This bill changes the rules for energy efficiency in federal buildings by removing some current standards and allowing fossil fuel use for green certifications. It matters because it could impact how buildings are evaluated for their environmental performance.
Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act This bill repeals certain energy efficiency performance standards for new federal buildings and federal buildings undergoing major renovations. Specifically, the bill repeals the performance standards that phase out fossil fuel use in such buildings by FY2030. The bill directs the Department of Energy to implement the standards as though such phase-out requirements had never taken effect until it issues regulations with revised performance standards. The bill also specifies that certain systems that certify green buildings may not prohibit federal buildings from obtaining a certification as a green building or high-performance green building solely based on direct or indirect consumption of fossil fuels.