The U.S. Department of Energy announced more than $20 million in high-end technical assistance to federal agencies to help ensure the widest possible implementation of leading-edge energy efficiency technologies across the federal government. The current administration is committed to leading a transformation to a low-carbon emission future.

To assist federal agencies in achieving this goal, DOE's Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) will make available the technical expertise from DOE's National Laboratories for such projects as cool roofs, greenhouse gas reductions, renewable energy, smart grids, zero energy homes, sustainable buildings, and energy and water retrofits.

Fifteen agencies will share more than $20 million in technical assistance. According to DOE, the federal government is the nation’s largest energy consumer, and it has a tremendous opportunity and clear responsibility to lead by example. FEMP will guide agencies to use funding more effectively in meeting federal and agency-specific energy management objectives and goals, including reducing federal energy intensity by 30% by 2015 from 2003 levels; reducing water intensity by 16% by 2015 from 2007 levels; and generating or purchasing renewable electric energy equivalent to at least 7.5% of its electricity use by 2013.

DOE hopes the projects will help create new jobs and expand a clean energy economy. Nearly $17 million will be used to enhance and accelerate FEMP service functions to the federal Government, $3 million to develop a comprehensive greenhouse gas (GHG) management and abatement program, and $2.5 million to develop an energy, water and emissions reporting and tracking system for federal facilities.

For more information on these and other Recovery Act-related funding opportunities, visit DOE'sRecovery and Reinvestment website.

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