GOVERNOR'S OFFICE [EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 2005-07] Fuel Conservation Program [35 Pa.B. 6428] November 1, 2005
Whereas, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita have caused devastation to the people and resources of the states of Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana including disruption in the production and refinement of petroleum in the Gulf of Mexico; and
Whereas, gasoline prices have reached an all time high across the country and there is a concern that shortages in liquid fuels might occur; and
Whereas, the Commonwealth is a significant consumer of liquid fuel products for transportation, heating, cooling, and other needs; and
Whereas, reducing Commonwealth consumption will reduce the overall demand for liquid fuels, which will help to reduce the risk of fuel shortages and alleviate price increases due to excess demand for limited supply.
Now, Therefore, I, Edward G. Rendell, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, by the virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and other laws of the Commonwealth, do hereby instruct all Commonwealth agencies, boards, and commissions under the jurisdiction of the Governor to establish and follow a Fuel Conservation Program.
1. Fuel Conservation Program. The lead member of each agency, board, and commission shall refine existing or establish a new fuel conservation program to take effect immediately and be in effect for at least the next 60 days at which time the situation will be reviewed. It is possible that the fuel conservation program will be in effect for an extended amount of time.
2. Goals. The goals of each Fuel Conservation Program will be to:
a. substantially reduce the amount of fuel consumed by Commonwealth agencies to help alleviate the threat of a fuel shortage;
b. set forth necessary plans and actions to ensure the preservation of liquid fuels; and
c. establish communication with external stakeholders, organizations, and all levels of government regarding the issue.
3. Components of a Fuel Conservation Program. A fuel conservation program shall consist of the following components:
a. The use of video and teleconferencing should be explored for all Commonwealth meetings where travel would normally be used.
b. All discretionary travel should be eliminated for the next 30 days. If travel is required to a meeting, car pools or public transportation should be utilized.
c. The use of Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs), vans, and large trucks should be done with discretion.
d. Each agency should carefully monitor their vehicle usage plans or guidelines particularly to vehicle idling, maintenance, tire pressure, driving suggestions, and other fuel conservation measures. In addition, each agency fleet manager should ensure that they are following the maintenance procedures for their vehicles to optimize fuel consumption. Whenever possible, fleet vehicles should be fueled at Commonwealth-owned garages.
e. The number of vehicles (both leased and owned) assigned to all Commonwealth Agencies and Departments should not exceed the number of vehicles utilized by that agency as of September 30, 2005. All requests to maintain a vehicle fleet larger than September 30 levels will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the Bureau of Vehicle Management. All requests for new vehicles, including those which do not exceed the September 30 fleet size of an agency, must be submitted for approval to the Bureau of Vehicle Management prior to purchase or lease.
f. The Governor's Office of Management and Productivity together with the Bureau of Vehicle Management will conduct a review of all vehicle fleets under the Governor's jurisdiction to identify opportunities for greater efficiency including reducing the use of SUVs and expanding hybrid vehicles and to determine opportunities for greater inter-agency cooperation.
4. Agency Responsibilities. The following agencies shall have the following specific responsibilities:
a. Department of General Services (DGS) shall review the heating, cooling, and other energy conservation measures for each Commonwealth building and ensure efficient energy use. DGS shall provide instructions per fleet usage and shall work with all agencies regarding the creation of fuel conservation programs for their fleet. DGS shall also limit the use of pool vehicles, especially SUVs, trucks, and vans. Finally, DGS shall review all grounds maintenance activities such as lawn care, leaf blowing, etc. to ensure maximum fuel efficiency and delay, where possible, routine grounds activities that involve the expending of liquid fuels.
b. Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) shall develop outreach programs for the public and local governments regarding their own fuel conservation programs. Additionally, DEP shall closely monitor the fuel situation across the country and provide a daily status briefing for the Governor.
c. All agencies shall make efforts to conserve energy in Commonwealth-owned or leased buildings. These efforts shall include adherence to directives issued by the Secretary of Administration, the Secretary of General Services, or the Secretary of Environmental Protection.
5. Duration. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately and shall remain in effect for 60 days unless revised or rescinded.
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 05-2162. Filed for public inspection November 23, 2005, 9:00 a.m.]
