The Energy Policy Act of 2005: Summary
Labs for the 21st Century
The first major energy legislation passed
by Congress in 13 years, the Energy Poli
cy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005) was signed
into law by President Bush on August 8, 2005.
Major Points
• Provides revised ANNUAL energy reduction
goals (2% per year beginning in FY 2006).
• Provides revised renewable energy purchase
goals.
• Reauthorizes Energy Savings Performance
Contracts (ESPCs) until October 1, 2016.
• Requires federal procurement of ENERGY
STAR® or FEMP-designated products.
• Updates federal green building standards with
emphasis on energy efficiency and sustainable
design principles (to be determined).
• Mandates a variety of research and demonstra
tion activities to stimulate the market for fuel
cell vehicles and hydrogen energy systems (to
be determined).
Energy Goal
The new law replaces the energy portions of Exec
utive Order 13123, issued in 1999, which required
federal “industrial facilities” such as laboratories to
reduce their energy intensity (from an FY 1999
baseline) 20% by FY 2005 and 25% by FY 2010.
EPAct 2005 requires federal agencies to reduce
energy intensity every year in their buildings—on
a BTU per gross square foot basis, and from a FY
2003 baseline—by 2% per year beginning in FY
2006, up to a cumulative 20% reduction by the end
of FY 2015. Note: DOE is still finalizing guidelines
to determine whether federal agencies will contin-
ue to be allowed to count renewable energy pur-
chases towards their energy reduction goals.
Fiscal Year Percent Reduction Required
(From FY 2003 Baseline)
2006
2
2007
4
2008
6
2009
8
2010
10
2011
12
2012
14
2013
16
2014
18
2015
20
Renewable Energy Goals
New federal government-wide goals for green
power purchases*:
• FY 2007-2009: At least 3 % of all electricity
consumption must be derived from renewable
sources.
• FY 2010-2012: At least 5 % of all electricity
consumption must be derived from renewable
sources.
• FY 2013+: At least