Government

Agencies’ ‘Green’ Plans Due At White House in June

Following up on a 2009 presidential executive order, federal agencies are working on sustainability plans covering a range of areas, including buildings. The directive, which President Obama signed last October, sets several goals, including a 26% improvement in water efficiency by 2020 and achieving “net-zero-energy” buildings by 2030.

Agencies’ plans are due at the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and the Office of Management and Budget in June, says Michelle Moore, the federal environmental executive within CEQ. She told a McGraw-Hill Construction conference on April 8 that in CEQ’s plans, to meet the executive order’s goals, agencies must set priorities among projects based on the best returns on investment.

As ENR's former Washington Bureau Chief, Tom Ichniowski wrote about the federal government since the George H.W. Bush administration, and covered at least five major highway bills. A recognized expert on government policy on infrastructure and regulation, Tom is also a Baltimore native and Orioles fan who grew up rooting for Brooks and Frank Robinson. He is a graduate of Columbia College and Columbia’s graduate school of journalism, where he once used “unrelentless” in a headline.

Post a comment to this article

Live: June 23, 2026 at 2:00 pm EDT New market dynamics like competitive pressures and workforce evolutions are forcing construction companies to re-prioritize their investments. To strengthen cash flow, accelerate operations, and boost profits, learn how the focus now must be on optimizing digital transformation and financial management.