Saying that state government must "walk the walk" of energy conservation, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon this morning signed an executive order that would require state government offices to reduce energy costs by 2 percent a year over the next 10 years. Nixon was one of the key speakers during this morning's opening session of the Missouri Energy Summit.
"The state of Missouri must not only talk the talk about energy conservation but to walk the walk" of energy conservation, Nixon said prior to signing the executive order.
Nothing yet on the governor's website about Executive Order 9-18, but check here soon for the details. In the meantime, here's what we know, based on Nixon's speech:
"If we don't come out of this recession with a fundamentally changed economy, we will have missed an opportunity," Nixon said. He said Missouri's universities are key partners in moving toward a green economy -- not only as research hubs for new technologies, but also to train and retrain workers for new jobs.
"This is a transition point for us," he said. "Drawing a connection between energy policy, higher education and jobs is a trifecta that we need to merge."
"The state of Missouri must not only talk the talk about energy conservation but to walk the walk" of energy conservation, Nixon said prior to signing the executive order.
Nothing yet on the governor's website about Executive Order 9-18, but check here soon for the details. In the meantime, here's what we know, based on Nixon's speech:
- The executive order applies to all state buildings under the state's Office of Administration, which houses several functions, including accounting, IT and facilities management, design and construction. (Missouri S&T has already been working with the facilities management, design and construction folks on green initiatives, including the installation of a wind turbine and solar panel at the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Troop I headquarters in Rolla.)
- The executive order calls for an energy audit of some sort. "We will look at each building to determine how we can do better," the governor said, "and we will do better."
- Nixon said the executive order will save Missouri taxpayers more than $1 million in the first year.
"If we don't come out of this recession with a fundamentally changed economy, we will have missed an opportunity," Nixon said. He said Missouri's universities are key partners in moving toward a green economy -- not only as research hubs for new technologies, but also to train and retrain workers for new jobs.
"This is a transition point for us," he said. "Drawing a connection between energy policy, higher education and jobs is a trifecta that we need to merge."
2 percent is like nothing. You could do well over 30 percent just by switching to geothermal.