Fed Watch: Government Exceeds Renewable Energy Goals

Encouraging news from the Department of Energy, which announced that the federal government had exceeded its goal of obtaining 2.5% of electricity from renewable energy sources by September 30.

The federal government, which is the largest single energy consumer in the country, met the goal by purchasing renewable energy and utilizing solar panels, wind projects and geothermal ground source heat pumps that have been installed on government property.

The federal government uses 2,375 GWh of renewable energy, which could power 225,000 homes - or a city the size of El Paso - for a year. The federal government has set a goal of obtaining 7.5% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2013.

If the government is able to meet or exceed its upcoming renewable goals as it did with this one, it will be setting a great example for the country by demonstrating the viability and accessibility of clean energy.