Biden-Harris Administration announces agreement to supply federal facilities in parts of Texas and New Mexico, with 100% carbon pollution-free electricity

April 17, 2024

WASHINGTON – The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) today announced a new Memorandum of Understanding [PDF - 382 KB] (MOU) with El Paso Electric (EPE) to develop carbon pollution-free electricity (CFE) tariffs or other offerings for federal facilities in the company’s service territory in Southern New Mexico and West Texas. 

Under the MOU, GSA and EPE will develop a roadmap for federal agencies in that region to buy more CFE. Transitioning to 100% CFE will advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s federal sustainability goals, catalyze America’s clean energy industries and jobs, and build healthier communities.  

“This is GSA’s fifth MOU with a utility company and it’s the latest example of how the federal government is leading by example in addressing climate change,” said GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan. “Through smart partnerships with energy providers, we can help advance sustainability, create jobs, save taxpayer dollars, and ensure a healthier planet for our kids.”

“We are proud to align our decarbonization goals with GSA and be able to provide eco-friendly energy solutions to our customers,” said Kelly Tomblin, El Paso Electric President and CEO. “This partnership exemplifies our dedication to sustainable practices and underscores the importance of collective action for a greener, more environmentally responsible future.”

With more than 300,000 buildings and 600,000 vehicles, the U.S. Government is the nation’s largest energy consumer. In December 2021, President Biden issued the Federal Sustainability Plan, which directed the government to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 by transitioning to zero-emission vehicles, energy efficient buildings, and carbon pollution-free electricity. In particular, the plan directs the government to transition to 100% CFE by 2030, at least half of which will be locally supplied clean energy to meet 24/7 hourly-matched demand. Including today’s agreement, over the past three years, the U.S. Government has signed agreements to provide federal facilities in 18 states with 100% CFE by 2030, which will increase the U.S. Government’s reliance on clean energy from 38% to 48% en route to 100% by 2030. 

As one of the primary agencies that procure electricity for the federal government, GSA will continue to engage with EPE and other utilities to explore further CFE solutions.

For more information on GSA’s leadership in tackling the climate crisis and investing in a more sustainable future, please see GSA’s Climate Action and Sustainability web page.

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About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet, overseeing approximately $100 billion in products and services via federal contracts, and delivering technology services that serve millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.

About El Paso Electric: El Paso Electric is an energy provider that is engaged in generation, transmission and distribution service to power approximately 460,000 customers in a 10,000 square mile area from Hatch, New Mexico to Van Horn, Texas. Major cities in the service region include El Paso, Texas and Las Cruces, New Mexico.