Sec. 01.01.2001.02. Sustaining Maryland's Future with Clean Power, Green Buildings and Energy Efficiency

A. Clean Energy Procurement Goal.

(1) For purposes of this Executive Order, "Green Energy" is defined as energy generated from the wind, solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, biomass, landfill gas and the combustion of municipal solid waste.

(2) For the procurement of electricity for use within State owned facilities, the State of Maryland has a goal of 6% to be generated from Green Energy. No more than 50% of the total Green Energy procurement shall be derived from the combustion of municipal solid waste.

(3) In the selection of a power generation contractor chosen through the procurement process, priority consideration should be given to companies that produce green power in Maryland. The chosen contractor shall obtain certification from a State approved accreditation process that the company has met the Green Energy goal.

B. High Efficiency Green Buildings Program.

(1) The State shall develop a High Efficiency Green Buildings Program committed to utilizing energy efficient and environmentally responsible approaches in the design, construction, operations, maintenance and deconstruction of all new and, to the extent possible, existing State owned and leased facilities.

(2) There is a "Maryland Green Buildings Council" (the Council). The Council shall be Chaired by the Secretary of the Department of General Services and include:

(a) The Secretary, or a designee of the following agencies:

i. The Department of Budget and Management;

ii. The Department of the Environment;

iii. The Department of Natural Resources;

iv. The Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services;

v. The Department of Transportation;

vi. The Department of Housing and Community Development;

vii. The Department of Planning;

viii. The Maryland Energy Administration;

ix. The Public School Construction Program; and

x. The University System of Maryland.

(b) Six members appointed by the Governor to represent environmental, business and citizen interests, one of whom has expertise in energy conservation and/or production. Members appointed by the Governor shall serve at his pleasure for renewable and staggered 4-year terms.

(c) Members appointed by the Governor may not receive compensation, but may receive reimbursement for necessary and proper expenses directly related to their duties on the Council, in accordance with the Standard State Travel Regulations as provided in the State budget.

(d) Staff support to the Council shall be provided by the Department of General Services, with assistance as necessary to be furnished by other involved agencies and units of State government.

(3) The Council is charged with creating the High Efficiency Green Buildings Program. Within 180 days of its inception, the Council shall make recommendations to the Governor regarding appropriate criteria, standards and a numeric rating system (modeled after the United States Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System and the federal Energy Star Program) for use by the Program.

(4) Upon acceptance of the appropriate criteria, standards, and a numeric rating system, the High Efficiency Green Buildings Program shall be fully adopted in the design, construction, operations, maintenance and deconstruction of new State owned and leased facilities. Reasonable effort should be made to incorporate these standards into the construction of all new facilities designed before the issuance of this executive order.

(5) For all existing State owned, leased and operated buildings, reasonable efforts shall be made to maximize the use of energy efficiency and resource conservation techniques.

(6) The Council shall also have the following additional responsibilities:

(a) The Council shall annually reevaluate the Clean Energy Procurement Goal contained in Section A above;

(b) The Council shall consider additional State energy efficiency, energy production and sustainability issues and policies;

(c) The Council shall develop a comprehensive set of initiatives known as the "Maryland Greenhouse Gas Reduction Action Plan;" and

(d) The Council shall report annually to the Governor and to the General Assembly on the efforts of State agencies in the implementation of High Efficiency Green Buildings Program goals, Clean Energy Procurement Goal, the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan, and other energy efficiency, energy production and sustainability issues or policies the Council may have considered.

C. Additional Energy Efficiency Goals.

(1) Energy Efficiency Improvement Goal: The State, through cost-effective energy measures, shall reduce energy consumption per gross square foot of its facilities by 10% by 2005 and 15% by 2010 relative to 2000 baseline.

(2) Renewable Energy Project Goal: The State shall expand the use of renewable energy within its facilities, including supporting the federal Million Solar Roofs program.

(3) Efficient Product Purchase Goal: The State shall purchase Energy Star products when purchasing energy-using products, including computers, printers, copiers and other office equipment, or shall purchase products in the top 25% in energy efficiency for products where labels are not available.

(4) Pollution Prevention Goal: Beginning on January 1, 2003, State agencies shall annually divert or recycle at least 20% of the waste they generate.

(5) Alternative Fuel Vehicles Goal: Consistent with the goals of the Chesapeake 2000 Agreement, the State shall revise fleet policy and purchasing guidelines to offer more flexibility in purchasing, where practical, low emission and alternative fuel vehicles for its fleet. The State shall ensure that for fleet units operating bi-fuel or flex-fuel vehicles (vehicles that operate on either motor gasoline or an alternative fuel, as defined by the Federal Energy Policy Act) an average of 50% of the fuel used by those vehicles shall be alternative fuel. The State shall help develop the refueling and maintenance infrastructure required to make certain types of alternative fuel vehicles practical and may provide technical assistance and other incentives to use clean technology, where practical, in State transit fleets.

Effective date: march 13, 2001 (28:7 Md. R. 675)