Executive Order No. 3-75

(No. 05-16)

[Climate Change Considerations in State Procurements]

WHEREAS, climate change is the most urgent environmental issue of our time;

WHEREAS, cultivating a "green economy" in Vermont has led to the creation of over 1,400 new clean energy jobs in the past year and Vermont now has the highest number of per capita clean energy jobs of any U.S. state;

WHEREAS, the State has the duty to lead by example and encourage companies to promote and utilize best practices that are consistent with our efforts to reduce emissions and move to clean energy in Vermont;

WHEREAS, the legislature has expressed a strong policy in support of combatting climate change by: (a) setting goals of producing 25 percent of energy consumed in Vermont through the use of renewable energy sources by 2025, 10 V.S.A. § 580(a), and of reducing by 75 percent greenhouse gas emissions in Vermont from the 1990 levels by 2050, 10 V.S.A. § 578(a); and (b) adopting an innovative renewable energy standard with Act 56 of 2015 that sets utility renewable targets and implements solutions to address carbon emissions from the transportation and heating sectors, which account for more than two-thirds of Vermont's carbon emissions;

WHEREAS, Vermont's 2016 Comprehensive Energy Plan calls for a reduction in per capita energy use of 15 percent by 2025, and calls for 90 percent renewables by 2050; and

WHEREAS, Vermont can encourage additional action on climate change through the state procurement process.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that I, Peter E. Shumlin, by virtue of the authority vested in me as the Governor of the State of Vermont, do hereby order and direct the Secretary of Administration, in consultation with the Climate Cabinet, to include processes in the State's acquisition policies that ensure the favorable consideration of vendor business practices that promote clean energy and take action to address climate change. The Secretary may set a minimum financial threshold for application of these policies, and the policies shall include consideration of practices such as:

1. Use of thermal and electric efficiency and conservation measures;

2. Use of renewable energy sources for its operations;

3. Efforts to reduce and track carbon emissions;

4. Use of and encouragement of employee use of electric and zero emissions vehicles including providing workplace charging stations;

5. Offering employees an option for a fossil fuel divested retirement account;

6. Whether the supplies or services offered promote waste, energy and water efficiency; and

7. Other factors deemed relevant by the Secretary relating to environmentally responsible practices.

After consideration of all relevant factors, a bidder that adheres to the above best practices shall be given favorable consideration in the competitive bidding process. Favorable consideration shall be consistent with and not supersede any Secretary of Administration guidance that, all other considerations being equal, preference will be given to resident bidders of the State and/or products raised or manufactured in the State.

This Executive Order shall take effect upon signing.

Dated July 19, 2016