EPA Honors Top Green Power Purchasers

The Environmental Protection Agency (www.epa.gov) recognized 17 leading organizations that are taking voluntary steps to address climate change by purchasing green power and helping advance the development of the nation’s green power market. This year’s "Green Power Leadership Award" winners include a mix of Fortune 500 companies, businesses, municipalities, and a university.

According to the EPA, the combined commitments of the recognized organizations amount to nearly four billion kilowatt-hours of green power annually, which is the equivalent amount of electricity needed to power nearly 250,000 average American households each year. The EPA also estimates that the combined environmental impact of these leading purchasers will avoid the equivalent amount of CO2 emissions of nearly 450,000 vehicles each year.

Recognized organizations include:
• City of Bellingham, Wash.
• Johnson & Johnson
• Mohawk Fine Papers
• PepsiCo
• Staples
• Wells Fargo & Company
• Whole Foods Market
• City of Chico, Calif.
• Macy’s Inc., West Division
• The Timberland Company
• Kohl’s Department Stores
• PepsiAmericas Inc.
• The Pepsi Bottling Group Inc.
• Pepsi Bottling Ventures
• New York University
• Sloan Valve Company, Illinois Manufacturing Facility
• Starbucks

According to the EPA’s definition, green power is generated from renewable resources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, biomass, and low-impact hydro. The EPA’s recognition of the above companies is part of the seventh annual Green Power Leadership Awards presented in conjunction with the 12th National Renewable Energy Marketing Conference in Philadelphia. They are designed to recognize the leading actions of organizations, programs, and individuals that significantly advance the development of green power sources.

The EPA co-sponsors the awards program in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE, www.doe.gov) and the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS, www.resource-solutions.org).

For more information on the 2007 Green Power Leadership Awards, visit www.epa.gov/greenpower/awards/winners.htm.