President Orders Federal Agencies to Cut Energy Use

President Bush, trying to set an example for the nation, ordered federal agencies Wednesday to cut their energy use by 20% by the year 2000.

He also ordered a 10% cutback in fuel used in vehicles in the federal fleet by 1995.

Taken together, Bush said the steps will save taxpayers $800 million a year by the end of the decade and conserve the equivalent of 100,000 barrels of oil a day.

Bush signed an executive order at a Cabinet meeting ordering the government-wide conservation measures. He said the steps are in keeping with his national energy strategy, but are also “just plain common-sense business management.”

“I wanted to do this with all the Cabinet here to ask for your support,” said Bush, before signing the order and handing the pen to Energy Secretary James D. Watkins. He said he hoped it would “encourage the private sector to undertake similar actions.”

The order requires all federal buildings and facilities to lower their energy use by 20% from 1985 levels by the year 2000.

The 10% cut in fuel applies to agencies that operate fleets of 300 or more vehicles. They must reduce gasoline and diesel consumption by 10% by 1995 from 1991 levels.

Bush said the government will rely more on alternative fuels to run its fleet. The Clean Air Bill he signed last year also prods auto fleet owners in the private sector to use alternative fuels.

The order allows the defense secretary to exempt any weapons, aircraft, vehicles or other “uniquely military” property from the conservation requirements, if necessary.