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UNCLAS STATE 036849 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ABLD SENV TRGY KGHG ADCO KPAO
SUBJECT: RESPONSE FROM THE SECRETARY TO THE LEAGUE OF 
GREEN U.S. EMBASSIES (S/ES: 200903860) 
 
REF: FEBRUARY 26 LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM THE LEAGUE 
OF GREEN U.S. EMBASSIES 
 
 
¶1.  Please deliver the following letter from the 
Secretary to the appropriate representatives of the 
Green League of U.S. Embassies.  There will be no signed 
original. 
 
¶2.  Begin text: 
 
Dear Green League of U.S. Embassies Representatives: 
 
Climate change is one of the greatest twenty-first 
century global challenges.  Tackling it requires U.S. 
leadership in a partnership of nations committed to 
reducing carbon production, and effective leadership 
requires that we practice what we preach.  Our potential 
partners will judge us by our facilities, vehicles, and 
business practices.  I welcome the initiatives you have 
each taken in our embassy facilities to show such 
leadership. 
 
The State Department is improving the energy efficiency 
and environmental sustainability of its own facilities, 
using internationally accepted third-party validation 
processes.  For example, several domestic Department 
buildings have been certified as EnergyStar, while 
several domestic buildings and overseas embassies are 
being certified as LEED Silver or Green Globe buildings. 
Reduction in energy consumption in the Department's 
domestic buildings has been closely monitored since 2003 
and is on-track for meeting the energy reduction goal of 
30 percent in 2015, as stipulated in Executive Order 
13423 and the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA 
2007).  The Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations is 
assembling energy and water consumption metrics for all 
embassies so that similar trending can be achieved 
across the entire Department real estate portfolio. 
 
We have used energy savings performance contracts 
(ESPCs) to achieve some of these successes. In November 
2008, the Bureau of Administration initiated an ESPC to 
reduce energy consumption in the Harry S Truman Building 
and the Beltsville Information Management Center, 
focusing on energy savings in computing centers (one of 
the most energy-intensive activities in the Department). 
In February, the Office of Acquisitions Management 
requested letters of interest from sixteen energy 
savings performance contractors to pursue energy savings 
projects in Conakry, San Salvador, and Santiago.  These 
are three of our highest priority projects and we are 
planning many more in the future.  The Departments of 
State and Energy expect considerable interest in this 
new program. 
 
The State Department continues to develop its domestic 
green fleet program.  In FY 2008, we far exceeded the 
Energy Policy Act alternative fueled vehicle (AFV) 
acquisition requirement; although the acquisition of 
only 33 AFVs would have met the requirement, DOS 
acquired 156 AFVs.  Further, we realized a 25 percent 
reduction in petroleum fuel consumption compared to the 
6 percent mandated by Executive Order 13423.  Although 
we did not meet the Executive Order 13423 mandate to 
increase alternative fuel consumption by 10 percent, we 
did realize an increase of almost 6 percent over the 
prior year.  The Department also introduced seven hybrid 
electric vehicles into its domestic fleet in 2008. 
 
We recognize the need to include hybrid and alternative 
fuel vehicles in our overseas vehicle fleet.  We are 
developing the new standards, policies, and regulations 
that are necessary for the procurement and operation of 
these vehicles.  You may have seen the survey sent to 
posts in State 20845, March 2009, soliciting information 
on that topic.  Posts reporting conditions favorable to 
the use and maintenance of green vehicles may be 
provided alternative fuel vehicles or authorized to 
procure such vehicles themselves. 
 
Not only must we make progress on becoming more energy 
efficient and environmentally sustainable, we must 
continue to focus on outreach activities to show publics 
around the world that the United States is committed to 
these efforts.  We are again showing leadership in the 
global effort to fight climate change and we must find 
public diplomacy opportunities to highlight Green League 
and other initiatives that demonstrate we are leading by 
example. 
 
We will continue to build momentum in upcoming months to 
assume a greater leadership role in promoting 
sustainable policies.  I welcome your continued good 
ideas and look forward to working with you to accomplish 
our shared goals. 
 
Sincerely yours, 
 
Hillary Rodham Clinton 
 
END TEXT. 
 
 
CLINTON