CEQ Press Releases -- October 19, 2009 Release

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20503

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 19, 2009

Washington, DC — The White House today launched the GreenGov Challenge, an innovative online tool for federal employees to suggest clean energy and green ideas and vote on others.  The top ideas that receive the most votes by October 31, 2009 will be presented to the Steering Committee on Federal Sustainability, a group comprised of senior officials from each agency who are responsible for delivering each agency’s sustainability plan under President Obama’s Executive Order on Federal Sustainability (EO 13514).

"The goal of the tool is to harness the collective wisdom of the more than 1.8 million civilian employees and our men and women in uniform," said Nancy Sutley, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality.   "We recognize that the best ideas, the ones that are going to save energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and save money for taxpayers, will not all come from Washington.  They are going to come from places like Ft. Hood, Kansas City, Denver and beyond."

On Monday, October 5th, 2009, President Barack Obama signed an Executive Order on Federal Sustainability, and in doing so, committed the Federal government to lead by example, practice what we preach and help build a clean energy economy through the way we operate.  The Federal government is the largest energy consumer in the US economy, and purchases more than half-a-trillion dollars in goods and services every year.

Available at WhiteHouse.gov/GreenGov, all visitors are able to view and explore ideas submitted through the site but only individuals with Federal email addresses can log on and submit their own clean energy and green government ideas, and vote on others.  The GreenGov Challenge runs from October 19th until October 31st.