests, and safeguard environmental health. Agencies must evaluate their performance annually and prioritize actions based on economic and social costs and benefits.
AI-generated summary for educational purposes
Constitutional Analysis
How this action fits (or doesn't) within Article II authority and existing law
Executive Order 13514 ("Executive Order 13514-Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance") directs energy or environmental policy. The President's stated rationale: "create a clean energy economy that will increase our Nation's prosperity, promote energy security, protect the interests of taxpayers, and safeguard the health of our environment, the Federal Government must lead by example." Executive orders in this domain typically direct agencies like the EPA, Department of Energy, and Interior Department on how to implement existing environmental statutes — the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and energy-related laws.
The constitutional question depends on whether the order directs implementation within statutory bounds (acceptable) or attempts to rewrite regulatory schemes in ways Congress did not authorize (overreaching). Both Democratic and Republican administrations have used executive orders to shift environmental policy, and courts have struck down orders that exceed agency statutory authority or ignore required rulemaking procedures.
Official Summary
Administration of Barack H. Obama, 2009 Executive Order 13514—Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance October 5, 2009 By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and to establish an integrated strategy towards sustainability in the Federal Government and to make reduction of greenhouse gas emissions a priority for Federal agencies, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1. Policy. In order to create a clean energy economy that will increase our Nation's prosperity, promote energy security, protect the interests of taxpayers, and safeguard the health of our environment, the Federal Government must lead by example. It is therefore the policy of the United States that Federal agencies shall increase energy efficiency; measure, report, and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions from direct and indirect activities; conserve and protect water resources through efficiency, reuse, and stormwater management; eliminate waste, recycle, and prevent pollution; leverage agency acquisitions to foster markets for sustainable technologies and environmentally preferable materials, products, and services; design,