States Aim to Slash Emissions in Public-Owned Buildings, Fleets

Publicly owned buildings and vehicles mark one of state governments’ biggest opportunities to slash carbon emissions and set greener standards for the private sector, but getting there depends on overcoming vehicle inventory issues, real estate hurdles, and more.

The transportation sector and the construction, heating, cooling, and lighting of buildings are each responsible for around one-third of the country’s total greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Across the board, states, cities, and counties own roughly 3.9 million vehicles, and states occupy a massive real estate footprint. New York and California’s portfolio, for example, ...