Last week a big story was leaked to me.

I learned that the Obama Administration had been circulating a draft replacement to Executive Order 13423 that would require all U.S. government agencies in the massive federal bureaucracy to commit to a 20 percent reduction in carbon emissions throughout the next decade, among other requirements.

“In this moment, we are called upon to act boldly to reclaim America’s future. Nowhere is this more important than in building a clean energy economy that will sustain our prosperity and the health of our planet for generations to come,” states a draft of the executive order, according to knowledgeable sources.

While the draft must still be promulgated by President Obama, it is likely to form the basis of the Administration’s definition of sustainability for years to come. The language states clearly that the document is intended to be a catalyst to “establish an integrated strategy towards sustainability” of the federal government.

“In this effort, it is the responsibility of the federal agencies to lead by example: To demonstrate that reducing greenhouse gas emissions saves energy and money, to leverage agency acquisitions to foster emerging markets for green materials and technologies, and to strengthen the vitality of our communities by conserving water and eliminating waste,” the document states, according to sources.

 …