Vermont § 75 - Executive Order No. 3-75 (No. 05-16) [Climate Change Considerations in State Procurements]

§ 75. 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