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Fallin Announces New Oklahoma Energy Savings Program

Governor Mary Fallin
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Gov. Mary Fallin has announced a new statewide energy savings program intended to reduce energy use in state buildings.

Fallin said Wednesday that the program called 20 percent by 2020 (20%x2020) seeks to reduce energy use in state agency buildings by 20 percent by the year 2020.

Under the program, each agency will designate energy managers who will identify and implement ways to reduce energy use within their agencies.

“State government has a lot of room to be more responsible with its energy usage,” Fallin said in a statement. “Every dollar saved on energy costs is a dollar better used back in the hands of taxpayers or by core government services. We believe this is the most ambitious behavior-based energy savings program any state government has undertaken, and we are committed to its success.”

The program is meant to reduce government utility costs in order to reduce overall state spending and put those resources toward government services.

The governor's office says a similar program at Oklahoma State University cut energy costs by $30 million at its campuses across the state in the six years since its implementation.

“The success enjoyed by the OSU system can be achieved on an even larger scale across state government,” OMES State Energy Program Manager Rick Krysiak, who previously directed OSU’s energy savings program, said in a statement. “State buildings offer tremendous opportunities to save energy, reduce taxpayer costs and lead by example when it comes to energy efficiency. This can be done by educating building occupants on how to more efficiently use energy at work and by optimizing building equipment operations and maintenance.”

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