by Shane Henson — November 21, 2011—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently presented the 11th annual Green Power Leadership Awards at a ceremony is San Francisco to 19 EPA Green Power Partners across the country who are involved in the government entity’s Green Power Partnership, a voluntary program helping to increase the use of electricity generated from renewable resources among leading U.S. organizations.
According to the EPA, partners voluntarily are using more than 21 billion kilowatt-hours of green power annually, equal to avoiding annual carbon dioxide emissions from the electricity used by more than 1.8 million average American homes. EPA defines green power as electricity generated from renewable resources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, and low-impact hydro, and which produces no net increase of greenhouse gas emissions.
Winning partners ranged from iconic commercial buildings and Fortune 500 companies to local governments and higher education institutions. The 2011 Green Power Leadership Award winners include:
- Green Power Partner of the Year: Empire State Building, Google Inc., Intel Corporation, Kohl’s Department Stores, and Staples.
- Green Power Community of the Year: Portland, Oregon and Washington, D.C.
- Green Power Purchasing:Adobe Systems Inc., Allegheny College, Datapipe Inc., Franklin & Marshall College, Jackson Family Wines, Mercyhurst College, MetLife, Santa Clara University, State Street Corporation, and the University of Central Oklahoma.
- On-site Generation: The City of San Francisco and SC Johnson & Son.
- Green Power Community of the Year: Portland, Oregon and Washington, D.C.
During the awards ceremony, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) also recognized four leading organizations for expanding the market for electricity produced from renewable energy sources. According to DOE officials, these organizations’ innovative “green power” programs provide consumers with the opportunity to purchase clean energy from environmentally-preferred sources, such as wind and solar energy.
This year’s winners include 3Degrees and Washington Gas Energy Sources (WGES), which are each recognized as Non-Utility Green Power Suppliers of the Year; Detroit Edison (DTE Energy) for Utility Green Power Program of the Year; and The Clean Energy Collective, for Innovative Green Power Program of the Year.
Through publicly recognizing renewable energy leaders during the 11th annual Green Power Leadership Awards, the EPA and DOE hope to encourage other organizations, businesses and cities to utilize renewable energy sources, a move that not only increases the country’s energy security, but reduces harmful pollution and helps protect people’s health and the environment as well.
