Green Power Leadership Awardees
EPA presented the first Green Power Leadership Awards (GPLAs) in 2001 to recognize the actions of organizations that were significantly advancing the development of renewable energy by procuring green power.
EPA selected these award winners based on criteria that included:
- Quantity of green power used relative to organization size.
- Impact and innovation of an organization’s green power.
- Extent to which an organization’s actions established a model for others to follow.
Over time, EPA has revised and added new award categories. Currently all winners are awarded under a single award category, “Green Power Leadership Award”.
Below is a sortable and searchable table of over 350 past Green Power Leadership Awardees selected by EPA since 2001.
| Awardee | Award Year | Award Categories | Sector | Award Recognition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Corporation | 2024 | Green Power Leadership Award | Technology & Telecom |
EPA is recognizing Microsoft Corporation, Inc., for large-scale procurement, leadership in temporal and geographic matching of renewable energy generation to electricity consumption, and for initiatives to deliver equity benefits through investments in green power. In 2024, Microsoft used more than 10 billion kWh of green power, equal to the annual electricity use of nearly 1 million average American homes. The company contracts through a range of evolving procurement strategies, including a 15-year offtake agreement with a new 185 MW Illinois-based wind project, an agreement with a 430 MW solar energy center in Fort Bend, Texas, and 4.75 MW of community solar gardens in Illinois serving traditionally underserved populations. The company is also building out an eight-acre vehicle charging and maintenance facility for its internal and external commuting fleet of electric buses and shuttles in Redmond, WA. Microsoft is supporting market development of the infrastructure required to track and dispatch generation to match electricity consumption in moving towards its goal of achieving 100% carbon-free energy consumption, 100% of the time, by 2030. EPA is also recognizing Microsoft for its energy equity initiatives, including partnering with a national African American-owned solar development company for a 250-MW portfolio of solar projects with an emphasis on environmental justice. |
| MilliporeSigma | 2024 | Green Power Leadership Award | Health Care |
EPA is presenting MilliporeSigma with an award for its innovative procurement approach, employee engagement, and efforts to increase renewable energy adoption within its supply chain. MilliporeSigma is powered by over 100% renewable energy through a diverse portfolio of on- and off-site supply options including financial power purchase agreements, self-supply, retail RECs, and utility green tariffs. Notable projects include a 68 MW wind and storage project in Throckmorton, Texas and 2.25 MW of onsite solar at its Sheboygan, Wisconsin manufacturing site using an innovative land-lease REC transfer agreement with a local electricity provider. Through its Life Science Sustainability Multipliers Pledge, MilliporeSigma empowers employees to take part in the company’s sustainability strategy by committing to actions related to green power, such as suggesting facility improvements and switching to green power at home. The company also offers incentives to employees for actions like installing solar photovoltaic and solar hot water systems at home and provides 118 EV charging ports at its US facilities to provide green electricity to employees at no cost. MilliporeSigma encourages suppliers to use green power by assessing supplier knowledge of green power options, requesting that suppliers both establish and report targets around renewable electricity, and providing a supplier toolkit to help suppliers engage in the green power market. The company also engages underserved communities through its Curiosity Cube and Curiosity Lab programs, where employee volunteers guide student visitors through hands-on lessons on a variety of STEM topics, including green power, with the goal of inspiring the next generation of scientists. |
| Phipps Conservatory | 2024 | Green Power Leadership Award | Museums. Parks and Zoos |
EPA is recognizing Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens for its 100% on- and off-site green power procurement strategy, innovative educational initiatives, and significant electrification efforts matched with green power. Phipps Conservatory meets 100% of its electricity needs with a combination of on- and off-site green power procurement. Onsite installations include solar photovoltaic arrays, a wind turbine and geothermal wells. The remaining demand is met by certified retail wind products. Additionally, one of the onsite rooftop solar installations is equipped with a lithium-ion battery that can provide up to ten days of backup power for the Exhibit Staging Center. The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania garden matches its ambitious electrification initiatives with 100% green power procurement. The three newest buildings are all-electric, and Phipps is in the process of electrifying the rest of the campus. Phipps has also installed heat pumps and EV chargers onsite, provided EV incentives to employees, and electrified outdoor equipment. Phipps educates its nearly 500,000 annual visitors about green power using its onsite infrastructure. The garden also hosts a “Making the Switch at Phipps” program where energy providers inform visitors about their green power options. Phipps also offers free annual memberships to those who choose 100% green power in their homes (over 6,900 visitors to date). To further engage the cultural institution sector, Phipps established The Climate Toolkit as a collaborative opportunity for museums looking to aggressively address climate change and inspire the communities they serve. Toolkit goals include reducing fossil fuel use and generating or purchasing 100% renewable energy. The Toolkit currently has 184 participant institutions serving over 86 million annual visitors, helping ensure this sector leads in energy efficiency and green energy use while informing its millions of visitors how to follow its lead. |
| Signature Aviation | 2024 | Green Power Leadership Award | Aviation |
Signature Aviation Signature Aviation meets 100% of its electricity needs through a mixed portfolio prioritizing generation geographically close to its operational use. The portfolio includes a mix of local utility green power products, onsite solar self-supply at thirteen private aviation terminals, and retail RECs. The aviation grounds services company has maintained 100% green power usage while implementing an ambitious strategy to transition ground service equipment from diesel and gasoline to electric power, with 1,160 units transitioned to electric or low-emitting technologies to date. Signature Aviation also leads its peers in green energy procurement as the first fixed-base operator to achieve 100% green power procurement. The company’s CEO served as the Chair of the Environmental Committee for General Aviation Manufacturer’s Association from 2020-2023, stressing the importance of renewable electricity and electrification strategies to multiple key value chain stakeholder groups. |
| Elevance Health Inc | 2023 | Green Power Leadership Award | Health Care | Elevance Health is being recognized for its green power use and sector-leadership. The company demonstrated its commitment to mitigating the impacts of climate change on human health by committing to 100% renewable electricity by 2025 and achieving the target four years early by using 100% green power since 2021 with equal parts retail RECs and solar financial power purchase agreements. The company prioritized grid proximity and new project development when investing in the PPAs. Elevance Health is committed to engaging with strategic suppliers on setting their own scope 1 and 2 SBTI GHG emissions reduction targets. In 2022, Elevance Health engaged with 75% of suppliers by spend, and approximately 40% of in-scope suppliers have established reduction goals. |
| Hormel Foods Corporation | 2023 | Green Power Leadership Award | Food & Beverage | Hormel Foods Corporation is being recognized for their green power usage, community solar development and support, and employee engagement. Over the past year, Hormel Foods has increased its domestic green power use from less than 10% to 100%, through a financial power purchase agreement that generates over 936 million kilowatt hours annually. Hormel Foods is also an anchor-tenant in a community solar project in Kansas and a community solar garden in rural central Minnesota. Hormel Foods has developed a low-carbon transition plan that integrates renewable energy and improves operational efficiency. Hormel also created an internal competition to drive process efficiency related green energy, operational efficiency and environmental program improvements and has created communication materials to educate its stakeholders about the importance of green power. |
| Palo Alto Networks | 2023 | Green Power Leadership Award | Technology & Telecom | Palo Alto Networks, Inc. is being recognized for their green power usage, leadership in a pilot green tariff program, and its unique employee incentive program. Palo Alto Networks currently meets its renewable energy needs across its portfolio through its engagement with Silicon Valley Power's Large Customer Renewable Energy Program. The company set a greenhouse gas reduction targets to achieve net zero across all three scopes by 2040. Recently, Palo Alto Networks adopted internal key performance indicators that tie renewable energy use and progress toward emissions reduction targets to the company's line of credit from investors and their access to capital. The company also engages employees through its FLEXBenefits incentive program to support and increase access to decarbonization and renewable electricity purchasing for all employees. Program funds can be applied towards solar installations, home battery storage, EV purchases, replacing natural gas appliances with all-electric, and home efficiency retrofits. |
| The Home Depot | 2023 | Green Power Leadership Award | Retail | The Home Depot, Inc. is being recognized for their green power usage, enabling renewable energy project development, and installation of energy storage at retail locations. The Home Depot reduced its Scope 1 and 2 emissions in 2021 while simultaneously growing the business, and it has set a target of 100% renewable electricity powering all of its facilities worldwide by 2030. In addition to The Home Depot's solar energy purchase in 2020 and a wind energy purchase in 2017, the company also signed on to three new projects, including a wind project in Nebraska and a solar project and another solar project, all of which are currently operational. The Home Depot also demonstrates commitment to a more sustainable and improved grid to help accelerate the transition to a clean energy future, installing 55 standalone battery storage projects in five different states with a total capacity of over 12 MWh to address load balance and demand spikes. To enable residential consumers to generate clean energy at home, the Home Depot offers a range of home solar, EV charging, and battery systems to its customers. In 2022, the company provided retail access to solar panels for more than 7,000 homes and recorded sales of over 4,000 EV chargers. The Home Depot has also developed solar panel Buying Guides that educates homeowners on the key components, types of panels, and installation options. |
| Truckee Meadows Community College | 2023 | Green Power Leadership Award | Higher Education | Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) being recognized for their green power usage and educational programs. Since 2019, TMCC has matched 100% of its electricity load service with green power. It procures green power through a renewable energy agreement, the NV GreenEnergy Rider Tariff, where NV Energy purchases the energy, capacity, Portfolio Energy Credits, and renewable energy certificates from a solar PV facility in Clark County, Nevada. The college installed four on-site solar arrays and two wind turbines, which are also used as an educational tool to provide hands-on training in the college's Applied Technologies architecture and renewable energy programs. The college utilizes drones to conduct infrared thermographic evaluations of their solar arrays. TMCC educates students about the benefits of green power by offering courses on environmental science which integrate concepts of renewable energy and sustainability into existing class curricula. |
| Bimbo Bakeries | 2022 | Green Power Leadership Award | Food & Beverage | EPA is recognizing Bimbo Bakeries USA for its green power use, sector-leadership, and deployment of local micro-grids to improve grid resiliency. As a new Partner, Bimbo Bakeries joined using 100% green power, with over 490 million kWh of green power annually. This is equivalent to the annual electricity use of nearly 46,000 homes. The company demonstrates leadership in the food and beverage industry providing social proof for other organizations that using green power is possible. Bimbo Bakeries has implemented microgrids, comprised of solar arrays coupled with battery storage, at six of its California bakeries. The outcomes from the system’s performance include zero carbon energy, peak demand management, and optimized use of energy from the grid and its on-site system. These projects not only expand Bimbo’s renewable portfolio, but also improve grid resiliency. |
| 2022 | Green Power Leadership Award | Technology & Telecom | EPA is recognizing Google for its exemplary use of green power and commitment to innovation and market guidance through leadership in the green power markets. Since its last award in 2019, Google has increased its procurement of green power from nearly six billion kWh to more than nine billion kWh, which is equivalent to electricity use of nearly 850,000 American homes annually. The company has consistently been at the very top of the Green Power Partnership Ranking List in scale of procurement. Google has also been a driving force in the green power market with its public commitment to 24/7 green power and Project Sunroof. The company’s 2020 commitment to invest in and deploy five GW of new clean energy by 2023 in key supply chain regions is a commendable endeavor. Additionally, Google is being recognized for its strong spirit of collaboration, including working with EPA and other entities on numerous research papers, webinars, conferences, and market guidance proposals. Google has made significant efforts to communicate its lessons learned about green power and share the knowledge they have acquired through papers such as their 24/7 matching of electricity generation and consumption to reduce GHG emissions. |
|
| T-Mobile | 2022 | Green Power Leadership Award | Technology & Telecom | EPA is recognizing T-Mobile for its green power use, target setting, and support of diversity in corporate clean energy value chains. This past year, T-Mobile increased its usage of renewable energy by more than fourfold to 7.8 billion kWh of green power, which is the equivalent of 700 wind turbines running for one year. This is the single largest increase in green power over a calendar year in the Partnership’s history. Though T-Mobile merged with Sprint and vastly expanded its operational footprint, the company remained committed to using 100% green power. In addition to achieving its RE100 pledge, T-Mobile has set ambitious scope 1, 2, and 3 emission reduction targets that have been officially approved by the Science Based Targets initiative and are in line with the Paris Agreement 1.5-degree pathway. It also founded, and began enlisting partners, of the Diversity in Clean Energy (DiCE) initiative. T-Mobile’s diverse renewable energy portfolio strategy includes a mix of virtual power purchase agreements, a green direct tariff, retail renewable agreements, community solar projects, and unbundled Retail Energy Certificates. |
| Boston University | 2021 | Green Power Leadership Award | Education (Higher) | EPA is recognizing Boston University with a Green Power Leadership Award for its exemplary use of green power, including project placement to optimize emission reductions, its leadership in the sector of higher education and locally in Boston, and its community engagement. In late 2020, Boston University began procuring wind power through a virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) that is designed to provide the school with 205 million kilowatt-hours annually, equivalent to more than 19,000 homes' electricity use for one year. The agreement is the largest single active VPPA by any of the 126 colleges and universities in EPA's Green Power Partnership. Given its dense, urban setting, Boston University did not have the option for large-scale, on site renewables, so the school opted for a VPPA and decided to optimize emission reductions by engaging with a project located in a carbon intensive grid region. Boston University has also demonstrated leadership by communicating lessons learned from its own green power investment. VPPAs are not common in the higher education sector, and Boston University actively communicates and provides information about this procurement option to educate peer organizations. Locally, through numerous workshops and presentations, Boston University has made a significant effort to spread its knowledge to other organizations. The university has influenced 18 institutions, corporations, and municipalities to pursue similar renewable energy projects through these efforts. |
| Dane County | 2021 | Green Power Leadership Award | Govt. (Local, Municipal) | EPA is recognizing Dane County, Wisconsin, with a Green Power Leadership Award for its use of green power, creative collaboration, and commitment to expanding access to green power to diverse, historically underserved, rural, and urban communities. Dane County currently uses green power for 45 percent of its operational electricity use, using more than 20 million kilowatt-hours of green power annually. The county sources green power through various supply options, including via an innovative nine megawatt solar energy project between Dane County and the local utility at the Dane County Airport. Dane County ensures that renewable energy certificates (RECs) substantiate its green power use, a key consumer best practice, and market principle. Dane County also actively supports green power use by local municipalities and school districts. The county facilitates cross-community collaboration to enable 75+ local governments and school districts to adopt an increased amount of green power at a faster rate. It also maintains several recognition programs including a Climate Champions program and a Clean Energy map to showcase and celebrate local accomplishments, using positive reinforcement to spur more green power adoption and enabling entities to learn from each other. Dane County is notable for funding a countywide expansion of the MadiSUN Backyard Solar Grant program to target diverse, low-income residents and neighborhoods. The county also partners with various community organizations and housing providers to include solar installations at affordable housing projects. These efforts help ensure that the economic and environmental benefits of clean energy are available to all local residents. |
| Microsoft | 2021 | Green Power Leadership Award | Technology & Telecom | EPA is recognizing Microsoft Corporation with a Green Power Leadership Award for its commitment to green power use, dedication to under-resourced and underserved communities, and electrification. This is Microsoft's eighth EPA Green Power Leadership Award. Since 2014, Microsoft has used 100 percent renewable green power in the United States. Annually, Microsoft uses more than six billion kilowatt-hours of green power in the United States, equivalent to nearly 628,000 homes' annual electricity use. These are connected to company commitments to be carbon negative by 2030. Microsoft ensures that its corporate investments in renewable energy drive benefits to under-resourced communities. Through a 500-megawatt power purchase agreement, Microsoft tied renewable energy purchasing to environmental justice and equity in under-resourced communities, which included working with local leaders and prioritizing minority and women-owned businesses. This agreement will also offer up $50 million, pulled from power purchase agreement revenue, in community-led grants and investments for education, career training, land restoration, and clean energy and efficiency programs. EPA is also recognizing Microsoft for its commitment to the electrification of its standby power at its datacenters. |
| Starbucks | 2021 | Green Power Leadership Award | Restaurants & Cafes | EPA is recognizing Starbucks (company owned stores) with a Green Power Leadership Award for its use of green power, prompting its supply chain to use renewable electricity, and expanding access to green power in New York. Starbucks began purchasing renewable electricity in 2005 and has been purchasing 100 percent renewable electricity for company-operated stores in the United States. Its annual green power use of more than 1 billion kilowatt-hours is equivalent to the annual electricity load of more than 98,000 homes. All of Starbucks' roasting and distribution facilities in the United States use 100 percent renewable electricity. In addition, Starbucks has helped expand access to green power to others in communities where its stores operate. In 2021, Starbucks invested $97 million into communities in the state of New York to build community solar projects. The first of these projects have already been installed and are operational, providing solar energy for the local Starbucks stores, surrounding households, small businesses, nonprofits, churches, and universities. The beneficiaries of these projects are in varying locations and include regions designated as underserved communities. Participants in the community solar projects also receive a discount on their current electricity rates, which helps make green power more accessible and affordable. |
| University of California | 2021 | Green Power Leadership Award | Education (Higher) | EPA is recognizing the University of California with a Green Power Leadership Award for its green power use, community engagement, and aggressive goal setting. Since its last award in 2018, the University of California has increased its green power use by more than 300 million kilowatt-hours (kWh), tripling its percentage of green power use—from 15 to 46 percent. This increase was due in part to the addition of 18 on site systems producing more than 12 million kWh in 2020. This expansion has been thoughtfully undertaken to fit the unique needs of each campus. The University of California has also demonstrated its commitment to community engagement and local impact. EPA is recognizing the institution partly for its innovative approach to connecting individual campuses with local electricity suppliers through its Clean Energy Optimization Pilot (CEOP). This first-of-its-kind greenhouse gas reduction pilot seeks to encourage five eligible University of California locations to implement actions that reduce emissions. It provides performance payments based on measured results for reducing greenhouse gas emissions behind the meter, including on site renewable energy production. This approach rewards campuses for focusing on actions that help the environment the most. The CEOP pilot also encourages students, staff, faculty, and communities disproportionally burdened by environmental harms to undertake non-traditional initiatives, such as behavior change, to reduce emissions and health impacts related to the University of California operations and communities where they operate. In 2013, the system announced its Carbon Neutrality Initiative, which states that all 10 campuses and the President's Office will be climate neutral from scope 1 and 2 sources by 2025. In support of this goal, the University of California made formal policy commitments to reduce energy use, install on site renewable power, and switch to a clean energy supply. It also set a goal to install a total of 10,000 kilowatts of on site renewable power generation, which it has since exceeded by a factor of four. Lastly, the system updated policies to stipulate that each campus and health location will obtain 100 percent clean electricity by 2025. University of California's Sustainable Practices Policy provides clear targets for green power as an integrated strategy to cost-effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Together, these policies provide a compelling roadmap for other institutions to follow suit. |
| California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo | 2020 | Direct Project Engagement | Education (Higher) | In May 2018, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) entered into a long-term power purchase agreement for 4.5 MW Gold Tree Solar Farm that provides an estimated 25% of the school's total electricity needs through on-site solar generation. This is the single largest solar deal within the California State University system. The school engaged in a unique tariff for California local governments and universities that enabled it to build the project and connect it directly to the utility's transmission and distribution system, reducing both upfront capital and long-term power costs in the process. The solar farm will generate $17 million in savings over the 20-year life of its financial power purchase agreements. Its request for proposals, which included a focus on innovative academic uses for the eventual project. Now that the project is operational, Cal Poly can bring the solar farm into its classrooms by incorporating the project into curricular areas like microgrid research, engineering education, and research on sheep grazing around the array's panels. |
| Fifth Third Bank | 2020 | Direct Project Engagement | Banking & Fin. Srvcs | Fifth Third Bank transitioned from annual REC purchases to a long-term contract that led to the construction of the Aulander Holloman Solar Project, bringing its total annual green power usage to more than 149 million kWh. Sharing its experiences and lessons learned from this and other projects at numerous conferences and with its communities and employees through press releases, videos, social media posts, and internal announcements—as well as its annual Corporate Social Responsibility Report, sustainability website, and investor relations website. |
| Lundberg Family Farms | 2020 | Direct Project Engagement | Ag. & Nat. Resources | Lundberg Family Farms installed a 1.15 MW solar array on top of three facilities in 2019, increasing its total on-site generation from 10% to 25% of demand and its capacity to 1.9 MW. Working with its project developer to donate a percentage of project costs to the Richvale Foundation, a civic league created to promote community welfare for charitable, educational, and recreational purposes. They demonstrate a multifaceted approach to communicating its project successes through product labeling, publishing a sustainability report and press releases, participating in podcasts, including solar on its facility tours, and speaking at conferences and participating in industry groups to share its experiences. |
| Madison Area Technical College – Main Truax Building | 2020 | Direct Project Engagement | Education (Higher) | Madison Area Technical College (MATC) completed construction of the largest rooftop solar photovoltaic system in the State of Wisconsin in 2019. MATC contributed more than 80% of the capital to develop the 1.85 MW solar project, which was also designed as an educational tool. The project also marked the completion of the first step in Madison College's solar roadmap to implement solar power projects at each of its campus locations. Designing its rooftop photovoltaic system with education in mind. A data platform enables students to monitor solar irradiance and electricity generation, teaching them about data analytics and performance verification while allowing for early detection of component degradation and maintenance needs. The system includes an accessible roof section and viewing deck that provides opportunities for educational outreach to prospective students and the general public. Demonstrating a broad reach in communicating its project success by creating promotional videos, providing media coverage and tours of the project, and authoring scholarly manuscripts and how-to guides to help others execute solar projects. |
| QTS Realty Trust | 2020 | Direct Project Engagement | Tech and Telecom | QTS Realty Trust used an innovative procurement model featuring a partnership with an investment bank to purchase a portion of the power from a financed project. This project's structure supports QTS Realty Trust's renewable electricity objectives while funding new projects, reducing market risk, and improving renewable electricity costs for other buyers supported by this procurement strategy. Increasing QTS Realty Trust's renewable electricity procurement to more than 412 million kWh today over the course of three years. Working with utilities and organizations to develop tariffs and policies that make it easier and more cost-effective for everyone to procure renewable electricity. Communicating its successes through press releases and sustainability reports, as well as highlighting its status as a Green Power Partner online. |
| Target | 2020 | Direct Project Engagement | Retail | Target took a multifaceted approach to developing both on-site and off-site projects, including nearly 260 MW of on-site solar and more than 140 MW of operating financial power purchase agreements. Together, these projects generate more than 400 million kWh to serve Target's operations. Utilizing its broad network, as one of the largest retailers in the country, with locations in every state, Target has leveraged its hundreds of utility partnerships to help get green tariffs off the ground in several states, working directly with state legislators and regulators. Working with market stakeholders to improve the quality and quantity of data on renewable electricity in the grid mix. |
| Aldi | 2020 | Excellence in Green Power Use | Retail | Aldi is using nearly a billion kWh each year, meeting more than 100% of its domestic electricity needs through a combination of self-supply projects and nationally sourced RECs. Installing on-site solar arrays on more than 100 stores and 10 distribution centers; the company's standard approach is to include solar on all new stores, wherever feasible. |
| General Motors LLC | 2020 | Excellence in Green Power Use | Automotive | GM increased its green power from 10% to 31% in 2019 by adding more than 652 million kWh of green power and taking a multifaceted approach to its green power procurement using a variety of supply options, including power purchase agreement, self-supply, and green tariff supply structures. GM demonstrated leadership in supporting increased green power access in various markets through green tariffs. GM helped negotiate a new green tariff program, MIGreenPower, which provided access to green power for a host of other Michigan-based companies, including Shiloh Industries, the Detroit Zoo, and the University of Michigan. Engaging in informative communication efforts, including press releases, website posts, and social media, to showcase its renewable efforts and to raise awareness that what is good for business is good for the environment. |
| Saint Louis University | 2020 | Excellence in Green Power Use | Education (Higher) | Saint Louis University's student-led initiative increased their green power use and funded green power purchases through the establishment of a student green energy tax. In one year, SLU grew its green power use from a purchase covering residence halls' electricity use to matching 100% of institutional power consumption. Its student-led demonstration of how green power aligns with the school's mission and commitments to public health and social justice. Students showcased how conventional energy sources contribute to poor air quality and increased asthma rates, a prevalent issue in the St. Louis region that statistically impacts lower-income, minority residents to a greater extent. |
| Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield | 2020 | Excellence in Green Power Use | Real Estate | Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) is using green power through a diverse portfolio, including power purchase agreements, REC purchases, and 17 self-generation rooftop and carport solar projects. Together, these purchases amount to nearly 147 million kWh of green power each year. Utilizing its REIT status to purchase solar through an innovative taxable REIT subsidiary, which allowed the company to directly access the tax benefits that helped finance the project and that otherwise would have been out of the company's reach. Using multiple communication channels to deploy messages on its green power successes to an array of audiences. URW leverages public announcements, earned media, strategic partnerships, and reporting platforms to communicate its green power work to corporate departments, shopping center staff, tenants, visiting guests, investors, and the communities surrounding its centers. |
| Equinix, Inc. | 2020 | Partner of the Year | Tech and Telecom | Equinix is using more than 2.3 billion kWh of green power each year, covering more than 90% of its electricity load worldwide. adding more than 884 billion kWh between the end of 2017 and the end of 2019. Equinix has not only grown its business to include 78 unique data centers in the United States, but it has also increased its green power use commensurately. Deriving nearly half of its 2019 green power growth from long-term contracts, which delivered new wind power to the grid in the middle of the United States. The balance of Equinix's green power also supported several other types of purchases, including Green-e wind renewable energy certificates (RECs) as well as community choice aggregation and utility green tariff programs in California and Colorado. Demonstrating leadership in green power use by being one of the first data center companies to utilize financial power purchase agreements, helping to address the volatility of electricity costs while also retaining REC attributes. Maintaining an active communication strategy and, since fiscal year 2015, publishing an annual sustainability report compliant with the Global Reporting Initiative. In 2019, Equinix developed customized green power reports that empower its customers to understand and attest to their green energy use and carbon footprint from collocating at Equinix as part of their own sustainability reporting efforts. Extending its successes to others through active engagement and leadership across leading industry groups and in regulatory proceedings. Equinix is a founding board member of the Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance as well as an educator at its events and recently participated in policy proceedings in Virginia on opening green power access to other customers. |
| Microsoft Corporation | 2020 | Sustained Excellence in Green Power Use | Tech and Telecom | Microsoft's continued leadership in advancing green power development, scale of green power commitment, focus on innovation, and sustained commitment to direct project engagement. Microsoft's use of 100% green power for the fifth consecutive year across its U.S. operations while its power demand continued to grow. Microsoft's continued commitment to advanced sustainability, including increasing its internal carbon fee in 2020 to help achieve its goal to be carbon negative by 2030. |
| Blue Lake Rancheria | 2019 | Direct Project Engagement | Tribal | Blue Lake Rancheria powered their community activities through onsite solar PV with battery storage in a community microgrid—combining the use of established and emerging technologies-- to provide 23% of their electricity from green power. Cultivating strong public-private partnerships to develop green power and related local expertise, thus achieving cost savings, economic growth, and carbon reductions of approximately 195 tons per year. Regularly conducting tours of their microgrid and presenting on strategies for transitions to green power at conferences across the U.S. to help advance understanding of green power markets. |
| Equinix, Inc. | 2019 | Direct Project Engagement | Tech and Telecom | Equinix reached 100% green power use across all U.S. sites and offices in 2018, with a total of 2,200 GWh procured, representing a 46% increase over 2017 volume. Generating half of their green power use (approximately 225 MW), under long-term Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA) contracts, which delivered new wind power to the grid in the middle of the country. The remainder of Equinix's U.S. renewables procurement comes from a mix of Green-e wind RECs and community choice aggregation or utility-green tariff programs. Taking an active approach to communication and transparency and documenting their sustainability progress in their annual Corporate Sustainability Report. |
| General Motors LLC | 2019 | Direct Project Engagement | Automotive | General Motors developed a diverse green power supply portfolio in 2018 including: 3 new VPPAs totaling 255 million kWh in green power, executing the first green tariff in Michigan with Consumers Energy, and meeting its original renewable energy goal of 125MW. Setting a new goal to become 100% supplied by renewables by 2050 as an early signatory of RE100, a collaborative global initiative uniting influential businesses committed to 100% renewable electricity |
| Johnson & Johnson | 2019 | Direct Project Engagement | Health Care | Johnson & Johnson invested in on-site generation at its facilities and acquiring off-site renewable energy, including a virtual power purchase agreement for 100 MW of wind energy in Texas. They worked with a public utility to execute a green tariff for their Georgia manufacturing facility and their investments in on-site renewable energy at its facilities worldwide and generation of nearly 18 million kWh's of electricity from 23 on-site solar arrays at its United States facilities. |
| Kaiser Permanente | 2019 | Direct Project Engagement | Health Care | Kaiser Permanente built 153 MW of new, utility-scale wind (43 MW) and 131 MW solar/110 MW battery storage capacity in California that delivers almost 500 million kWh annually. They contracted with utility green tariff programs for 43 million kWh of green power in Washington State and Colorado. Deployed more than 35 MW of on-site solar arrays at more than 50 sites across California, Hawaii, Colorado and Oregon. Creating the first microgrid at a hospital in California, combining large-scale solar and storage within a microgrid at the Kaiser Permanente Richmond Medical Center. Partnering with a commercial bank to create a special purpose company that leverages incentives and low capital costs to decrease costs for solar projects. |
| Microsoft Corporation | 2019 | Direct Project Engagement | Tech and Telecom | Microsoft increased its purchases of green power by 780 million kWh since their last award. Microsoft's diverse portfolio of green power supplies, includes, proxy generation PPA and Volume Firming Agreements from the 178 MW Bloom Wind project in Kansas, wind power contracts of 237 MW, 110 MW, and 175MW to power data centers in Cheyenne, Wyoming, San Antonio, Texas, and Chicago, Illinois, respectively (These contracts bring Microsoft's total U.S. wind energy project investments to more than 500 MW), on-site solar of 400,000 kWh annually. Microsoft's green power purchases are funded through an internal sustainability fee model. Since the program began six years ago, Microsoft has purchased more than 28.7 million MWh of green power. |
| Santa Clara County | 2019 | Direct Project Engagement | Government (Local) | Santa Clara County completed construction of the "Renewables for Revenue Project," which consists of five solar farms with a combined capacity of 10.8 MW and one 440 kW on-site solar system, which generates approximately 19 million kWh annually. Helping to form the Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) Community Choice Aggregator (CCA), which offers 100% carbon-free and renewable power to thirteen communities in the South Bay. Thus far, Santa Clara County has enrolled 51 million kWh, or 38% of its own facilities' total electrical usage, in SVCE service. |
| Bank of America | 2019 | Excellence in Green Power Use | Banking & Fin. Srvcs | Bank of America increased its green power purchases from 69% in 2016 to 99% in 2018, more than a 40% increase in only two years. In 2018, Bank of America procured over 1.7 billion kWh of renewable electricity. Purchasing from a portfolio of green power supplies including 354,000 kWh of on-site solar and 1,717 billion kWh of retail RECs. In partnership with Juhl Energy and 3 Degrees, contracting for long-term RECs from the first commercial integrated solar-wind hybrid power generation project in the U.S. This project is located in an underserved community and provides discounts on electricity to the local coop members. Entering into two long-term REC purchase agreements. The first includes two wind projects in Texas, of which the bank is the tax equity owner. The second deal supports two new solar projects in South Carolina. These projects include creating pollinator habitats and cover the banks electricity load in the state. Installing solar panels on more than 60 bank locations, including Financial Centers, ATMs, and offices over the next three years and beyond. This program is expected to generate more than 25 MW of renewable electricity. In 2016, Bank of America set a new environmental operations goals plans to become carbon neutral and purchase 100% renewable electricity, reduce their location-based greenhouse gas emissions by 50%, and water use by 45% in its operations across the globe by 2020. |
| City of Dallas, TX | 2019 | Excellence in Green Power Use | Government (Local) | City of Dallas' sustained growth in renewable energy use, from 40% in 2008, to 50% in 2015, and in since 2017 the City has used 100% renewable (wind and solar) energy through its retail electricity service contract with TXU Energy. This represented 745 million kWh of green power in 2018. City Council adoption of an official Green Energy Policy that formalized its commitment to the use of 100% renewable energy and support for future on- and off-site renewable energy development. Diverse communication activities including a website (greendallas.net) and blog that communicate its various green power and initiatives supporting the development of a Comprehensive Climate and Environmental Action Plan underway. |
| Dallas Fort Worth International Airport | 2019 | Excellence in Green Power Use | Transportation | Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport now uses 100% green power. Most of its green power is via a competitive supply from Texas General Land Office with a 215,000 kWh generated from on-site solar. Since 2010, DFW has achieved a 27% reduction in electricity costs as well as an 83% reduction in carbon emissions on a per passenger basis, even while total passengers at the airport increased by 22% over the same period. Implementing social media and outreach campaigns highlighting the airport's commitment to sustainability and carbon neutrality to the public, resulting in 2,404 engagements and 319,756 impressions. |
| Kohler Co. | 2019 | Excellence in Green Power Use | Consumer Goods | Kohler's large financial PPA with Enel Green Power's Diamond Vista Wind LLC for 425,149,000 kWh of green power which covers 100% of their electrical load. Kohler's sustainability team kicked off its robust communications strategy promoting Kohler's broad sustainable efforts and successes. |
| Northampton Community College | 2019 | Excellence in Green Power Use | Education (Higher) | Northampton Community College (NCC), increased their green power purchase by 82% in the past two years, to a total of 86% (as of June 2019, they increased to 100% renewable), and one of the country's largest community college consumers of green power. Owning and operating an on-site PV system and wind turbine at their Monroe Campus, which together provide 40% of the campus's electricity needs, and which NCC integrates into their curriculum, creating experiential learning experiences in building and erecting green power systems. Communicating effectively with students, staff, alumni, local communities, state officials, and federal officials about the benefits of green power. |
| Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd | 2019 | Excellence in Green Power Use | Tech and Telecom | Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. ("Samsung") portfolio of green power supply options including 1.2 Billion kWh of Texas wind RECs and a 968 MWh new roof-top solar array in San Jose, CA. Actively communicating its green power use and Green Power Partnership to all stakeholders through the company's website, annual sustainability reports, and several press releases. |
| Switch | 2019 | Excellence in Green Power Use | Tech and Telecom | Switch worked with NV Energy to create Nevada's first green tariff in 2015 to allow businesses to purchase renewable energy through the utility. In 2017, Switch Station 1 and Switch Station 2 solar power plants, with a combined generation capacity of 179 MW were fully commissioned. In 2018, Switch worked with Consumers Energy to develop a green tariff in Michigan with the operation of Cross Winds Energy Park II which generates 44 MW of renewable energy from which they receive 12,569,219 kWh of green power annually. |
| Lancaster California | 2019 | Green Power Community | Green Power Community | Lancaster California became the first city in California to pass an ordinance requiring solar on all new residential developments in 2013. They expanded their solar reach by approving the Zero Net Energy (ZNE) ordinance in 2017 requiring that all new homes are built to net zero standard three years before the State's net zero mandate is enacted. Creating its own utility, Lancaster Choice Energy (LCE), in 2014. LCE was the first municipal CCA in California. Saving customers over $1 million on their generation costs in the first three years of LCE's operation. Lancaster signed a 20 year PPA with sPower to build a utility-scale solar power project within city limits, which added 10 MW of green power to LCE'S green energy portfolio. Lancaster partnering with local school districts to bring solar panels to all 25 school sites, effectively reducing district costs and supporting a greener energy grid. They issued 6,339 single family solar permits by March 2019. As a community Lancaster has 526 MW of solar in operational development and more planned. By 2017, becoming the first net-zero city in the nation and developing more green power than it consumes. |
| Google LLC | 2019 | Partner of the Year | Tech and Telecom | Google collaborated with industry peers and the state of Georgia on the approval of a new program to allow large purchasers to buy green power directly through Georgia Power. Through this program, Google will procure 78.8 MW of solar energy for their Douglas County, Georgia data center. Partnering with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to bring new wind and solar projects onto TVA's electrical grid. Google committed to purchasing the output of several of these solar farms, totaling 413 MW from 1.6 million panels. As of December 2017, Google signed 26 long-term agreements totaling nearly 3 GW of wind and solar energy that is new to the grid around the world. In 2018, Google Increased their green power usage by 3.5 billion kWh and committed to invest nearly $2.5 billion in renewable energy projects, supporting a total capacity of 3.7 GW. |
| Intel Corporation | 2019 | Sustained Excellence in Green Power Use | Tech and Telecom | Intel Corporation used more than 3.8 billion kWh of green power annually in the U.S. supplied by a diverse portfolio including on-site projects, utility programs, and Green-e® certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) sourced from a spectrum of technologies, including solar, wind, geo-thermal and low-impact hydro. Purchasing 100% green power for its U.S. operations since 2013. In total, Intel has purchased more than 30 billion kWh of green power since 2008 in the US. Installed more than 100 on-site projects, including a 7.8 MW solar carport at its Folsom campus, A 7.7 MW solar car port at the Chandler Ocotillo Campus, a 60 unit micro wind turbine array at its Santa Clara headquarters, and over 150 EV charging stations at nine different office locations nationally. Intel's portfolio of green power includes more than 20 different technology applications in more than a dozen states and countries. Implementing a robust communication strategy to advance green power adoption with internal and external audiences, including engagement in cross-sectoral collaborations and promoting their numerous EPA Green Power Partnership awards and industry recognitions via press releases, social media channels, and their corporate website CSR hub. Intel continues to sponsor lunch events for employees to understand the strategies, goals and efforts and invite participation. |
| Jackson Family Wines | 2018 | Direct Project Engagement | Wineries & Breweries | Jackson Family Wines procured nearly 37 million kWh of green power for 100% of their annual electricity usage. They generated more than 9 million kWh of onsite solar generation and procured nearly 28 million kWh of Green-e certified renewable energy certificates (RECs). They also purchased green power on behalf of all 1,600 of its employees' electricity use at home. Jackson Family Wine increased onsite solar generation over the past two years, from 2.5 MW in 2015 producing nearly 2.6 million kWh to 7.0 MW producing more than 9 million kWh in 2017. They displayed an excellent communications and outreach program and highlighted their goal of powering 50% of winemaking operations with onsite renewable generation by 2021, engaging in industry sector leadership; and technology innovation through collaboration with Tesla battery storage. |
| Michigan State University | 2018 | Direct Project Engagement | Education (Higher) | Michigan State University hosts the largest solar photovoltaic carport system in the United States, through a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA). They installed an innovative anaerobic digestion system in 2013, which was the largest of its kind on a college campus when created. The system turns dairy farm and dining hall food waste into renewable energy. The university's commitment to green power innovation, as shown by the evolution of its green power portfolio—utilizing various supply options and resource types as well as their regional leadership and effective communications about its green power projects. |
| The Procter & Gamble Company | 2018 | Direct Project Engagement | Consumer Goods | The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) demonstrated outstanding communications efforts, particularly a video that illustrates how P&G's onsite power purchase agreement (PPA) with the plant's owner, Constellation, works. This video helps consumers understand how biomass-based combined heat and power provides renewable steam to make everyday products like Bounty and Charmin while sending electricity to Georgia Power and its local customers. Procter & Gamble retains the renewable attributes, in the form of renewable energy certificates (RECs), from the electricity generated. P&G's procurement of 743 million kWh of green power, represents about 19% of the company's organization-wide electric load. They utilize multiple green power supply options and resources, including an onsite biomass PPA, a financial wind PPA, wind REC contracts, and onsite solar generation. They demonstrated sector and regional leadership as a consumer products company prioritizing green power in a sector with few large green power projects. They also used a Green Power Partnership project matching effort to sign its financial PPA with the Tyler Bluff Wind Project LLC. |
| T-Mobile US, Inc. | 2018 | Direct Project Engagement | Tech and Telecom | T-Mobile signed a financial power purchase agreement (PPA) for 625 million kWh, which was the largest wind power investment to date made by a wireless company. The company's direct impact on creating new green power supply as a result of the PPA. T-Mobile uses 27% green power for its US operations additionally, T-Mobile has a goal to rapidly reach 100% renewable energy by 2021. T-Mobile is the first major U.S. telecommunications company to commit to 100% green power. They demonstrated their innovative and unusual communications, challenging its peer companies to #CleanUpWireless campaign. |
| University of California | 2018 | Direct Project Engagement | Education (Higher) | University of California increased its voluntary green power use by 40% system-wide. They completed 12 new onsite solar projects located at UC Berkeley, UC Riverside, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, and the UC Path Center in Riverside. Hosted more than 40 MW of onsite solar capacity with photovoltaic systems located at every campus. UC established a goal of becoming the first major research university system to achieve carbon neutrality by 2025 and communicated effectively with students and alumni about the benefits of carbon neutrality. |
| Anheuser-Busch | 2018 | Excellence in Green Power Use | Wineries & Breweries | Anheuser-Busch procured more than 727 million kWh for 55% of its annual electricity use from renewable generation. Their innovative procurement and direct impact on new supply through a 15-year financial power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Budweiser Wind Farm at Thunder Ranch, Oklahoma, which generates nearly 603 million kWh annually. Onsite wind and solar generation of nearly 6 million kWh and more than 118 million kWh of Green-e certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) purchased. Anheuser-Busch's commitment to secure 100% of purchased electricity from renewable sources by 2025. Anheuser-Busch launched its U.S. 2025 Sustainability Goals, which focus on four key areas —renewable electricity and carbon reduction, water stewardship, smart agriculture, and circular packaging — and looks to build on the brewer's long history of environmental stewardship and unwavering commitment to supporting their communities. Starting in April 2018 ,they include a renewable electricity symbol on all Budweiser packaging. |
| Equinix, Inc. | 2018 | Excellence In Green Power Use | Tech and Telecom | Equinix increased their green power use by 900 million kWh or a 42% growth rate year-over-year. They signed two cutting-edge financial power purchase agreements to supply 28 geographically-dispersed data centers with 225 MW of renewables coverage. Equinix is the first data center company to publicly commit to a goal of 100% renewable energy use across its global footprint. |
| Google LLC | 2018 | Excellence In Green Power Use | Tech and Telecom | Google increased its green power procurement by 645 million kWh in 2016, which expanded the company's total green power procurement to 2.4 billion kWh, or 53% of its electric load in the United States. Google procured more than 2 billion kWh of green power from power purchase agreements (PPAs) and onsite generation, which have a direct and sizable impact on new green power supply. They utilized a variety of green power products and supply types, ranging from onsite landfill gas and solar to utility green power products to long-term PPAs. Their outstanding communications efforts include producing white papers on PPAs, green tariffs, and the company's RE100 goal. |
| Starbucks Coffee Company | 2018 | Excellence In Green Power Use | Restaurants & Cafes | Starbucks Coffee Company has used 100% green power since 2015. Their direct project engagement, included innovative procurement from a 47 MW solar farm in North Carolina, in which Starbucks was the chief investor thus helping the project come online. They increased their green power use of more than 81 million kWh in the last year, and by more than 474 million kWh since 2014. Starbucks committed to buying renewable energy certificates (RECs) from small and woman-owned businesses when possible. Their impactful communications, both internally to employees and externally to customers, including educational signage in more than 600 stores that receive renewable energy from their solar farm in North Carolina. |
| Microsoft Corporation | 2018 | Partner of the Year | Tech and Telecom | Microsoft earned a top spot on the Green Power Partnership's National Top 100 Partners list for the first time, by using more than 4.5 billion kWh of green power annually. They have been using 100% green power since 2013. Microsoft's volume of green power use also increased by 36% in the past year. Microsoft's goal to increase the number of Microsoft data centers powered by local, directly connected renewable generation facilities—up to 50% of their facilities by the end of 2018. They worked to create green power supply options that other companies can then replicate, such as the green tariff that Microsoft created with Black Hills in Wyoming. They also established an innovative internal carbon fee to fund green power purchases |
| Amphitheater Public Schools | 2017 | Direct Project Engagement | Education (K-12) | In 2016, Amphitheater entered into a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) for installed solar across 24 school sites and support facilities, generating more than 16 million kWh annually and supplying more than 65% of the school district's electricity demand. The solar power system is owned and operated by Constellation; it therefore required no upfront capital from the school system and began delivering energy cost savings from day one. It is expected to result in $11 million to $23 million in energy cost savings over the term of the agreement, according to the district. The 25-year onsite PPA is the longest of its kind in Arizona and can serve as a model for other school districts considering their own green power projects. Amphitheater is currently the second largest K-12 school generating green power onsite within the EPA Green Power Partnership and the project helps demonstrate the viability of clean energy resources to students, faculty, and the entire Amphitheater community. Amphitheater Public Schools placed the solar panels to create shade structures over student activity areas, protecting students from the Arizona sun. Where appropriate, the school designed covered parking structures and in some cases placed the panels on roofs. Since the project's completion, the school district has given tours to town council members and civic organizations to highlight the district's green power programs. |
| Apple Inc. | 2017 | Direct Project Engagement | Tech and Telecom | Apple first achieved 100% green power use for its entire U.S. operations in 2014 and has maintained that goal since. Apple uses nearly 1.2 billion kWh of green power for its domestic operations, which includes five operational data centers, 269 retail stores, and more than 140 corporate offices. Apple generates more than 228 million kWh at its facilities—equivalent to the annual power needs of more than 21,000 average American homes for a year. Apple has built or contracted for 580 MW of solar PV and 200 MW of wind power to support its data centers and corporate offices in California, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona and North Carolina. It also has two micro-hydro projects in Oregon that harness the power of water flowing through local irrigation canals. Apple states that its energy program is guided by three principles: displace dirtier forms of energy; ensure green power is surplus to what would have otherwise occurred; and demonstrate accountability through, for example, tracking systems and certifications. Apple's tiered approach starts with reducing its energy use, before creating its own green power projects and rounding out with purchases of green power from local utility green energy programs or through direct renewable energy certificate (REC) purchases. When Apple purchases RECs, the company selects Green-e® certified RECs that are sourced from the same state where they will be applied to Apple's operations. In addition, Apple is working with its supply chain partners domestically and around the world to reduce to zero its GHG emissions from its manufacturing and assembly operations, with suppliers already committed to building 500 megawatts of wind and solar. |
| Intel Corporation | 2017 | Direct Project Engagement | Tech and Telecom | Since 2013 Intel has purchased 100% green power for its U.S. operations. In total, Intel has purchased more than 18 billion kWh of green power since 2008. Intel uses more than 3.8 billion kWh of green power annually in the U.S. supplied by a portfolio of sources including on-site projects, utility programs, and Green-e® certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) sourced from a spectrum of technologies. In 2016, Intel added a 6.5 MW solar carport at its Folsom campus to its green portfolio. At the time it was installed, it was the largest carport system in the U.S. Intel states that it plans to continue to support and innovate green technology, including plans for additional utility-scale systems. The company has also installed more than 70 on-site projects, which reduces Intel's grid-based electricity demand while using clean energy alternatives. Intel continues to pilot new technologies to improve its environmental performance, such as micro wind turbines at its Santa Clara headquarters. Intel has installed a portfolio of solutions using more than 14 different technology applications at more than a dozen states and countries. |
| Iron Mountain Information Management, LLC | 2017 | Direct Project Engagement | Tech and Telecom | In 2016, Iron Mountain fulfilled its commitment to the program by purchasing more than 8 million kWh of wind power coupled with a 15-year financial power purchase agreement (PPA) for the output of 26.6 MW from Ringer Hill Wind Farm. The PPA is expected to deliver 84 million kWh annually of wind power through 2032. Iron Mountain's offtake agreement allowed the project to be financed and built, thus enabling the development of new renewable generation on the grid in the Mid-Atlantic region, an area that has not seen as much wind development as some other regions of the country. Iron Mountain's combined green power use accounts for 40% of its power requirements. |
| Lockheed Martin Corporation | 2017 | Direct Project Engagement | Industrial goods & Services | In 2016, Lockheed Martin procured green power for 20% of its total U.S. operations' electricity needs, which included 253 million kWh of renewable energy certificates (RECs), 38 million kWh through an offsite power purchase agreement (PPA), 7 million kWh of on-site green power, and 2 million kWh of utility green power. Lockheed Martin currently has 11 operational on-site green power installations, including solar carports in Florida and additional solar installations in California, Colorado, and New Jersey. While prioritizing on-site green power installations, Lockheed has also entered a unique 17-year PPA with Duke Energy Renewables in which the solar RECs associated with the North Carolina project are monetized and replacement RECs are procured. Optimizing the use of natural resources in business operations to improve energy management is an important sustainability strategy, according to Lockheed Martin. The corporation is reducing its energy use by building and operating more efficient buildings, constructing on-site renewable energy projects, and purchasing RECs. |
| Stanford University | 2017 | Direct Project Engagement | Education (Higher) | As part of its comprehensive and long-range Energy and Climate Action plan, Stanford developed the cutting-edge energy supply system known as the Stanford Energy System Innovations (SESI) project. SESI is a new central energy facility with district-level heat-recovery and 72 MW of solar PV, of on- and off-site solar PV installations. The 67 MW of SESI located offsite features single axis tracking technology. These systems generate more than 150 million kWh of solar electricity and meet more than 50% of the university's electricity needs. As a result, the systems help lower Stanford's long-term costs, stabilize its operating budgets, and contribute to the reduction in the university's GHG emissions footprint. |
| University of Missouri | 2017 | Direct Project Engagement | Education (Higher) | University of Missouri (MU) has declared a goal of net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 and is making strides toward reaching that goal through a combination of green power purchases, efficiency improvements, and energy conservation. Currently, the university is purchasing more than 90 million kWh of green power, representing 36% of the university's campus electricity. The purchase combines on-site generation and an innovative wind power purchase agreement (PPA). Additionally, MU's energy conservation efforts have yielded an annual energy-cost avoidance of more than $9 million. The university campus is also home to a solar PV system, three solar thermal collection systems, and a 20 kWwind turbine, which can be hydraulically lowered to offer students a hands-on learning experience. MU prioritizes green power purchases when possible. The university, in collaboration with the city of Columbia's municipal utility, procures wind power sourced from Crystal Lake III Wind Farm in Iowa through a 20-year PPA. In 2016, wind power accounted for 63% of MU's purchased electricity. |
| Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority | 2017 | Direct Project Engagement | Government (Local) | In 2016, the Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority (VVWRA) produced nearly 7.5 million kWh on-site representing 74% of its own electricity. VVWRA developed an innovative Biogas-to-Energy Program, which uses the biogas produced in its anaerobic digesters to power two 800 kW generators. The generators produce clean power while meeting some of the nation's strictest air quality standards. The "Biogas-to-Energy" program was entirely funded through a power purchase agreement (PPA) that allowed the Authority to lock in low electricity rates for 20 years without raising cost to its customers. The switch to biogas-sourced green power has enabled VVWRA to dramatically reduce its use of natural gas, saving it more than $400,000 per year. Moving forward, VVWRA will be installing a flow-cell battery storage and microgrid system at its facility through a California Energy Commission grant. VVWRA is committed to not only producing 100% of its energy on-site, but to becoming an exporter of green power in the future. |
| Capital One | 2017 | Excellence in Green Power Use | Banking & Fin. Srvcs | Capital One's green power purchases achieve two commendable corporate goals: powering the company 100% with green power and reducing GHG emissions from its own operations and electricity purchases by 25% three years early. To achieve these goals, the company bought nearly 470 million kWh of bundled utility green power and unbundled renewable energy certificates (RECs). With this commitment, Capital One has become a green power leader in the financial services industry, driving the company towards achieving its long-term sustainability goals. In addition to addressing the company's operational footprint, Capital One is implementing green renovations of existing properties and specifying green construction for new buildings. |
| Clif Bar & Company | 2017 | Excellence in Green Power Use | Food & Beverage | Since 2003, Clif Bar has maintained its goal of sourcing 100% green power for all its owned and operated facilities, which now includes its headquarters, a warehouse, Innovation Center, an office in Arkansas, and two large-scale bakeries in Idaho and Indiana. This goal is reached through a combination of on-site solar and the purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs). Clif Bar has a 500 kW rooftop solar array at the company's Emeryville, California headquarters that generates, on average, more than 80% of the site's electricity needs. In 2016, Clif Bar procured nearly 16 million kWh of RECs. After increasing its use of green power and purchasing offsets, Clif Bar's business operations have maintained net-zero GHG emissions since 2003. In addition to addressing the company's operational footprint, Clif Bar has developed innovative programs to support green power for its supply chain and employees. To drive green power within its supply chain, Clif Bar launched a program called 50/50 by 2020 with a goal of 50 key supply chain facilities transitioning to 50% or more green power for the electricity used on Clif Bar's behalf by 2020. For employees, Clif Bar's Cool Home benefit provides financial support toward energy efficiency improvements and the purchase of home solar installations. To date, the company has helped support the installation of 25 home solar arrays and hundreds of home energy efficiency upgrades. |
| Equinix, Inc. | 2017 | Excellence in Green Power Use | Tech and Telecom | In 2015, Equinix became the first interconnection and data center company to announce its intent to use 100% green power across its global footprint. That same year, Equinix signed two financial power purchase agreements (FPPAs) for wind power with a combined capacity of 225 MW, which will supply enough renewable energy certificates (RECs) to cover 80% of Equinix's U.S. load (as of 2016). FPPAs provide an innovative solution for Equinix to procure renewables at scale for their dispersed operations, which are often located in landlord-controlled buildings or in regulated power markets that do not allow users to control electricity procurement. By signing FPPAs, Equinix helped bring new and incremental renewables to the green power market, which in turn helped ensure that local farmers and landowners also benefitted from the deployment of large-scale wind. In 2016, 42% of Equinix's U.S. load was covered through the partial year of wind generation and the bridge RECs procured. This is an increase from 8% reported in 2015. |
| Google LLC | 2017 | Excellence in Green Power Use | Tech and Telecom | Google procures more than 1.7 billion kWh of green power for its operations, the majority of which is sourced through long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with wind projects. In 2016, the company signed five additional long-term PPAs, bringing its total to 20 long-term PPAs amounting to 2.6 GW of wind and solar energy around the world. The company is on track to achieve its commitment to power all of its operations with green power in 2017. To date, Google's purchasing commitments will result in infrastructure investments of more than $3.5 billion globally, about two-thirds of that in the United States. These projects also generate tens of millions of dollars per year in revenue to local property owners, and tens of millions more to local and national governments in tax revenue. |
| Microsoft Corporation | 2017 | Excellence in Green Power Use | Tech and Telecom | To expand its ongoing investment in building a cleaner, more responsible cloud, Microsoft procured more than 3.3 billion kWh of green power last year for its domestic operations, including the output from a 20 MW solar project in Virginia and wind projects across the United States. In 2016, Microsoft announced its largest wind energy purchase to date with the signing of power purchase agreements representing 237 MW to power a datacenter in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Those agreements brought Microsoft's total direct purchase of wind energy in the U.S. to more than 500 MW. |
| TOTO USA / Morrow, Georgia Facility | 2017 | Excellence in Green Power Use | Industrial goods & Services | TOTO USA initially purchased 480,000 kWh of green power from Georgia Power for its Morrow, Georgia manufacturing facility in 2008. The company has since incrementally increased its green power use—first to 2.2 million kWh, then to 5.8 million kWh, and in 2016, to nearly 12 million kWh of green power, which is equal to 100% of the electricity used at its Morrow manufacturing facility. The TOTO USA / Morrow, GA Facility became the first large-volume participant in Georgia Power's Simple Solar Program to meet 100% of its use through the purchase of RECs from certified solar power. |
| University of California | 2017 | Excellence in Green Power Use | Education (Higher) | The University of California (UC) entered into long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) for two new California grid-connected solar energy projects. The first of two solar farms under these PPAs came online in the Fall of 2016, generating more than 47 million kWh for its partial year of production. These solar power plants located in California's Central Valley total 80 MW of generation capacity and represent the largest solar purchase ever made by a university in the United States. UC also purchases green power for its campuses through the direct access market in California. In total, UC uses more than 127 million kWh of green power. Additionally, as part of the UC system's efforts to reduce its system-wide GHG emissions footprint, each UC campus has installed on-site renewable generation, including biogas-fed fuel cells and solar PV systems. System-wide, the campuses are home to more than 36 MW of solar power installations that produce more than 52 million kWh of green power. |
| University of Tennessee, Knoxville | 2017 | Excellence in Green Power Use | Education (Higher) | As of 2016, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UT) became the largest college or university green power user in the Partnership with total purchase of more than 250 million kWh of green power annually, sourced from renewable energy certificates (RECs), the local utility's green power program, and a small amount of on-site solar. The combination of these green power resources accounts for more than 90% of its campus power needs. UT's campus community drives the university to be a leading institution, especially in green technology. Students and the administration are committed to using green power, as demonstrated by the Student Initiative Environmental Fee. Created in 2005, the fee funds sustainability projects on campus including the purchase of RECs and the installation of solar arrays that generate 70,000 kWh per year. Every student pays into this fee and can propose new ways to make the campus more environmentally friendly. This fee has allowed UT to consistently expand its green power procurement efforts. |
| Bainbridge Island, WA Green Power Community | 2017 | Green Power Community | Green Power Community | In 2013, the Bainbridge Island leadership supported a special green power campaign that encouraged thousands of residents and businesses to buy green power through Puget Sound Energy (PSE), the island's electricity provider. PSE constructed a five kW solar array on the island to source the program. The following year, continued enthusiasm for green power led the City Council to approve purchasing 100% green power for all city facilities. Today, Bainbridge continues to hold one of the highest community participation rates in PSE's service area. More than 10% of island residents participate in the program, an all-time high for utility green power program participation. The island's municipal leaders and residents have been longtime advocates for facilitating the adoption of clean energy as, for example, illustrated by its early adoption of the community solar model. Bainbridge Island developed a 74 kW community solar project on city hall to test the belief that more people will "go solar" if it is easy, affordable, and free of site barriers. In addition to the community solar project, Island residents have installed a combined 1.6 MW of solar PV capacity on private Island residences, generating more than 1.6 million kWh of emission-free electricity. |
| City of Houston, TX | 2017 | Partner of the Year | Government (Local) | In 2016, the city of Houston increased its purchase of wind renewable energy certificates (RECs) from 75 to 80% of the city's annual power use. Houston also entered into a physical power purchase agreement (PPA) that will supply the city with the output from 50 MW of solar power generated at a facility in Alpine, Texas. The 20-year PPA allowed Houston to access renewable electricity without a capital outlay in exchange for a long-term contract at a competitive, fixed price with no price escalations or inflation adjustments. Houston's solar deal is expected to save consumers more than $1.9 million per year over the 20-year term. In addition to its purchase of green power, the city has on-site solar arrays that generate more than 125,000 kWh annually at municipal buildings. Combined, these projects represent more than a billion kWh of green power and account for more than 89% of the city's municipal power needs. This made Houston the largest municipal user of green power in the Green Power Partnership. |
| L'Oréal USA | 2017 | Partner of the Year | Consumer Goods | L'Oréal commitment to green power began in 2011, with a solar array installation at its Piscataway, New Jersey, manufacturing facility. In 2016 was using 33% green power for its electricity needs. Since joining GPP, L'Oréal USA's manufacturing operation now uses 100% green power and has reduced its GHG emissions by 84%. In 2017, a new 4,140-panel solar array at L'Oréal's Florence, Kentucky factory became the largest commercial solar installation in the state, with a capacity of 1.42 MW. A second new solar array at the company's North Little Rock, Arkansas, plant brings L'Oréal's total number of solar energy installations to 16 across the United States. In addition to its green power use, L'Oréal has pledged to reduce its GHG emissions, water consumption, and waste in absolute terms by 60% by 2020 (from a 2005 baseline). |
| General Motors / GM Orion Assembly Plant | 2016 | Direct Project Engagement | Automotive | Globally, GM sources more than 106 MW of solar, landfill gas, and waste-to-energy at its facilities today. In 2015, GM procured 64 MW of wind energy to power four of its facilities, which will help the company exceed its previous goal to source 125 MW of renewable energy by 2020. GM's use of renewable energy is part of the company's approach to strengthening its business, improving communities, and addressing climate change. GM is one of the largest industrial users of landfill gas in the United States. In 2013, Green Power Partner GM Orion Assembly Plant installed an on-site landfill gas co-generation system. Gas that would have been flared at a nearby landfill is now redirected and piped to the facility to create electricity for building vehicles, notably the Chevrolet Bolt EV. In 2015, GM's Orion Assembly Plant used more than 43 million kWh of renewable energy generated from its on-site landfill gas system, which is equivalent to 54% of the facility's total electricity usage. |
| Google LLC | 2016 | Direct Project Engagement | Tech and Telecom | In 2015, Google procured more than 2 billion kWh of renewable energy to power its operations, equivalent to the annual electricity use of nearly 190,000 average American homes. As of December 2015, the company had signed 15 long-term power purchase agreements with wind and solar projects totaling more than 2,000 MW of installed capacity, making Google one of the largest non-utility purchasers of renewable energy in the country. These long-term commitments provide project developers with the financial certainty and scale necessary to build new renewable energy projects. Google also pilots innovative renewable energy technologies on its campuses, allowing its operations to run more efficiently while helping technologies evolve and scale. Google's campus in Mountain View has a 1.9 MW solar array and a 970 kW cogeneration unit, which uses local landfill gas to generate electricity and heat. |
| HARBEC, Inc. | 2016 | Direct Project Engagement | Industrial goods & Services | HARBEC has continuously improved its company-wide energy performance while simultaneously growing its business. In 2001, the company installed a 250 kW on-site wind turbine and in 2011 added an 850 kW turbine on-site. HARBEC has integrated on-site wind generation with a combined heat and power plant (CHP) into a microgrid that uses renewable and clean energy, and its innovative deployment and integration of renewable energy technologies enables the company to achieve fixed energy costs and increased energy utilization. HARBEC's two wind turbines provide approximately 60% of the company's electrical power. HARBEC then purchases renewable energy for the remainder of its electricity needs. Additionally, HARBEC offers its employees a 50% subsidy for buying utility-supplied green power at their residences. |
| Biogen, Inc. | 2016 | Excellence in Green Power Use | Health Care | Biogen made big strides in its green power goals by procuring all of its electricity from renewable sources. In 2015, Biogen used 100% renewable energy domestically after purchasing 91 million kW of renewable energy certificates. As of 2014, Biogen has achieved carbon neutrality across its entire value chain, establishing a year-over-year commitment. Biogen continues to take a leadership position in its industry, encouraging its suppliers and peers to join in the path towards sustainability by using green power. The company is also an active participant in the White House American Business Act on Climate Pledge and RE100. |
| BNY Mellon | 2016 | Excellence in Green Power Use | Banking & Fin. Srvcs | In 2015, BNY Mellon met all of its annual electricity demand with green power. The company purchased 290 million kWh of Green-e® certified renewable energy certificates. Building on its environmental leadership and delivering on its commitment as part of the White House American Business Act on Climate Pledge, BNY Mellon has become carbon neutral for scope 1, 2, and 3 business travel greenhouse gas emissions for 2015. |
| Forest County Potawatomi Community, Wisconsin | 2016 | Excellence in Green Power Use | Tribal | The Forest County Potawatomi Community (FCPC) environmental ethic and mission statement emphasize long-term, community-based renewable energy strategies. As a result, one of the FCPC's goals is to become energy independent by using renewable resources. The Tribe has taken several steps to meet this goal, including conducting energy audits of its major facilities to establish a baseline year of 2007 for the FCPC's energy consumption and carbon footprint. To help meet its larger goal of energy independence, the Tribe has installed a portfolio of solar PV systems at 15 tribal facilities in Milwaukee and Forest Counties. The individual installations range from 9 kW to 448 kW, utilizing both roof and ground mounts depending on site-specific needs. In 2015, FCPC used 100% renewable energy after purchasing more than 55 million kWh of Green-e® certified renewable energy certificates. |
| Goldman Sachs | 2016 | Excellence in Green Power Use | Banking & Fin. Srvcs | In 2005, Goldman Sachs established its Environmental Policy Framework, which it updated a decade later to establish a roadmap for ongoing environmental leadership. Goldman Sachs is committed to minimizing the impact of its operations through innovative clean energy solutions, including a goal to reduce its absolute energy use across its operationally-controlled facilities by 10% from 2013 to 2020. The company accelerated its commitments and in 2015 achieved carbon neutrality for its emissions. As part of its commitment to increase awareness and in support of best practices, Goldman Sachs uses strategic partnerships and aims to use 100% renewable energy to meet its global electricity needs by 2020. Goldman Sachs established a Clean Technology and Renewables team in its Investment Banking Division to help deploy capital to scale up clean energy technologies; the company has expanded on a previous target to invest and finance $150 billion in capital for the clean energy sector by 2025. With its purchase of 316 million kWh of Green-e® certified renewable energy certificates, Goldman Sachs uses green power for 100% of its U.S. operations. |
| Government of the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.) | 2016 | Excellence in Green Power Use | Government (Local) | The District of Columbia (DC) Government-led Sustainable DC Plan established science-based targets to reduce District-wide energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions 50% by 2032. Motivated by these targets, the DC Department of General Services recently implemented an innovative renewable energy supply strategy for its municipal operations that not only reduces the carbon footprint of its electricity supply, but also reduces risk and mitigates price volatility. The strategy includes diversifying its fuel supply, placing long-term price hedges, and switching to a highly structured block and index electricity supply contract. In July 2015, DC finalized a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) to provide approximately 125 million kWh of renewable electricity annually from a 46 MW wind farm in Pennsylvania. Most recently, the District executed two solar PPAs to install 11-12 MW of solar PV on 50 District government sites. In addition, DC works with its supplier to procure Green-e®-certified renewable energy certificates for the remainder of its power needs. |
| Intel Corporation | 2016 | Excellence in Green Power Use | Tech and Telecom | Since 2013, Intel has purchased 100% green power for its U.S. operations. In total, Intel has purchased more than 18 billion kWh of green power since 2008. In the United States, Intel currently uses 3.4 billion kWh of green power annually, the majority of which is Green-e® certified renewable energy certificates sourced from a spectrum of renewable energy resources. The company has also installed more than 60 on-site renewable energy projects to directly supply the power needs of the relevant facility, which helps reduce Intel's dependency on grid-based electricity while using clean energy alternatives. Intel continues to pilot new technologies to improve its environmental performance, such as micro wind turbines at its Santa Clara headquarters. Intel is committed to a portfolio-approach to energy management and uses a variety of initiatives to reduce energy and address climate change. In 2015, Intel was among the first American companies to sign the White House American Business Act on Climate Pledge, publicly committing to using 100% green power in its U.S. operations through 2020 and tripling its on-site alternative energy program by 2020. |
| SC Johnson Consumer Brands | 2016 | Excellence in Green Power Use | Consumer Goods | SC Johnson's sustainability approach includes using renewable energy to reduce its overall use of carbon-intense resources. In addition to purchasing renewable energy certificates, SC Johnson owns and operates its own landfill gas system and wind turbines, which generated 16 and 7.6 million kWh of electricity, respectively, in 2015. In total, SC Johnson procures 44% of its U.S. electricity from renewable sources. After engaging the local community, the company powered-up its two 415-foot tall wind turbines in 2012, which provide approximately 100% of the power needed for its largest global manufacturing facility in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin. In 2015, SC Johnson also procured 47 million kWh of wind power from Spartan Renewable Energy's John Deere Harvest Wind Farm for its Bay City, Michigan facility. |
| Maplewood Green Power Community, Missouri | 2016 | Green Power Community | Green Power Community | In 2013, with funding and staff support from the U.S. Green Building Council, Maplewood's Sustainability Commission and city government undertook a greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory of the city as a first step in developing its GHG emissions reduction action plan. Two years later the commission and city launched the Maplewood Green Power Community Challenge to motivate collective action of local government, businesses, and citizens to reduce the community's carbon footprint by installing solar or purchasing renewable energy certificates to become an EPA Green Power Community. Maplewood nearly doubled its original goal of collectively supporting their green power goal. The community's support of renewable energy certificate-based green power increased by more than 300% through the challenge, resulting in a community-wide use of more than six million kWh annually. Led by the city government and the Maplewood-Richmond Heights School District, the number of community members using green power increased from 49 to 246, with 15 Maplewood businesses enrolling in the Green Power Partnership. By September 2015, Maplewood's green power support had reached more than 5% of the community-wide total electricity use. |
| Cisco Systems, Inc. | 2016 | Partner of the Year | Tech and Telecom | In 2015, Cisco Systems more than doubled its green power use to more than 1.1 billion kWh of green power globally, representing approximately 97% of its total U.S. and 72% of its global electricity consumption. Additionally, Cisco continues to implement energy-based projects throughout its 21 million square foot real estate portfolio, including energy efficiency retrofits and on-site solar installations, to help meet its sustainability goals. The company's global presence enables it to play an important role in promoting green power and environmental sustainability within the IT industry. Cisco reduces greenhouse gas emissions throughout its own operations and encourages its vendors, business partners, and supply chain to do the same. It publicly reports its carbon footprint and has succeeded in getting between 80 and 100% of its primary suppliers (depending on type) to do so. Cisco also asks suppliers to report their green power use in its Supplier Business Scorecard, which includes sustainability criteria to help Cisco better monitor supplier performance and to collaborate with supply chain partners to optimize environmental and labor improvements. Cisco communicates the meaningful role that green power plays in its sustainability strategy as well as within the IT industry through its corporate social responsibility (CSR) report, press releases, and strategic partnerships. The company builds employee enthusiasm for green power by leveraging its "Cisco Green" online community, employee news site, and other communications channels. |
| Jackson Family Wines | 2016 | Partner of the Year | Wineries & Breweries | Jackson Family Wines has a long-term goal of reducing its environmental impacts. Using creative approaches to energy management, they focused on investing in the development of clean, renewable energy. The company has a goal to power 50% of its winemaking operations with on-site renewable energy by 2021. The company is 35% green powered for winemaking operations with the completed installation of more than 6.5 MW of on-site solar across nine wineries, which is currently the U.S. wine industry's largest solar generation portfolio. In addition to purchasing 100% green power for the company's annual electricity use, Jackson Family Wines also purchases green power on behalf of all 1,500 of its employees to cover their electricity use at home. |
| Apple Inc. | 2016 | Sustained Excellence in Green Power Use | Tech and Telecom | Apple's renewable energy program strives to be one of the most robust in the country in terms of its level of implementation—the company achieved 100% renewable energy use for its entire U.S. operations in 2014, which they now proudly display on signs in all Apple retail stores. Apple uses more than 830 million kWh of renewable energy for its U.S. operations, which includes four operational data centers, 268 retail stores, and more than 140 corporate offices. To implement its energy program, Apple uses a tiered approach starting with reducing its total energy use through efficiency, followed by aggressive use of new Apple-created renewable energy generation projects such as its solar PV in North Carolina, Nevada and Arizona, and micro-hydro facilities in Oregon, and rounded out through industry-leading partnerships with utilities and providers of grid-purchased green power. In some areas of the United States, Apple also uses green power from either their local utility's green power program or by direct REC purchases. When Apple purchases RECs, the company selects Green-e® certified RECs that are sourced from the same state where they will be applied to Apple's operations. As a result of Apple's tiered energy strategy, it is the second largest user of on-site renewables in the Green Power Partnership. |
| Kohl's Department Stores | 2016 | Sustained Excellence in Green Power Use | Retail | Through initiatives including on‐site generation via Kohl's solar program, a continued investment in green power, and sustainable operations strategies, Kohl's achieved net-zero emissions for its Scope 2 electricity use from 2010 through 2015. The company proudly shares its achievements and builds awareness about green power with its customers, shareholders, and the general public. Kohl's procured 1.4 billion kWH of green power in 2015 through more than 60 long-term solar power purchase agreements (PPAs); Kohl's-owned solar systems that generate green power on-site; and by purchasing renewable energy certificates. In 2015, Kohl's also installed three new solar trees at the Kohl's Innovation Center corporate office and joined the White House American Business Act on Climate Pledge. |
| University at Buffalo, the State University of New York | 2016 | Sustained Excellence in Green Power Use | Education (Higher) | In 2015. the University at Buffalo (UB) procured more than 212 million kWh of wind-sourced renewable energy certificates, making it one of the largest purchasers of green power of any New York State agency and the largest college and university purchaser in the United States. In addition, the university is home to an impressive portfolio of on-site solar installations. UB's North Campus features a 74 kW solar PV system and the 750 kW "Solar Strand" (representing a DNA double helix) photovoltaic system that measures 140 feet across and is approximately a quarter-mile long. The Solar Strand is a collection of 3,200 photovoltaic panels designed by landscape architect Walter Hood, whose vision was to create a place where both the UB community and the public can interact. Consequently, this educational component to the Solar Strand creates outdoor classroom space. |
| Ahold USA | 2015 | Green Power Purchasing | Retail | Renewable energy procurement is a significant part of Ahold's global environmental strategy. Ahold USA has installed 37 on-site solar systems, with 8.9 million kWh per year. They have also purchased nearly 149 million kWh of Green-e certified renewable energy certificates in 2014, equivalent to 7% of Ahold stores' energy usage. Ahold USA is completing construction of an anaerobic digester in Massachusetts which will take unsold, non-consumable organic waste from more than 200 stores and convert it to biogas to generate electricity and create a byproduct that will be used as a fertilizer. When completed, the facility will process 40,000 tons of organic product annually. Ahold USA has made a commitment to reduce its carbon footprint 20% by 2015 from its 2008 baseline. Ahold USA's Joint Committee on Sustainability, which includes major suppliers for the company, meets quarterly to share best practices in sustainability, renewable energy procurement, and energy conservation. In addition to using green power, the company has implemented a variety of other carbon footprint reduction efforts, including energy conservation such as lighting retrofits, building retro-commissioning, and HVAC and refrigeration upgrades. |
| Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences | 2015 | Green Power Purchasing | Education (K-12) | Crossroads School is a founding member of the Renewable Energy Consortium for Schools, an initiative of the Green Schools Alliance and EPA's Green Power Partnership. Launched in 2014, the Consortium aims to enable schools to purchase green power efficiently and at competitive prices through demand aggregation and the collective procurement of Green-e certified renewable energy certificates (RECs). In 2014, Crossroads purchased more than 1.6 million kWh of green power sourced from wind, biomass, and biogas resources through the Consortium. This procurement represents 100% of the school's electricity use. Crossroads furthers its support for renewable energy by integrating discussions about the green power market and RECs into its academic curriculum. In September 2015, Crossroads opened a 25,000-square-foot science education and research facility on its middle and upper school campus. Aiming for LEED® certification, the new building includes a number of environmentally responsible features, including energy-saving photovoltaic glass panels, LED lighting, and smart energy monitoring systems. |
| Government of the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.) | 2015 | Green Power Purchasing | Government (Local) | In 2014, the District government purchased green power for 100% of its municipal use. The municipal government's purchase of more than 470 million kWh of wind-sourced renewable energy certificates (RECs), equivalent to the annual power needs of 44,000 average American homes. Moving forward, the District government's procurement strategy will integrate electricity from power purchase agreements (PPAs) with renewable energy generation facilities, both off-site and on-site. The District recently finalized the largest municipal (non-utility) PPA in U.S. history, a 46 MW wind farm, and is actively negotiating up to 12 MW of rooftop and carport solar projects, which are expected to cover more than 35% of municipal electricity consumption. |
| H&M | 2015 | Green Power Purchasing | Retail | As part of its commitment to sustainability, H&M purchased nearly 172 million kWh of U.S.-based, Green-e certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) in December 2014. H&M has committed to sourcing renewable energy wherever possible in order to reduce indirect emissions stemming from the company's purchased electricity use and has focused on decreasing the energy intensity in its stores and set a goal to decrease energy intensity by 20% per square foot by 2020 (2007 baseline). The company's RECs purchase for its U.S. operations is a component of its commitment to sourcing 100% renewable energy for its global operations, which it also hopes will contribute to creating more demand for renewable electricity both in the United States and in international markets where it is currently unavailable. H&M is currently conducting an assessment of its value chain, in order to set science-based targets for prioritized areas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The company communicates its renewable energy and other sustainability goals to customers and stakeholders through its annual financial and sustainability reports, as well as its Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) report. |
| Hypertherm Inc. | 2015 | Green Power Purchasing | Industrial goods & Services | In 2014, Hypertherm used green power for 100% of its U.S.-based energy needs by purchasing more than 18 million kWh of Green-e certified renewable energy certificates (RECs). Given the energy intensity of the industrial goods and services sector, Hypertherm is one of the industry's only 100% green power users, with 2014 domestic usage equivalent to the annual electricity use of nearly 2,000 average American homes. Hypertherm plans to meet an array of environmental sustainability goals by 2020. These goals include producing zero landfill waste, improving the energy efficiency of its global operations by 30%, and reducing the carbon impact of its products by 20%. The company also employs an internal environmental strategy with a measurement and rating system to advance its sustainability aims. |
| Kaiser Permanente/California, Colorado, Northwest, and Mid-Atlantic Regions | 2015 | Green Power Purchasing | Health Care | In February 2015, Kaiser Permanente concluded a renewable energy purchase program that will increase its on-site solar generation by as much as 70 MW and will enable delivery of more than 150 MW of off-site solar and wind generation in coming years. As a result, half of all electricity used by Kaiser Permanente in California will come from renewables by 2017, enabling the company to meet its greenhouse emissions goals three years ahead of the target date. Prior to this green power purchase, Kaiser Permanente installed solar panels at 16 locations across California and other western states, generating nearly 18 million kWh annually. Its Mid-Atlantic region facilities are also purchasing Green-e certified wind-sourced renewable energy certificates (RECs). In 2012, Kaiser Permanente adopted a national sustainable energy policy and a greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal of 30% by 2020 from 2008 levels. |
| Northwestern University | 2015 | Green Power Purchasing | Education (Higher) | In 2006, Northwestern began its commitment to green power by purchasing 40 million kWh of renewable energy certificates (RECs)—the equivalent of 20% of its electricity use. Since then, the school has continually expanded its green power leadership and in 2014 purchased 122 million kWh of Green-e certified, wind-sourced RECs, which is equal to 50% of its electricity use. Northwestern installed an on-site 16 kW solar array, sitting atop the Ford Motor Company Engineering and Design Center. The solar project was the result of a project envisioned and led by student members of Engineers for a Sustainable World in collaboration with Northwestern's operations team. The university is currently working with students to install a "solar tree" charging station at the student center, which serves as a great educational tool. Northwestern also focuses on increasing energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in other ways. The university is investing more than $32 million in energy efficiency programs, including a new approach to producing chilled water at the Central Utility Plant, decreasing their natural gas usage by almost 70,000 MMBtu a year, causing a reduction of more than 600 tons of carbon dioxide. Northwestern is also installing a cogeneration project at its Central Utility Plant and two closed-loop geothermal systems that will reduce emissions by more than 1,300 metric tons. The 7 MW turbine with heat recovery will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by almost 18,000 metric tons and has the added benefit of providing backup generation to the school's critical research facilities. |
| Saunders Hotel Group | 2015 | Green Power Purchasing | Hotel & Lodging | Saunders Hotel Group (SHG) started purchasing green power in the form of renewable energy certificates (RECs) in 2006. In 2014, SHG increased its green power purchase to more than 6 million kWh of Green-e certified, wind-sourced RECs for 100% of its electricity usage. In addition to reducing the hotel's energy usage, SHG empowers guests and corporate clients to understand and minimize their own carbon footprints. Along with purchasing policies and green power offerings, SHG strives for more energy-efficient operations. For example, the group's Comfort Inn & Suites Boston Logan International Airport hotel installed a cogeneration unit that offers efficient on-site fuel use efficiency in serving the facility's electricity and thermal loads. |
| State Street Corporation | 2015 | Green Power Purchasing | Banking & Fin. Srvcs | In 2014, State Street Corporation increased its commitment to using renewable energy by acquiring more than 211 million kWh of Green-e certified renewable energy certificates (RECs). This purchase represents 100% of State Street's purchased electricity use for its U.S. real estate portfolio based on the previous year's consumption. |
| Traditional Medicinals | 2015 | Green Power Purchasing | Food & Beverage | Through a combination of on-site generation, utility products, and renewable energy certificate (REC) purchases, Traditional Medicinals (TM) currently uses more than 1 million kWh of green power for 100% of the electricity used for its manufacturing, sales and marketing, and leased storage warehouse facilities. In 2008, TM installed 1,450 solar panels at its headquarters and manufacturing facility in Sebastopol, California. Over the last five years, the solar project has averaged 450,000 kWh of green electricity per year. In 2014, TM joined a local renewable energy initiative, Sonoma Clean Power (SCP), which allowed the company to transition to a 100% locally produced renewable energy resource for both its Sebastopol manufacturing and Petaluma Sales/Marketing facilities. TM also collaborated with SCP on promotional efforts to spread awareness in Sonoma County about the local renewable energy option and increase renewable energy generation and use. TM asks its suppliers to participate in annual sustainability reporting, which allows the company to choose suppliers that use renewable energy. As a result, TM has implemented two, ingredient-level carbon footprint projects with its largest supplier towards an informed projection of energy intensity and carbon footprint throughout its supply chain, allowing the company to strategically investigate and target renewable energy initiatives. |
| Ulster County, New York | 2015 | Green Power Purchasing | Government (Local) | In June 2014, Ulster County's Executive signed an order requiring the county to purchase 100% of its electricity from renewable energy sources. This was the first such executive order in New York State and, at nearly 19 million kWh (kWh), resulted in the largest renewable energy certificate purchase by a county in the State of New York. Ulster County has also installed a 30-kilowatt (kW) solar system at the New Paltz Material Storage Facility at the Ulster County Fairgrounds. The solar photovoltaic system includes American-made inverters and solar panels, which will generate enough power to supply more than 75% of the building's anticipated demand, saving county taxpayers an estimated $4,000 a year in utility bills. |
| 3Degrees | 2015 | Green Power Supplier | Supplier | To help increase utility customer enrollment in green power programs, 3Degrees introduced its "Courtesy Calling" program last year. This dedicated call center team proactively contacts targeted customers, allowing the company to have one-on-one conversations with customers in rural communities where going door-to-door is impractical. A 10-week test led to 900 enrollments, exceeding expectations. 3Degrees also focused on enrolling commercial customers and successfully completed its first commercial "fly team," where it brought concentrated resources to downtown Alameda, California. In a single afternoon, 3Degrees more than doubled commercial participation and increased participation almost sevenfold by the end of 2014. In addition, 3Degrees retails renewable energy certificates (RECs) and carbon offset products to Fortune 500® companies, green building firms, and other organizations. In 2014, 3Degrees delivered more than 9 billion kWh via Green-e certified RECs—an increase of 30% over 2013. In the last reporting year, almost half of 3Degrees' supply—48%—supported small projects of 3 MW of capacity or less. Most projects are new, with more than half coming online in 2010 or later. 3Degrees has recently been instrumental in bringing several new projects online in Oregon, including entering into a long-term REC purchase agreement for a 1 MW project in Klamath Falls that uses single axis tracking solar. For the Steelbridge project, a 3 MW capacity solar project in Polk County, 3Degrees contracted to purchase 100% of the output for the first five years. In both cases, 3Degrees' commitments to long-term purchases were key to funding construction. Over the past year, 3Degrees has devoted increased attention to power purchase agreements (PPAs) and community solar, educating the industry and clients on these two new opportunities to expand renewable energy. On PPAs, 3Degrees has been working with individual clients and is educating the industry at large. Regarding community solar, 3Degrees has published best practices in trade media, worked with industry groups to develop guidance related to the proper treatment of community solar RECs, and is helping two large investor-owned utilities launch community solar programs. |
| Renewable Choice Energy | 2015 | Green Power Supplier | Supplier | In 2014, Renewable Choice Energy supplied more than 6 billion kWhin green power to its customers—an increase of 25% over 2013. The company provided more than 4 billion kWhin renewable energy certificates (RECs) to 291 EPA Green Power Partners in 2014, ranking first in number of partners supplied. The company's "American Wind" RECs support wind farms across the country, and its "Clean Source" RECs are generated from a portfolio of projects, including wind farms, biomass facilities, small hydro-electric installations, solar arrays, and geothermal plants. In addition, Renewable Choice created more than 300 unique products containing various blends of renewable resources and sourced from various geographic locations for its clients' custom needs. Renewable Choice also assists commercial and institutional buyers with long-term renewable options, such as 10- to 20-year power purchase agreements (PPAs), which help renewable energy projects get built while also supporting large-scale adoption at a substantial cost discount. For example, the company advised Amazon on its first PPA with a 150 MW wind farm in Indiana. Renewable Choice's mission is to create a more sustainable future by engaging organizations to support the generation of renewable energy and the development of carbon reduction projects. The company also provides all of its customers with educational and communications support in the form of an environmental impact statement, access to its online Client Resource Center, and customized marketing efforts. |
| Silicon Valley Power | 2015 | Green Power Supplier | Supplier | All SVP residential, commercial, and industrial customers can participate in its Santa Clara Green Power program, a voluntary program that supplies up to 100% of customers' electricity usage with power from eligible renewable sources. Launched 10 years ago, Santa Clara Green Power continues to meet its initial objectives: promote clean energy, steward the environment, educate the community, and provide its customers with a choice. In 2014, the Santa Clara Green Power program changed its product mix in response, increasing support for solar energy to include 85% solar power from California and 15% wind power from the western United States. The program distributed more than 160 MW-hours (MWh) of green power to its customers in 2014, its all-time record, which was a 5% increase from 2013 and a 10% increase since 2012. SVP's overall customer participation rate in its Santa Clara Green Power program also exceeded 8% in 2014. Silicon Valley Power actively supports the development of solar arrays at local educational institutions. In fact, about 50% of the Santa Clara Green Power program's standard power mix was generated by solar power projects across 60 different California schools, including parking lot canopies and shade structures. While SVP sells the renewable energy certificates (RECs) associated with these arrays through its Santa Clara Green Power program, the host schools, though not using solar power, enjoy a fixed electricity rate and the educational value of having renewable energy technology on campus. Silicon Valley Power is also focused on bringing solar arrays to local nonprofit facilities. Its Neighborhood Solar program is funded with proceeds from its Santa Clara Green Power program, enabling Neighborhood Solar to support new solar projects at retirement homes, elementary schools, and community centers in Santa Clara |
| City of Hayward, CA/Water Pollution Control Facility | 2015 | On-Site Generation | Government (Local) | In 1981, the city installed its first 700 kW cogeneration facility designed to use biofuel produced in the digestion process to generate energy for its water pollution control facility (WPCF). Decades later, in 2010, the city added to its on-site green power portfolio with a 1 MW solar installation. Together the installations met an average of 20% of the total energy demand at the WPCF. In 2014, the city replaced its aging cogeneration units with a new 1.1 MW cogeneration facility that uses the methane produced from the digesters as fuel. Waste heat from the new cogeneration system is captured and used to heat the city's anaerobic digesters, further reducing reliance on natural gas formerly used to heat the sludge during colder months of the year. The new cogeneration facility, along with the solar array, produces more eligible green power than the WPCF needs, which means it can export excess electric energy to other city facilities. The city estimates that the WPCF will export 1,192 MW-hours of green power annually. Hayward's WPCF is the first publicly owned treatment works and largest generating account in the California Renewable Self-Generating Bill Credit Transfer Program. |
| General Motors/GMVM Ft. Wayne | 2015 | On-Site Generation | Automotive | The GM Fort Wayne Assembly Plant installed an on-site landfill gas system in 2014 that produces more than 53 million kWh per year. This on-site biogas generation supplies over 40% of the facility's total electricity usage. The Fort Wayne facility has furthered its environmental commitment by operating landfill-free since 2011, meaning no waste from daily operations is sent to landfills. |
| New Belgium Brewing Company | 2015 | On-Site Generation | Wineries & Breweries | New Belgium uses on-site solar and biogas systems to generate more than 1.6 million kWh annually of green power, equal to nearly 13% of the organization's electricity use. New Belgium's on-site process water treatment facility captures the byproduct methane and uses the biogas to fuel its combined heat and power (CHP) system. In 2014, the brewery increased its on-site solar capacity to 300 kW. Since January 2013, New Belgium has implemented an internal tax on its electricity and natural gas purchases to advance its commitment to clean energy. The tax revenue is reserved for energy efficiency, on-site renewable energy, and water efficiency projects. In 2014, this internal tax program funded the expansion of the company's solar capacity, as well as an insulation and lighting upgrade. |
| Apple Inc. | 2015 | Partner of the Year | Tech and Telecom | Apple achieved 100% renewable energy use company-wide in the United States as of 2014 for an energy load more than 1 billion kWh (kWh)—and in terms of its strength in impacting new renewable energy supply. Between 2012 and 2014, renewable energy procurements have dramatically increased—by more than 460 million kWh. This includes two 20 MW solar PV arrays and a 10 MW biogas fuel cell project. Apple is also nearing completion on another 20MW and a 17MW solar PV array, and a 3MW micro-hydro project, plus the company has contracted for a new 130MW solar PV array to be built by the end of next year. In addition, Apple is leading the charge to expand and strengthen the green power market. For example, commercial scale solar PV projects were not very common in North Carolina until Apple demonstrated their viability with its first two 20 MW arrays. In 2013, Apple partnered with NV Energy (the utility serving their Reno data center) to create a new green energy tariff that has two tiers: 1) a generic option from existing utility-owned renewable projects and 2) a customizable option to build a project. This new green tariff is available to all NV Energy commercial customers. In 2014, Apple also worked closely with the Center for Resource Solutions to develop the new innovative Green-e "Direct" program, which offers independent, third-party oversight over the renewable electricity's chain of custody, from generation to retirement, and is designed for organizations that build generation themselves or contract for renewable energy directly from clean generation facilities. |
| Microsoft Corporation | 2015 | Partner of the Year | Tech and Telecom | Since 2013, Microsoft has focused on achieving its public commitment to carbon neutrality for all of its global operations, including data centers, offices, laboratories, manufacturing plants, and business air travel. Microsoft achieves this through a combination of investing in operational energy efficiencies, procuring renewable energy through long-term power purchase agreements and renewable energy certificates equal to 100% of its global electricity consumption, and supporting community carbon offset projects. To meet its commitment on renewable energy, Microsoft purchased more than 2.4 billion kWh of renewable energy in fiscal year 2014 for its U.S. operations. This includes the output from the new 110 MW Keechi Wind project funded through a 20-year agreement. Microsoft also announced a larger power purchase agreement for all of the new 175 MW Pilot Hill Wind Project's output. The company's green power use also includes the generation of solar power from a 480 kW on-site system at its Mountain View, California, campus. Access to renewable energy is among the criteria that the company considers in siting data centers. In total, the company is purchasing U.S. green power equivalent to 100% of its U.S. electricity needs. In addition, Microsoft is achieving its carbon neutrality strategy through an internal carbon fee model, which puts a price on carbon and makes the business divisions responsible for the cost of reducing and compensating for the carbon emissions associated with their electricity use and business air travel. In the three years since the program began, Microsoft purchased more than 10 million MW-hours (MWh) of green power, claimed a reduction in emissions by 7.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, and had an impact on more than 3.2 million people in emerging nations through carbon offset community projects. |
| National Hockey League | 2015 | Partner of the Year | Sports teams & venues | In 2014, the NHL purchased more than 271 million kWh of Green-e certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) sourced from wind and biomass resources. This green power procurement represents 100% of energy use at League offices; premiere events, including the Stanley Cup Playoffs; and all hockey-related energy consumption at NHL arenas. In its decision to use 100% green power, the NHL boosted its annual green power purchase by more than 2,000% between 2013 and 2014. To further mitigate its carbon footprint, the NHL also purchases carbon offsets and water restoration certificates. The NHL released a formal sustainability report in 2014, the first of its kind from a professional sports league. The NHL also disseminates information related to its environmental initiatives through its sustainability blog, NHL Green Slapshots. NHL Green, a comprehensive environmental sustainability initiative, addresses the effects of climate change and freshwater scarcity on the game of hockey. |
| Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens | 2015 | Partner of the Year | Museums. Parks and Zoos | At Phipps, 100% of electricity used is sourced from renewable resources. In 2014, Phipps purchased nearly 1.4 million kWh of Green-e certified renewable energy certificates and generated an additional 134,000 kWh of electricity on-site with a solar array and demonstration-scale wind turbine. A visit to Phipps affords an in-depth look at photovoltaic arrays, a wind turbine, geothermal wells, a rooftop energy recovery unit, green roofs, desiccant dehumidification, digital building controls, solar-powered water distillation, phase-change materials, mechanical windows, a lagoon, constructed wetlands, rain gardens, and permeable paving—all within a single accessible site. Presentations and tours highlight these components and encourage their replication. At the Sustainable Education Every Day Classroom and elsewhere on campus, children's science education programs foster the growth of tomorrow's green leaders. |
| Tucson Unified School District | 2015 | Partner of the Year | Education (K-12) | In 2014, TUSD installed one of the largest on-site solar generation projects at a K-12 school system in the nation. The project placed solar arrays at 43 sites across the district, with a total installed capacity of more than 11 MW. Collectively, the solar arrays produce nearly 20 million kWh of green power per year, which represents about 20% of the district's annual electricity use. The project was financed via a solar services agreement, through which TUSD receives electricity at a fixed, discounted rate for 20 years, along with the renewable energy certificates (RECs) associated with the generation from the on-site solar arrays. In this model, TUSD does not directly own the solar arrays, but rather serves as the host of the systems and the purchaser of their green power. TUSD is also working to incorporate the on-site solar arrays into the district's science, technology, engineering, and math curriculum. |
| Intel Corporation | 2015 | Sustained Excellence in Green Power Use | Tech and Telecom | Since 2013, Intel has purchased 100% green power for its U.S. operations. Intel is currently using more than 3.1 billion kWh of green power annually, which is equivalent to the annual power needs of nearly 295,000 average American homes. The majority of Intel's green power is procured as Green-e certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) sourced from a spectrum of available resources (i.e., wind, solar, small hydroelectric, geothermal, and biomass sources). In addition, Intel has on-site solar facilities at a number of its U.S. campuses, which collectively generate 12 million kWh of electricity annually—a portion of which counts toward Intel's green power usage through the retention of RECs. Intel is also piloting micro wind turbines and recently installed 58 on the roof of its Santa Clara headquarters. Intel is committed to a portfolio-approach to energy management and utilizes a variety of technologies and processes in addition to green power purchasing to reduce its energy consumption and address climate change. For example, since 2008, Intel has invested more than $118 million in energy efficiency and completed over 2,300 projects, saving more than 2.4 billion kWh of energy. |
| Kohl's Department Stores | 2015 | Sustained Excellence in Green Power Use | Retail | In 2014, Kohl's used 1.4 billion kWh of Green-e certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) and produced 28.5 million kWh of electricity through its on-site solar installations. Kohl's has entered into 20-year power purchase agreements (PPAs) to use the electricity and retain the RECs associated with the solar installations located on its stores, a direct testament to its long-term strategy and dedication to using solar power. Currently, Kohl's on-site solar systems provide 20 to 50% of the store's electricity needs. Kohl's activated five new solar arrays in 2014, bringing the total to more than 160 locations nationwide. Kohl's also continues to pilot on-site wind power, with turbines at its Corpus Christi, Texas, store and Findlay, Ohio, distribution center. In addition, Kohl's installed six Solar Trees® at its Dallas call center last year, which provide energy to the building. |
| TD Bank | 2015 | Sustained Excellence in Green Power Use | Banking & Fin. Srvcs | TD's entire U.S. operation, including its ATM network and more than 1,300 stores, are completely green-powered. Since 2010, TD has invested nearly $1.2 million into renewable energy projects in the United States. In 2014, TD continued its commitment to green power by purchasing more than 253 million kWh of Green-e certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) and generating nearly 1.5 million kWh of on-site solar power. TD's solar initiative continues to grow and now includes more than 100 solar installations at U.S. stores with more than 1.5 MW of total capacity, increasing green power generation while reducing TD's environmental footprint. In 2011, TD opened its first net‐zero store in the United States in Cypress Creek, Florida. The bank's first green LEED®‐designed prototype store opened April 2010 in Queens Village, New York, with many green features, including solar panels and solar drive‐thru canopies that produce 15 to 20% of the store's energy on-site. TD has opened more than 140 LEED®‐certified green stores in the United States, with nearly 90% certified at a gold or platinum level. |
| Medford, Oregon Community | 2014 | Green Power Community | Green Power Community | In 2013, the city teamed up with Pacific Power's Blue Sky program and local partners to launch the Medford Blue Sky Challenge, an 8-month effort to increase participation in Pacific Power's renewable energy program. As a result, program participation grew by 33%, and now has about 17 times more participants than the average of other communities in Southern Oregon. Today, 159 homes and businesses in Medford have installed on-site renewable energy systems. The city also owns two solar PV systems, and purchases nearly 500,000 kWh of green power each year from Pacific Power's Blue Sky program. Customer contributions also helped in the development of solar projects at the Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport and will aid further solar installations at a local school and nature center. |
| Oak Ridge, Tennessee Community | 2014 | Green Power Community | Green Power Community | In 2014, Oak Ridge launched a community challenge to encourage greater participation in TVA's renewable energy program, resulting in community-wide green power use of 5.5%, and a participation rate nearly three times the rate at the start of the challenge. Residents, businesses, and the local government are using more than 73 million kWh of renewable energy annually, including more than 126,000 kWh of on-site solar power at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. |
| City of Beaverton, OR | 2014 | Green Power Purchasing | Government (Local) | In 2014, Beaverton became the first municipality in Oregon's Portland General Electric service territory to meet 100% of its electricity demands with clean, renewable power sources. Beaverton's annual purchase of more than 10 million kWh of wind energy is enough to power all of its facilities and operations, including street lighting, water pumping, and electric vehicle charging. In addition to purchasing green power, Beaverton invests in on-site generation, with a 17.6 kW solar array on its main library building and a demonstration solar gazebo in the local farmers' market. In 2014, the Beaverton City Council approved the construction of a 433 kW solar array on a local reservoir, one of the city's largest facilities in terms of electricity use. Under a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA), Beaverton will purchase the generated electricity at a discounted rate. The array is expected to provide approximately 55% of the facility's annual power needs. Beaverton's green power progress is driven by the collaborative efforts of city government, businesses, and residents. The city uses more than 8% green power communitywide as of July 2014. The city's green power purchasing is part of its comprehensive Sustainable Beaverton Strategy, which includes 11 sustainability goals and 175 actions. |
| City of Houston, TX | 2014 | Green Power Purchasing | Government (Local) | In June 2013, the City of Houston, Texas, signed a two-year agreement to purchase more than 620 million kWh of Green-e certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) from wind projects annually. This purchase accounts for 50% of the city's municipal power needs. The city also has on-site solar arrays that generate more than 125,000 kWh at municipal buildings, and actively supports the development of new solar technologies through funding from the U.S. Department of Energy's SunShot Initiative. Houston is committed to using renewable energy to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by another 10% by 2016, on top of a 32% reduction already achieved since 2007. The city also relies on green power to improve grid reliability during extreme weather events, and has installed 17 mobile solar-powered shipping containers/generators at city fire stations, parks, neighborhood centers, and schools. In addition to increasing its renewable energy investments, Houston is reducing energy consumption by expanding its municipal hybrid and electric fleet, as well as its municipal energy efficiency program. As a result of the energy efficiency program, since 2007, Houston has already reduced energy use by nearly 30% across six million square feet of city buildings. Houston is exploring ways to reduce the complexity and cost of residential solar through a collective group discount program, and is also working with the Houston Advanced Research Center on streamlining and refining the solar permitting process. The city also hosts educational events throughout the year to inform businesses about green technologies and practices, such as the Houston Green Office Challenge. |
| Herman Miller, Inc. | 2014 | Green Power Purchasing | Consumer Goods | In 2013, Herman Miller's U.S. facilities invested three million dollars in energy efficiency upgrades, and purchased more than 86 million kWh of Green-e certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) and green power products from biomass and wind resources. Having achieved 100% renewable energy use across its global facilities in 2010, Herman Miller announced its new "Earthright Resource Smart" ten-year sustainability plan in 2013. The plan includes taking steps to secure more long-term, local contracts for the supply of clean energy to its U.S. facilities. In addition to pursuing long-term contracts, these steps include entering into investment contracts with developers and the installation of on-site generation where applicable. Herman Miller currently procures its wind power through a seven-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with a local Michigan wind farm. Herman Miller also engages its employees, suppliers, customers, and the community in the company's renewable energy efforts. Recently, Herman Miller increased its green power purchase requirements for product suppliers, and held educational seminars to teach suppliers about cost-effective methods for meeting the requirements. The company's energy team also works actively with state and local government officials to encourage the development of energy policies that support renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives. In an effort to be transparent about its sustainability progress, Herman Miller publishes each of its facilities' annual renewable energy footprints. |
| June Key Delta Community Center | 2014 | Green Power Purchasing | Non-Profit (NGO) | One of the first African American-owned Living Buildings in the U.S., June Key Delta Community Center (JKDCC) was built using regionally-salvaged recycled and donated materials, and features energy efficient lighting, appliances and HVAC, a geothermal heat pump, and a rainwater collection system. A 68-panel, 18.36 kW solar PV array provides 80 to 100% of the facility's annual electrical needs and supports its net-zero energy goal. JKDCC's solar project aims to make green power tangible within the community and to afford underrepresented populations an opportunity to connect with the renewable energy industry. The solar installation provided hands-on training and educational opportunities for women and minority trade groups to observe and work alongside the solar project installers. JKDCC also purchases 4,800 kWh of Green-e certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) annually, demonstrating to local utility customers the various ways in which they can support green power. Neighborhood development and education are central to the mission of JKDCC, and the Center maintains an educational on-site solar monitoring kiosk and website and hosts public tours, renewable energy events and workshops, and local community college sustainability classes. |
| Philadelphia Insurance Companies | 2014 | Green Power Purchasing | Insurance | PHLY operates 49 leased offices in 31 states. Although varying lease terms and inconsistent methods for tracking energy use at these properties make it challenging for PHLY to measure its carbon footprint and set goals for reductions, the company remains committed to taking these actions. In 2013, after determining its overall energy use, PHLY achieved net zero emissions by purchasing more than 4 million kWh of third-party certified, wind-generated renewable energy certificates (RECs). |
| REI | 2014 | Green Power Purchasing | Retail | REI is committed to using 100% renewable energy across its headquarters, two distribution centers, and nearly 140 retail stores. In 2013, REI purchased more than 54 million kWh of Green-e certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) from a single wind project in Texas. In addition to its existing REC purchases, REI seeks long-term green power contracts as a hedge against conventional electricity price volatility. This year, REI signed on as a lead customer of a new renewable energy facility located close to REI's headquarters. When the facility comes online in 2016, it will provide REI with more than 13.25 million kWh of renewable electricity annually, enough to power the company's headquarters, a distribution center, and six retail stores. REI takes a comprehensive approach to meeting its 100% clean energy commitment, complementing green power purchasing with investments in on-site solar generation at 26 locations and energy efficiency efforts across its facilities. In the last year, REI completed a major retrofit of its data center, reducing the facility's cooling needs by 93% and saving 2.2 million kWh each year – enough to power six REI stores. |
| Steelcase Inc. | 2014 | Green Power Purchasing | Consumer Goods | In 2014, Steelcase increased its commitment to green power, investing in renewable energy equivalent to 100% of its global electricity consumption. In the U.S., that meant that Steelcase purchased more than 121 million kWh of Green-e certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) from domestic wind farms—an increase of almost 300% in the company's domestic green power purchasing over the previous year. Steelcase's energy conservation efforts and green power purchases are helping the company meet its long-term corporate sustainability goals, which include a 25% reduction in its overall environmental footprint by 2020 compared to its 2010 baseline. Since Steelcase began tracking its energy consumption in 2001, the company has reduced its energy use by 60%. Steelcase also works with stakeholders within its value chain to scale the company's positive environmental impact. Steelcase recently introduced a pioneering program to extend its volume discount on RECs to its first-tier suppliers, incentivizing many to purchase green power for the first time |
| Town of Peterborough, New Hampshire | 2014 | Green Power Purchasing | Government (Local) | Peterborough, New Hampshire uses 100% green power for its municipal facilities in the form of Green-e certified renewable energy certificates (RECs). The town started using green power in 2007, when Peterborough's Select Board voted to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from government facilities by 5% by 2010. Peterborough surpassed that goal, achieving a 22% reduction in 2010 through low-cost measures such as using wood pellets to heat public facilities and improving HVAC equipment. The successful completion of this "Carbon Challenge" inspired the town to form a local energy coalition with ten other communities and organizations including eight New Hampshire towns, a school district, and an economic development corporation. The coalition set a goal of working cooperatively to bring about regional energy consumption awareness and change. In 2013, the coalition purchased wind power for a portion of members' facilities at a lower cost than could be achieved by individual member purchases. In 2014, Peterborough and the coalition members used 100% renewable electricity for all of their public facilities. Peterborough also plans to increase its use of on-site renewable energy and is currently constructing a solar array to power its new wastewater treatment facility. Once completed, it is expected to be the largest solar array in the state at one megawatt and save the town between $400,000 and $800,000 in electricity costs over a 20-year period. The Town is currently developing a comprehensive green power communications strategy that includes: an interactive website dedicated to a wide range of green initiatives; regular renewable energy education workshops to be held at the newly constructed solar-powered wastewater treatment facility; and local, regional, and state level public engagement at a variety of conventions, tradeshows, and other venues. |
| Trek Bicycle Corporation | 2014 | Green Power Purchasing | Consumer Goods | In 2009, Trek switched to 100% renewable electricity. Last year, Trek purchased more than 7 million kWh of green power sourced from wind and biogas resources. The company recently completed a multi-million dollar expansion of bicycle painting operations at its Waterloo, Wisconsin headquarters, reducing the carbon footprint of its HVAC system by 90% and reducing airborne emissions by 50% per bicycle. With more than 1,500 dealers globally, Trek continues to expand the scope of its sustainability efforts to include its supply chain, retailers, and offsite locations. In 2014, the company began working with its suppliers and retailers to incorporate green power purchasing into their environmental efforts. Trek also created a retailer eco-guide to encourage its independent bicycle retailers to implement sustainability efforts within their own operations. Trek also communicates the benefits of its sustainability efforts to its employees, customers, and the community. The company tracks all employees' carpool, bike-commute, and walking mileage, and internally publishes the amount of carbon offset by these activities. Trek's website explains how the company minimizes its environmental footprint across shipping, sourcing, and product design operations, including through its pioneering carbon fiber recycling program and its Eco Design product line. Trek also supports a number of alternative transportation advocacy nonprofit organizations at the local and national levels. |
| Renewable Choice Energy | 2014 | Green Power Supplier | Supplier | Renewable Choice provided more than four billion kWh in renewable energy certificates (RECs) to more than 270 EPA Green Power Partners in 2014, ranking first in number of partners supplied. The company's "American Wind" RECs support wind farms across the country, and its "Clean Source" RECs are generated from a portfolio of projects including wind farms, biomass facilities, small hydro-electric installations, solar arrays and geothermal plants. In 2013, Renewable Choice Energy's international REC sales increased by 250%, while its sale of carbon offsets grew by more than 300%, totaling 330,000 tons of certified carbon. It also provided renewable energy to more than 1,000 LEED projects, a 15% increase over 2012. In addition, the company supported more than 70 counterparties in the renewable energy and carbon offset markets, a 40% increase over its 2012 commitments. Renewable Choice has published white papers on a variety of clean energy topics, which can be found on its website along with a free carbon calculator, webinars, blogs, press release support, and other content. |
| 3Degrees | 2014 | Green Power Supplier | Supplier | In 2013, 3Degrees delivered more than 7 billion kWh of RECs from more than 400 generating facilities. Of these facilities, more than 75% are wind, biomass, solar, and geothermal generating units that came online in the past eight years. The company delivered more than 34,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of Green-e solar RECs, and supported hundreds of new solar projects nationally - including new solar arrays on 10 schools as part of its Brighter Schools program. In 2013, 3Degrees entered into a multi-year, above-market commitment to purchase RECs from the nation's first grid-connected, tidal energy project. It also supported small agricultural digester facilities, wind turbines with integrated battery storage, and bought RECs from a wind farm whose proceeds fund poverty relief efforts. Through its utility partners, 3Degrees' green power programs reach 14.5 million customers across 12 states. These programs engage and educate potential customers through social media, call centers, community outreach, and extensive door-to-door efforts which have led to the enrollment of about 56,000 customers in voluntary green power programs. To support the local economy and green jobs, 3Degrees supplied only in-state renewables for its green pricing programs in Maine and Missouri. 3Degrees also partnered with Puget Sound Energy to launch its first multi-city community green power challenge and successfully raised participation rates in all five communities to greater than 6% – well over the 4% PSE average and 2% national average. |
| Portland General Electric | 2014 | Green Power Supplier | Supplier | In 2013, PGE's renewable energy sales exceeded 740 million kWh and achieved a customer participation rate of more than 11%. In total, PGE's Renewable Power Program has supplied customers with more than 4 billion kWh of renewable energy and prevented more than 5 billion pounds of CO2 emissions since 2002. Green Source℠, PGE's most popular product, offers residential and small business customers the opportunity to source 100% of their electricity use from new renewable energy projects for an additional 0.8 cents per kWh over basic service rates. In 2013, this product came from wind, low-impact hydro, biomass, and geothermal energy. PGE's Clean Wind℠ option allows residential and small business customers to purchase small units of new wind generation at a fixed price. A separate Clean Wind℠ product for medium and large business customers is sourced from new wind resources for $2.50 per unit of Clean Wind, in addition to basic service rates. PGE also owns and operates multiple renewable energy facilities. Through its outreach marketing program with Green Mountain Energy Company, direct outreach efforts through green power challenges, events, farmers' markets and door-to-door sales have resulted in 700,000+ conversations about green power over the last 12 years. |
| Washington Gas Energy Services | 2014 | Green Power Supplier | Supplier | In 2013, WGES' voluntary green power sales grew nearly 40% to more than one billion kWh. Green power sales as a percentage of retail sales also hit 10%, up from 7% in 2012, while participation rates grew as well. All of the company's standard electricity offers to residential and small commercial customers include at least 3.5% wind power. Since 2003, WGES has included approximately four billion kWh of wind power in its power sales to customers. WGES recently initiated an integrated marketing campaign to encourage standard electricity customers to choose a 50% or 100% wind power option and lessen their environmental impact: three months after a customer enrolls with WGES, they receive a letter, followed by an email and a phone call. Other initiatives include a "Green Energy Bundle" that allows customers to green their entire energy supply by choosing wind power and carbon offsets. WGES makes a point to communicate regularly with customers, and when the "polar vortex" of 2013 increased energy costs, the company reached out to variable rate customers to alert them of the impending price increase and offer a special rate to switch to a fixed price contract. |
| City of Las Vegas, NV | 2014 | On-Site Generation | Government (Local) | Las Vegas recently installed 3.3 megawatts MW of solar PV panels at its wastewater treatment facility, the largest municipal project of its type in the region. This facility uses approximately 120,000 kWh of electricity per day to process more than 75 million gallons of water and represents about one-third of the city's total municipal energy costs. With the addition of the solar PV panels, which came online in April 2013 and generate nearly 6.7 million kWh annually, green power accounts for about 20% of the plant's electricity use. This in turn represents a full 6% of the city's total energy use. This reduced usage saves Las Vegas approximately $600,000 per year and serves to stabilize the cost of power needed to run the city's wastewater treatment facility, benefitting those who pay sewer fees in the city. In 2008, the city adopted the City of Las Vegas Sustainability Energy Strategy to implement renewable energy and energy conservation programs consistent with established sustainability and climate protection policies. The city is committed to reinvesting 100% of the savings from solar projects into further renewable energy and conservation projects, with the goal of making Las Vegas a net-zero energy city by 2020. Since 2008, the City of Las Vegas has invested more than $65 million in clean energy, water conservation, recycling, green building, and alternative transportation projects that have resulted in significant positive impacts to the environment, economy, and community. |
| City of Philadelphia, PA | 2014 | On-Site Generation | Government (Local) | In December 2013, the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) brought its largest green power project online at the Northeast Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP). The 5.6 MW biogas combined heat and power facility runs on biogas produced at the WPCP and is projected to produce 44 million kWh annually, which is equivalent to avoiding 32,300 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions per year. This contributes to Greenworks' target of reducing municipal and community greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 20% by 2015. In addition, PWD has installed two other green power projects, including a sewage geothermal installation and a solar PV system, both located at the Southeast WPCP. By generating on-site green power and avoiding GHG emissions, PWD is helping the city meet multiple Greenworks Philadelphia targets. Greenworks Philadelphia plan addresses the city's green power production and consumption wherein the city has committed to purchase and generate 20% of the electricity used in Philadelphia from alternative energy sources. |
| Apple Inc. | 2014 | Partner of the Year | Tech and Telecom | Since January 2013, Apple Inc., headquartered in Cupertino, California, has been one of the first companies in its sector to supply its data centers with 100% renewable energy. Apple also generates and purchases 100% renewable energy for all of its U.S. corporate facilities and uses more than 92% green power for its entire U.S.-based operations. Apple continues to work toward achieving its net-zero goal for data centers, corporate facilities, and retail stores worldwide. Apple's renewable energy strategy focuses on creating new, Apple-owned renewable energy projects near the company's centers of energy demand. Apple's on-site renewable energy resources include two 20 MW solar PV arrays and a 10 MW fuel cell installation supplied by directed biogas. Together, these three projects have an annual capacity of 167 million kWh. Also, a third 20 MW PV array is currently under construction. Where it isn't possible to contract directly with renewable energy generators, or where Apple's long-term projects are under development and not yet operational, Apple purchases renewable energy certificates (RECs) generated in the same region or state as the facility they support. In addition, in 2012 Apple worked with the North Carolina Utilities Commission to develop state-specific rules under which fuel cells supplied by renewable resources can be used to create renewable energy, leading to a new baseload form of renewable energy in the state. In 2013, Apple worked with NV Energy in Nevada to create a new green energy tariff that is now available to all NV Energy commercial customers. In 2014, Apple worked with Center for Resource Solutions to create an innovative new way to certify the clean energy Apple generates and purchases directly to meet its renewable energy goals, called Green-e Direct. |
| BD | 2014 | Partner of the Year | Health Care | In 2011, BD began talks with the Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) with the desire to purchase renewable energy for three manufacturing plants in Nebraska. About 40% of BD's U.S.-based electricity purchases come from Nebraska, a state that relies heavily on conventional fuels such as coal. Nebraska is also the only remaining state where all homes and businesses receive electric service from publicly-owned utilities. Following three years of negotiations and a series of challenges, BD's power purchase agreement for the renewable energy certificates (RECs) from 30 MW of generation from the output of the 75 MW Steele Flats wind project began delivering benefits in November 2013. In addition to BD's new power purchase agreement with NPPD, the company generates and uses electricity from a 1 MW on-site solar array in North Carolina, and purchases RECs from a landfill gas-powered fuel cell installation. BD also purchases Green-e certified RECs through NextEra Energy Resources' EarthEra Renewable Energy Trust. Overall, nearly 84% of BD's U.S. operations are powered by renewable energy. The company also communicates its green power use to its customers and stakeholders through sales brochures, its annual sustainability report, and website. With its current global renewable energy use standing at 35%, BD has already exceeded its target of 25% renewable energy use worldwide by 2015. |
| Google LLC | 2014 | Partner of the Year | Tech and Telecom | Google uses a combination of on-site generation, long-term power purchase agreements (PPA), and utility green power products to procure green power, with a goal of powering its data centers with 100% renewable energy. In 2013, Google purchased 870 million kWh of green power via long-term contracts, and generated and used an additional 9.5 million kWh of on-site renewable energy. To date, Google has signed 1,040 MW worth of long-term wind contracts. Google's portfolio of wind contracts includes a 20-year contract for the entire output of the 240 MW Happy Hereford wind farm outside of Amarillo, Texas and a second 20-year contract for the electricity from 48 MW of the Canadian Hills Wind Project in Oklahoma. For any emissions Google cannot eliminate directly, the company purchases high-quality carbon offsets, which reduces Google's total carbon footprint to zero. To date, Google has committed more than $1.5 billion to various renewable energy projects that put renewable energy onto the grid around the world. Google worked directly with utilities in North Carolina and Oklahoma to foster programs to make it easier to for companies to purchase renewable energy. In North Carolina, the company worked to have a green tariff introduced and approved by the North Carolina Utilities Commission, thus creating a new, more scalable approach that will allow a broad range of companies like Google to buy large amounts of renewable power directly from electric utilities. In Oklahoma, Google collaborated with Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA) to procure renewable energy directly for its facility there, leading to the creation of GRDA's first-ever wind energy project. |
| Oklahoma State University | 2014 | Partner of the Year | Education (Higher) | Oklahoma State University (OSU)'s 2011 25-year power purchase agreement with Oklahoma Gas & Electric (OG&E) to purchase the output of the Cowboy Wind Farm, located near Blackwell, Oklahoma, set a statewide precedent, and its commitment to purchase the power was critical to the development of the community based project. The 26-turbine wind farm was completed in December 2012 and began generating electricity for the campus on January 1, 2013. As of the delivery date, OSU began purchasing 110 million kWh of wind energy annually from the Blackwell Cowboy Wind Farm. The annual goal for wind power use is at least 67% of consumption for the Stillwater campus. OSU beat its goal in 2013 and actual wind energy usage during the calendar year was 72% of the University's total energy use. In addition to OSU's wind power purchase, geothermal pumps currently provide heating and cooling in two OSU-Stillwater buildings and will be incorporated into two more. Together, the four buildings will constitute 80,600 square feet of space heated and cooled by geothermal energy. The University's wind energy use complements its robust Energy Conservation Program, which was introduced in 2007. OSU has reduced its energy consumption by 17.1%, resulting in $32.2 million in energy cost avoidance since the program started—$9.7 million above the goal for energy savings to date. OSU uses its sustainability efforts to set an example of environmental stewardship for students, faculty, staff, constituents, and the surrounding community. OSU-Oklahoma City now offers a wind turbine technology Associate in Applied Science degree with an internship program option, which focuses on training technicians to work on utility-scale wind turbines. OSU also collaborates with a utility program on a contest offering event tickets to athletics fans as a reward for signing up for the utility's wind-generated electricity option. |
| Intel Corporation | 2014 | Sustained Excellence in Green Power Use | Tech and Telecom | Demonstrating its commitment to green power and sustainability, in 2014, Intel's purchase of Green-e certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) matched 100% of the electricity used at its U.S. locations. This purchase totaled approximately 3.1 billion kWh. These RECs represent diverse technologies, including wind, solar, geothermal, low-impact hydro, and biomass. In addition, Intel has on-site solar facilities at 18 locations, which generate nearly ten million kWh of electricity annually—a portion of which (850,000 kWh) counts toward Intel's green power usage through the retention of RECs. In 2013, Intel also installed more than 75 solar-powered electric vehicle charging stations across 11 campuses. Since 2008, Intel has invested more than $175 million in the renewable energy, smart grid, and energy-efficiency sectors and plans to continue taking a leadership position in these areas for years to come. Intel's leadership in using green power helps spur market growth to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make renewable energy less expensive and more accessible over the long term. Intel also promotes sustainability via company-wide environmental initiatives in which employees play a major role. For example, a portion of each employee's variable compensation is tied to company performance against environmental metrics, which include reducing Intel's carbon footprint. Each year, the Intel Environmental Excellence Awards recognize employee efforts to reduce environmental impacts. Intel also encourages its suppliers to reduce their environmental impacts, providing information via conferences, presentations, webinars, and seminars. To demonstrate the importance of supplier engagement, Intel has implemented supplier sustainability criteria and reporting. Further, the company purchases additional RECs to match the electricity use of events, such as its Supplier Day, Intel Manufacturing Excellence Conference, and the Intel Developer Forum. To increase awareness of green power externally, Intel continues to release environmental statements, announcements, and reports to the media. |
| Kohl's Department Stores | 2014 | Sustained Excellence in Green Power Use | Retail | Kohl's has met its goal to use 100% renewable energy. Kohl's generates and uses more than 36 million kWh of green power annually from on-site solar and wind projects. As of April 2014, Kohl's has 156 solar locations—a 19-location increase since the previous year. Kohl's 20-year solar power purchase agreement (PPA) for its solar locations is a testament to its long-term outlook and dedication to using green power. As part of its stakeholder engagement strategy, Kohl's uses its sustainability website, KohlsGreen.com, to share news and information about its efforts, goals, and accomplishments. By showcasing its sustainability efforts, including green power, via store screensavers, overhead announcements, window decals and more, Kohl's continually reminds customers and associates of the company's environmental initiatives and commitments. Since 2012, Kohl's has also released an annual Corporate Social Responsibility report, including carbon footprint measurements, to demonstrate its transparency and leadership. |
| Cincinnati, OH Community | 2013 | Green Power Community | Green Power Community | Collectively, Cincinnati's businesses, institutions, and residents are using 407 million kWh of green power annually, accounting for 14% of the city's total electricity use. In June 2012, Cincinnati became the first major city in the U.S. to offer 100% green power as part of a community choice aggregation (CCA) program, which allows the city to pool the electricity demand of its residential, business, and municipal accounts in order to purchase power on their behalf and negotiate a lower price. Over 50,000 residential properties and small businesses are participating in the program. In 2008, the city established greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals of 8% within four years, 40% within 20 years, and 84% by 2050 compared to 2006 levels. The city met its first reduction target by reducing emissions by 2% a year for the past five years. |
| Mercer Island, WA Community | 2013 | Green Power Community | Green Power Community | In 2009, Mercer Island established the Green Ribbon Commission (GRC), a public-private partnership dedicated to reducing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As a part of this effort, the city government and GRC have implemented innovative strategies to encourage the use of green power throughout the community, with 7% of residents and businesses currently choosing to use green power. In 2012, the GRC, led by the Mayor, city staff, and a team of volunteers, led the "Mercer Island Gets Green" challenge. Throughout the year, residents and business owners were encouraged to become "local energy heroes" by increasing their adoption of renewable energy. At the end of 2012, participation had increased by 55%, with more than 750 homes and businesses purchasing more than 5.81 million kWh of green power. Mercer Island was also chosen to pilot PSE's first interschool bonus challenge, a partnership brokered by the City of Mercer Island and the Mercer Island School District, in which PSE worked with local schools to educate residents about renewable energy and invite them to participate in the community challenge. Throughout the year-long campaign, 180 residents enrolled to purchase green power, and in return, participating schools received over $2,000 to fund environmental programs. |
| Accredo Packaging, Inc. | 2013 | Green Power Purchasing | Printing & Packaging | Accredo's 350,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility is powered by 100% wind-generated electricity and is the first flexible packaging manufacturing facility in the U.S. to be granted LEED® Silver certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. Since beginning production in 2009, sustainable practices and development have been at the center of their mission, Accredo has lived up to this by increasing its green power purchasing year after year. In 2012, the company purchased nearly 21 million kWh of wind power, an increase of nearly 8 million kWh over the previous year. This purchase is equivalent to avoiding the carbon dioxide emissions from the electricity use of more than 1,600 average American homes each year. |
| Dell Inc | 2013 | Green Power Purchasing | Tech and Telecom | From an initial commitment of 900,000 kWh in 2003, Dell has increased its purchases to more than 217 million kWh for its U.S. operations in 2013, or 48% of its U.S. electricity use. The company's purchases cover facilities in Texas, Oklahoma, and Illinois. In addition to purchasing green power, Dell has installed 100 kW of on-site solar panels at its Round Rock, Texas headquarters. Dell also purchases renewable electricity at several facilities in Europe, and recently installed solar panels at a large campus in India. In concert with its green energy purchases, Dell has implemented energy conservation projects including building upgrades, power management strategies and IT solutions. Internally, team members participate in environmental initiatives through the company's Planet employee resource group. In addition, as part of the U.S. Department of Energy's Workplace Charging Challenge, Dell has committed to install additional on-site electric vehicle charging stations as another avenue to promote green power use. |
| Pearson | 2013 | Green Power Purchasing | Media & Publishing | Pearson's operations in the United States are powered by 100% renewable sources. Pearson purchases 200 million kWh of renewable energy certificates (RECs) annually, prioritizing wind power from facilities located near its facilities. Pearson was the first global media company to commit to becoming climate neutral, achieving this goal every year since 2009, and has since continued to reduce its environmental impacts including through green power purchases. Pearson also gives preference to suppliers that share its environmental commitments and take steps to reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions. The company is investing in hybrid vehicles for its corporate sales fleet and installing electric vehicle charging stations, as well as implementing energy efficiency measures. |
| Powdr Resorts | 2013 | Green Power Purchasing | Recreation | In the last five years, Powdr's green power purchases have increased by 40% to more than 80 million kWh annually. Powdr also supports renewable energy projects at many of its resorts, including two 1.2 kW wind turbines at Copper Mountain, Colorado; a 22.6 kW 99-panel solar array at Mt. Bachelor in Bend, Oregon; and a 12 kW wind turbine and 5.7 kW solar array, along with a solar thermal installation, at Park City Mountain Resort in Utah. In addition to purchasing green power, Powdr has implemented energy conservation projects that will reduce its electricity use by approximately one million kWh, by using more efficient snowmaking equipment, HVAC equipment, lighting, and appliances, among other efforts. Powdr communicates its commitment to green power as a means to encourage its stakeholders and guests to adopt their own sustainable practices. These communications pathways include an Environmental Kiosk and EcoZone at Park City Mountain Resort. |
| The North Face | 2013 | Green Power Purchasing | Clothing & Textile | Since 2008, The North Face has used 100% green power at its over 50 retail stores in the U.S., its U.S. headquarters in Alameda, California, its distribution center in Visalia, California, and its company showroom in New York. The North Face's purchased and on-site green power use totals more than 22 million kWh, an increase of 2.7 million kWh over the previous year. This increase includes a 950 kW solar installation at the new headquarters building in Alameda, designed to provide 100% of the building's electricity needs. The facility, completed in July 2012, is designed to meet LEED® Gold standards and also hosts four electric vehicle charging stations that provide free green power to employees. The North Face encourages employees to use renewable energy and promotes its green power use to customers via signage at cash registers and in dressing rooms. In addition, the company reaches out to the community through educational programs and projects. |
| U.S. Department of Energy | 2013 | Green Power Purchasing | Government (Federal) | Annually, DOE uses more than 698 million kWh of green power, an increase of more than 400 million kWh over the previous year. This includes more than 584 million kWh of renewable energy certificates (RECs) and 111 million kWh of on-site generation. In total, the Department's green power use represents 13.8% of its overall electricity use. DOE's annual Strategic Sustainability Platform Plan requires the Department to develop strategies to meet green power usage and purchase goals. A standout example of these strategies, implemented in the past year, is the installment of a $795 million biomass-fueled cogeneration facility at DOE's Savannah River Site in Aiken, South Carolina. The new 20 MW (MW) biomass plant will generate an estimated $944 million in savings in fuel costs and operations and maintenance costs over the next 20 years. It was funded through the single largest renewable energy savings performance contract in U.S. history. The Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory Research Support Facility is also a showcase for energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. This 360,000 square foot LEED® Platinum building produces nearly 2.5 MW of green power annually from its rooftop solar photovoltaic array. |
| UW Credit Union | 2013 | Green Power Purchasing | Banking & Fin. Srvcs | From 2008 through 2012, the company purchased renewable energy credits (RECs) to cover 100% of the electricity used at its corporate headquarters, or 42% of its company-wide electricity use. In January 2013, the credit union expanded its green power commitment by purchasing more than 2.7 million kWh of RECs from Midwest wind projects, equivalent to 100% of the electricity used by its entire community branch network. By using green power and following LEED® certification guidelines for all new construction and remodeling projects, UW Credit Union has reduced its carbon dioxide emissions by 78% from 2008 levels while continuing to expand its business. |
| Western Pennsylvania Energy Consortium | 2013 | Green Power Purchasing | Government (Local) | The Western Pennsylvania Energy Consortium was established by the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County in 2007 to realize financial savings by aggregating electricity purchases for city authorities and local municipalities in the region, including the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pittsburgh Water & Sewer, The Sports and Exhibition Authority, Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, and Carlow University. Its objective is to reduce energy costs for all of its members, which include 16 municipalities, nine authorities, and one university. By aggregating these large accounts, the Consortium members have seen cost savings of close to 20% per kWh for green power, compared to traditional electricity sources. In 2008 the Consortium purchased more than 11 million kWh of renewable energy; in 2013, purchases totaled more than 42 million kWh, equal to 25% of members' overall electricity use. |
| 3Degrees | 2013 | Green Power Supplier | Supplier | In 2012, 3Degrees increased its voluntary REC deliveries by 86% over 2011 sales by providing more than 8.4 billion kWh from 400 facilities to its customers. It supplied 34,000 MWh of solar RECs from 220 facilities including 34 school solar projects, and delivered RECs from the nation's first grid-tied ocean power facility, Maine Tidal Energy Project, which went online September 2012. Through its 12 utility partners, 3Degrees' green power programs reach nearly 10% of the U.S. population across 16 states. These programs engage and educate potential customers through social media, call centers, community outreach, and extensive door-to-door efforts which have led to the enrollment of 38,000 customers in voluntary green power programs. |
| Dominion Virginia Power | 2013 | Green Power Supplier | Supplier | Available to Dominion Virginia Power (DVP 's 2.3 million residential and non-residential customers in Virginia, this Green-e certified program has supported more than 593,000 MW hours of renewable energy to date. The program has more than 19,000 participants and has experienced positive growth each year. Notably, in 2012, the Dominion Green Power program conducted an enhanced education and outreach program that increased the number of kWh sold by 101%, approaching 0.5% of DVP's overall retail electricity sales. In 2011, Dominion Green Power integrated Virginia-based solar RECs into its renewable energy portfolio, which helped spur the first REC market for small-scale solar projects in Virginia. Roughly 5% of its 2012 green power supply originated in Virginia, and the program continues to add new Virginia-based green power to its portfolio. DVP engages in a diverse suite of customer outreach efforts to promote its green power program. The company has spent more than 850 hours at over 250 events and gathering places, reaching an estimated 10,000+ customers. The company also offers green power to all customers establishing new electric service or transferring their service, enrolling an average of 300 new participants per month through call center efforts. In addition to its broad customer outreach, in 2012, Dominion Green Power kicked off a community challenge and Virginia-based community partnership efforts. |
| Apple Inc. | 2013 | On-Site Generation | Tech and Telecom | In 2013, Apple increased its green power use from 2012 by more than 285 million kWh to an annual total of more than 537 million kWh. Apple is pursuing a net zero energy strategy for its data centers, corporate facilities, and retail stores worldwide, and currently has achieved 85% green power for all its U.S. consumption. An important component of the strategy is creating new, Apple-owned renewable energy projects – utility-scale if necessary – located near the company's centers of energy demand. Apple supplies all of its data centers with 100% renewable energy though its own projects or through grid-purchased renewable energy. For its largest data center, in Maiden, North Carolina, it has committed to more than 60% Apple-owned generation and achieves this by having constructed the nation's largest end user-owned, solar photovoltaic array — a 20 MW facility on 100 acres of land — and a 10 MW fuel cell installation supplied by directed biogas, the largest non-utility fuel cell installation operating anywhere in the country. These projects produce 125 million kWh of green power a year. A second 20 MW solar photovoltaic array is installed and will be operational in October, increasing total green power generation at the data center to 167 million kWh a year, which is substantially beyond their 60% goal. Many of Apple's other facilities also operate on 100% renewable energy from a combination of green power purchases and Apple-owned renewable projects, including its data center in Newark, California; its two newest data centers in Reno, Nevada and Prineville, Oregon; and corporate facilities in Cupertino, California; Elk Grove, California; Austin, Texas; and several overseas facilities. By developing its own on-site projects, Apple ensures that it provides renewable energy that supports the company's load and provides power to the local grid, and that this energy comes from new projects that would not have been built without Apple's involvement. |
| County of Santa Clara, CA | 2013 | On-Site Generation | Government (Local) | Santa Clara County's 6.4 MW on-site solar photovoltaic systems generate 11.4 million kWh annually, which represents 9% of its total annual electricity consumption. In 2012, Santa Clara County installed 5.7 MW of solar PV, saving the County $642,000 in utility costs during the initial 12 months of operation. This was $290,000 more than was projected. In Q4 2013, the County will be installing 2.4 MW of solar PV on eight new County sites, as well as 2.8 MW of fuel cells at four sites using PPAs. The new projects will generate 28 million kWh of electricity annually, save the County $15.7 million over the 20-year contract term and reduce GHG emissions by more than 104,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. The County has also served as the lead agency in a regional, collaborative procurement effort that included six other public agencies. As a result, 11.4 MW of solar power was installed at 22 sites. The County's approach was unique in its extensive pre-procurement planning that included creating a County-wide site inventory, conducting interviews with developers and financiers, and drafting a model power purchase agreement (PPA) for use by other agencies. Sonoma and Alameda counties in California have followed Santa Clara's lead, pursuing their own regional collaborative procurements. |
| Kaiser Permanente | 2013 | On-Site Generation | Health Care | In February 2012, Kaiser Permanente committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2020 compared to 2008 levels. To support that pledge, the organization adopted a national sustainable energy policy and launched an ambitious strategy to reduce its carbon footprint, including expanding its use of green power. Developing on-site generation plays a significant role in reducing the organization's carbon emissions and meeting its 2020 goal. Since September 2010, Kaiser Permanente has installed solar panels at 11 of its hospitals and other buildings in California. With a generation capacity of 11 MW, the panels provide clean, renewable energy to these sites, which include six medical centers, five medical offices, and one distribution center. In 2012, the arrays generated 17 million kWh of electricity – 7% of the facilities' overall use. In addition to its on-site use, Kaiser Permanente purchases more than 42 million kWh of renewable energy certificates (RECs) annually. Through incentives and contracting partnerships, the organization is able to fund these on-site projects at no cost, and pays the same rate or less for the green power than it would pay for electricity from the grid. Future on-site projects are planned for Kaiser Permanente's Monalua Medical Center and seven medical offices in Hawaii. |
| Volkswagen Group of America Chattanooga Operations, LLC | 2013 | On-Site Generation | Automotive | With the official opening of the 33-acre Volkswagen Chattanooga Solar Park adjacent to its automotive manufacturing plant in January 2013, Volkswagen Chattanooga began generating 13.1 million kWh of on-site green power annually. The 9.6 MW photovoltaic array consists of 33,600 solar modules and is the largest system of its kind in the North American automotive industry and in the state of Tennessee. The system's generation accounts for approximately 12% of the plant's electricity use. Prior to opening the Solar Park, the Chattanooga plant became the first auto plant in the world to receive LEED® Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council in 2012. Volkswagen has set a goal to reduce the environmental impact of all Volkswagen plants by 25% by 2018 from a 2010 baseline, which applies to energy consumption, waste volumes, volatile organic compound emissions, water consumption and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. In pursuit of these corporate environmental and energy objectives, Volkswagen Chattanooga is committed to the use of green power. In addition to helping to meet its CO2 emissions reduction goals, Volkswagen Chattanooga is also using its Solar Park to educate others on the benefits of using green power through tours for customers and visitors, internal communications, and publication of a sustainability report. |
| Cisco Systems, Inc. | 2013 | Partner of the Year | Tech and Telecom | Electricity represents more than 85% of Cisco's Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and as a result, green power is instrumental to the company's GHG management strategy. Cisco uses more than 459 million kWh of green power annually for its U.S. operations, amounting to 44% of the company's U.S. electricity consumption. Cisco also recently announced a new set of environmental sustainability targets, one of which is to reduce their net, consumption-weighted, electricity emission factor to 50% of the latest International Energy Agency (IEA) world average emission factor by end of 2017. Another target is to use electricity from renewable sources for at least 25% of electricity consumed every year through FY2017. Through its environmental sustainability strategy, the company is able to lead by example by reducing GHG emissions throughout its own operations, and by encouraging its vendors, business partners, and supply chain to do the same. Cisco reports to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) and has succeeded in getting between 80 and 100% of its primary suppliers (depending on type) to report to the CDP. |
| Georgetown University | 2013 | Partner of the Year | Education (Higher) | Georgetown purchases more than 113 million kWh of renewable energy certificates (RECs) annually, equal to 109% of its electricity use on its Main, Medical and East campuses. In the spring of 2013, Georgetown launched a new on-site renewable energy project through a collaborative student-staff initiative, installing 18 kW of solar panels on a block of historic university-owned row houses—the first campus project of its kind in DC. In total, the project is expected to provide 19,711 kWh each year and reduce more than 600,000 pounds of carbon pollution over the 20-year life of the project. Under the framework of the DC Mayor's College and University Sustainability Pledge (CUSP), Georgetown is also engaging with the DC Department of Environment to ensure that the university's experiences installing solar power on historic buildings can serve as a useful model to others. Georgetown is committed to cutting its carbon footprint in half by 2020 from 2006 levels, and has already reduced emissions over 20% through a combination of demand reduction, efficiency, and use of cleaner fuels. |
| Microsoft Corporation | 2013 | Partner of the Year | Tech and Telecom | In 2012, Microsoft purchased renewable energy credits (RECs) for the first time, totaling more than 1 billion kWh of green power. In 2013, Microsoft upped its use of renewable energy nearly 73% to 1.9 billion kWh annually, an increase of more than 815 million kWh from 2012. The company's green power use also includes the generation of solar power from a 480 kW on-site system at its Mountain View, California campus. In total, the company is purchasing U.S. green power equivalent to 80% of its U.S. electricity needs. Microsoft instituted a company-wide commitment to achieve carbon neutrality for its data centers, software development labs, offices, and employee air travel beginning in fiscal year 2013 (July 2012–June 2013). The carbon neutrality commitment includes an internal carbon price, which incentivizes energy efficiency and the purchase of renewable energy. By internalizing the cost of carbon pollution through financial measures, the fee encourages employees to reduce emissions while raising funds for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. As part of its overall sustainability strategy, Microsoft set a goal to reduce its carbon emissions in 2012 by least 30% per unit of revenue below the company's 2007 baseline. The company met this goal through increased energy efficiency initiatives and investments in high-quality, externally-verified renewable energy and carbon reduction projects. |
| Ohio State University | 2013 | Partner of the Year | Education (Higher) | Ohio State's annual green power use of 141 million kWh meets nearly 25% of the university's electricity needs. A 20-year wind power purchase agreement to buy 50 MW of wind power generation capacity annually from Blue Creek Wind Farm in northwestern Ohio demonstrates the school's exceptional support of the development of new clean energy resources in the U.S. Following two years of negotiations, Ohio State's purchase, one of the largest single green power purchases by any university in the country, represents 16% of the wind farm's total generating capacity. The long-term commitment helps to guarantee the supplier's financial viability and accelerate the development of a planned expansion in Ohio. As an institution of higher education, Ohio State fosters an environment where green power use is not only a component of the university's operations, but also part of its service to education. As such, university researchers will benefit from unprecedented access to data from the Blue Creek Wind Farm for studies ranging from rotor blade and wind energy markets, to soil preservation and noise optimization. Energize Ohio, an OSU Extension Signature Program, brings free educational materials, workshops, and webinars on the basics of renewable energy and project development, energy policy, and the energy industry to all 88 counties in the state, helping to further the development of renewable energy in Ohio. Ohio State made a public declaration to work toward climate neutrality by signing the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment in 2008 and adopting a Climate Action Plan (CAP) in 2011. Guided by the CAP, Ohio State has implemented a number of operational changes, laying the foundation for successful greenhouse gas mitigation. The university's Green Build and Energy Policy, calling for all new construction and major renovation to meet LEED® Silver standards, reduces demand for fossil fuels. Understanding the role renewable energy technology will play in a climate neutral future, Ohio State is completing a 450-well geothermal system to heat and cool residence halls. |
| Intel Corporation | 2013 | Sustained Excellence in Green Power Use | Tech and Telecom | In 2013, Intel increased its purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs) to meet 100% of the electricity used at its U.S. locations, up from 88% in 2012. This purchase totaled approximately 3.1 million kWh. These RECs represent diverse technologies, including wind, solar, geothermal, low-impact hydro, and biomass resources. In addition, Intel now has 18 solar facilities on their property with a combined capacity of approximately 7 MW. These systems generate nearly 10 million kWh of electricity annually – a portion of which (850,000 kWh) counts toward Intel's green power usage through the retention of the RECs. To promote sustainability across the company, Intel engages its employees in environmental initiatives. A portion of each employee's variable compensation is tied to company performance against environmental metrics, which include reducing Intel's carbon footprint. Each year, the Intel Environmental Excellence Awards recognize employee efforts to reduce environmental impacts. Intel also encourages its suppliers to reduce their environmental impacts, providing information via conferences, presentations, webinars, and seminars. To demonstrate the importance of supplier engagement, Intel has implemented supplier sustainability criteria and reporting. To increase awareness of green power externally, Intel continues to release environmental statements, announcements, and reports to the media. Intel's use of green power is intended to provide leadership and spur market growth, making renewable energy less expensive and more accessible over the long term and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Since 2008, Intel has invested more than $175 million in the renewable energy, smart grid, and energy-efficiency sectors and plans to continue taking a leadership position in these areas for years to come. |
| Kohl's Department Stores | 2013 | Sustained Excellence in Green Power Use | Retail | Under its sustainable operations strategy, Kohl's has met its goal to operate using 100% renewable energy and achieve net zero emissions for three years—2010, 2011, and 2012 – via on-site generation and purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs). In 2013, Kohl's purchased 1.5 billion kWh of RECs. Kohl's also generates and uses more than 36 million kWh of green power annually from on-site solar and wind projects. As of August 2013, Kohl's has more than 140 solar locations rated at a total capacity of 40 MW– a 14-location increase since April 2012. Kohl's 20-year solar power purchase agreement with SunEdison for its solar locations is a testament to its long-term outlook and dedication to using green power. At the end of 2012, Kohl's activated its largest solar location to date at its E-Commerce Fulfillment Center in Edgewood, Maryland. The array includes 8,360 solar panels and generates more than three million kWh per year. As a result of these and other solar initiatives, the company is on track to meet its goal of having 200 active solar locations by 2015. Through its Sustainability Assessment process, Kohl's encourages its vendors to manage their energy use, embrace both efficiency and renewable energy and includes green power and energy efficiency as items on its Vendor Scorecards. As part of its stakeholder engagement strategy, Kohl's uses its newly updated sustainability website, Kohlsgreen.com, to share its efforts, goals and accomplishments. |
| Staples | 2013 | Sustained Excellence in Green Power Use | Retail | In early 2013, Staples increased its company-wide green power use from 80% to just over 100% through a combination of green power purchases of Green-e certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) and utility green power products as well as on-site generation. Staples is using more than 635 million kWh annually, an increase of approximately 119 kWh from 2012. Currently, Staples has 34 solar arrays in the U.S., with nearly 11 MW of installed solar capacity generating more than 50 million kWh of renewable energy since 2007. Staples uses more than 518,000 kWh of solar power from these facilities annually by retaining the RECs. A core sustainability pillar for Staples is to become a sustainability leader in the global community and Staples strives to meet this goal by sharing its green power initiatives and best practices internally and externally through its "Staples Soul" web portal, on its new Staples Energy Online website, outreach to its property management companies about on-site green technologies, through speaking engagements at conferences and peer meetings, and via press releases. |
| City of San Francisco, CA | 2011 | On-Site Generation | Government (Local) | The City of San Francisco, California, is a leader in on¬site green power generation, using more than 30 million kWh annually from its biogas facilities and municipal solar installations. Additionally, in the past year, the City installed two new municipal solar arrays, adding 135 kW to the city's existing 7.2 MW solar portfolio. In 2010, San Francisco added California's largest urban, municipal solar project. The City installed 24,000 solar panels over an area the size of 12 football fields, tripling its municipal solar generating capacity from 2.2 MW to more than 7 MW. The City also operates more than 3 MW of biogas generation facilities. San Francisco also strongly encourages its businesses and residents to support clean power. In 2011, the City made $3.8 million available to San Franciscans for solar rebates through its GoSolarSF Program. |
| New Belgium Brewing Company | 2001 | Green Power Purchaser | Wineries & Breweries | The only brewery in the Unites States to rely 100% on wind power, New Belgium Brewery signed an agreement to purchase wind energy for at least 10 years. New Belgium's dedication to using wind power influenced other local businesses and the city of Fort Collins, Colorado to also purchase renewable energy. Moreover, the brewery is preparing to expand its green power usage by generating electrical and thermal energy on-site with an anaerobic wastewater treatment system. New Belgium proudly promotes its use of green power on every box it sells, on its Web site, and through press releases. |
| Sterling Planet | 2013 | Green Power Supplier | Supplier | Sterling Planet's 2012 sales were close to 10.6 billion kWh, a 128% increase over 2011 figures. Sterling Planet supports existing renewable power projects through agreements with more than 800 generators and is bringing new generating capacity into service. Sterling Planet is currently developing two biomass projects with a combined generating capacity of 67 MW that will supply electricity to Georgia Power Company. The company's 240 kW solar installation is already online, providing green power to the Georgia utility. In 2013, Sterling Planet expanded its capabilities with new strategic alliances. The company now offers Sterling Analytics, an IT platform for comprehensive energy, water and carbon management solutions for utilities and other companies with on-site solar and wind installations include real-time monitoring and analysis to optimize performance. |
| City of Austin, TX | 2012 | Partner of the Year | Government (Local) | In 2012, Austin became the first large U.S. city to commit to using 100% renewable electricity for all City-owned operations and facilities. In doing so, Austin met one of its Climate Protection Plan goals – to power all City facilities with renewable energy by 2012. In response to residential and commercial customer demand, the City-owned utility, Austin Energy, established its GreenChoice® renewable energy program in 2000. By committing to using 100% green power, the city has become its own best customer for GreenChoice. Austin's Climate Protection Plan calls for carbon-neutrality for all City-owned facilities, fleet, and buildings by 2020. Austin has since developed and implemented departmental climate protection plans, provided climate-action education to all City employees, and in 2010 established a new Office of Sustainability which advances local sustainability and climate action by providing leadership and coordination of environmental initiatives across local government operations and the community. Each of these aggressive goals is linked to outcomes—for example, performance evaluations of all 23 city department directors are tied in part to their departmental carbon footprints. |
| Hilton Worldwide | 2012 | Partner of the Year | Hotel & Lodging | In 2012, Hilton Worldwide has added 213 million kWhof green power to its U.S. portfolio, meeting 94% of its overall electric load by purchasing renewable energy certificates (RECs) from wind and low-impact hydropower sources. This represents a 239% increase in kWh purchased over 2010. "Living sustainably" is one of the four pillars of Hilton's Travel with Purpose initiative and centers around measurement, analysis, and improvement of the use of natural resources. Improvements are based on LightStay, Hilton Worldwide's proprietary system that calculates and analyzes environmental impacts by measuring energy and water use, and waste and carbon emissions across 200 operational practices at more than 3,900 properties around the globe. Results include a 6.6% reduction in energy use in 2010 for more than 2,400 properties using LightStay, along with savings of more than $74 million in utility costs. LightStay also includes a meeting calculator to measure the energy use and carbon output of any event held at a Hilton property, which helps to inform potential REC or carbon offset purchases. |
| Microsoft Corporation | 2012 | Partner of the Year | Tech and Telecom | Microsoft is purchasing more than 1.1 billion kWh of green power annually, making the company the third largest green power user in the Green Power Partnership (GPP) as of July 2012. Microsoft's purchase, along with a combination of energy efficiency measures and an investment in high-quality carbon reduction projects, resulted in the company meeting its goal of reducing carbon emissions by at least 30% per unit of revenue below the company's 2007 baseline. Microsoft's green power use will contribute to its recently-announced companywide commitment to achieve carbon neutrality. To achieve this aim, the company created an accountability model which aims to improve efficiencies, increase renewable energy purchases, improve data collection and reporting. Microsoft's commitment to carbon neutrality is another step in the company's broader commitment to environmental leadership, from reducing energy consumption in facilities and data centers, to working with partners in the supply chain, to improving the efficiency of its software products and services. An energy-smart buildings project on Microsoft's Redmond campus that uses software to make buildings more energy efficient is projected to achieve energy savings of approximately $1.5 million in fiscal year 2013 while significantly contributing to the company's environmental goals. Microsoft also tracks and discloses its emissions through the Carbon Disclosure Project. By sharing its internal strategies and lessons learned, Microsoft is helping its customers, partners and supply chain to carry a similar carbon-free vision forward. |
| University of Oklahoma | 2012 | Partner of the Year | Education (Higher) | In September 2008, in concert with the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), University of Oklahoma (OU) and the Oklahoma Gas & Electric Company (OG&E) signed a historic agreement to purchase 100% of the university's OG&E-supplied electricity from renewable resources by 2013. This agreement was critical in enabling the development of the 101 MW OU Spirit Wind Farm in Woodward, Oklahoma, which now supplies electricity to the university and to customers across the state. The infrastructure (i.e., transmission lines and substations) created by the agreement has expanded OG&E's ability to provide renewable electricity to other customers. Currently, 90% of OU's purchased power comes from wind, setting a standard for other large state schools and putting the school well on its way to meeting its goal of 100% green power. In conjunction with its green power use, OU is undertaking a myriad of energy efficiency upgrades such as installing occupancy sensors for classroom lighting and retrofitting existing buildings, as well as developing water-efficient restroom facilities and instituting a campus-wide recycling program. OU has also launched an Advanced Metering Infrastructure program to customize and manage energy demand across campus. By November 2012, all of OU's electric use will be monitored by smart meters. At the same time, OU is reaching out to stakeholders interested in green power options through its website, press releases, and social media, and the school plans to host green energy tours both on campus and at the Spirit Wind Farm |
| American University | 2012 | Green Power Purchasing | Education (Higher) | In 2011, American University (AU) completed the installation of a 532.3 kW solar PV project and procured 204 kW of onsite solar thermal power through a power purchase agreement. The PV project is the largest in D.C. and the onsite solar thermal project is one of the largest of any urban center on the East Coast. In 2006, AU joined the Green Power Partnership with a 15% green power commitment; and in 2012, 100% of the electricity the school utilizes from the grid is sourced from Green-e® certified renewable energy certificates. The university is also pursuing the implementation of a variety of other sustainability initiatives. AU intends to earn LEED certification for 25 existing campus buildings. AU installed LED lighting for pathways and a parking garage, and is currently in the permitting process for a waste-to-energy system to generate electricity and hot water from used cooking oil. |
| Bloomberg LP | 2012 | Green Power Purchasing | Media & Publishing | Annually, Bloomberg purchases more than 208 million kWh of green power, equivalent to 83% of the company's electricity use. Bloomberg met its 2013 goal of reducing its carbon footprint by 50% two years ahead of schedule through improvements in energy efficiency, infrastructure investment, aggressive waste reduction, and renewable energy use. In addition to purchasing green power, in May 2012 Bloomberg installed a solar array at its San Francisco office, and the company retains the associated renewable energy certificates (RECs). By the end of 2012, Bloomberg estimates that over 40% of all employees worldwide will be working in LEED® certified offices. Bloomberg's commitment to the environment is evidenced by its voluntary public disclosure of its carbon emissions and numerous other environmental metrics in the second annual release of its Sustainability Report. Bloomberg also focuses employee engagement on sustainability initiatives, for example by providing home solar installation incentives for its New Jersey employees. |
| City of Philadelphia, PA | 2012 | Green Power Purchasing | Government (Local) | The City of Philadelphia is purchasing 127 million kWh of renewable energy certificates (RECs) sourced from wind annually, along with generating 300,000 kWh from on-site solar panels. Philadelphia's first City-owned solar array came online in mid-2011, a 250 kW project at the Southeast Water Pollution Control facility. In addition, in March 2012 at the same facility, the Philadelphia Water Department installed a geothermal unit, which uses sewage as a sustainable heat source for the plant and is the first installation of its kind in the nation. Looking ahead, the City plans to actively support a greater level of local renewable energy generation by purchasing RECs from local projects. In doing so, Philadelphia will not only support the green power market, but will be investing in local job creation, reduced grid congestion, increased fuel source diversity, and reductions in Scope 2 carbon emissions. |
| Hobart and William Smith Colleges | 2012 | Green Power Purchasing | Education (Higher) | With an annual purchase of more than 12 million kWh of renewable energy certificates (RECs) as well as on-site generation, Hobart and William Smith Colleges is setting the pace for other colleges and universities in New York as the first small liberal arts college in the state to use 100% wind-generated electricity. Hobart and William Smith's Climate Action Plan, adopted in 2009, is designed to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 through physical plant emission mitigation efforts, clean energy sourcing and offset strategies. To date, HWS energy efficiency programs, led by a Climate and Energy Committee, have cut energy consumption by 10%—all in the past three years. The HWS Climate Action Plan has effectively linked energy savings to REC and carbon offset purchases, enabling the school's most recent investment in 100% green power. The newly launched HWS Sustainable Community Development Program investigates green power investments as part of its curriculum. Looking ahead, the colleges plans to partner with a local REC marketer to offer renewable energy purchase options for faculty and staff home electricity use. |
| Kettle Foods | 2012 | Green Power Purchasing | Food & Beverage | In 2011, Kettle Foods purchased 20 million kWh of wind power, a 6 million kWh increase over 2010. Since 2006, the company has been purchasing renewable energy credits (RECs) for 100% of its electricity use in the U.S. Moreover, at Kettle Foods' LEED® Gold certified factory in Beloit, Wisconsin, wind power produces electricity onsite. The company has installed 18 wind turbines that produce a portion of the production facility's power. Additional sustainability efforts by Kettle Foods include the conversion of 100% of the waste vegetable oil from the company's production process into biodiesel to power company cars, and the installation of 616 solar panels on its Salem headquarters in 2002. Recently the company reduced the amount of material in their potato chip bags by 20%, saving more than 22,000 trees annually and preventing more than 450,000 pounds of packaging from going into landfills each year. Employees at the Salem and Beloit facilities are actively engaged in local wetland and tallgrass prairie restoration projects, and five acres of native tallgrass prairie surround the Beloit facility. The company also created a trail system with interpretive signs adjacent to its Salem facility, encouraging visitors to enjoy the natural wetland area. |
| Lockheed Martin Corporation | 2012 | Green Power Purchasing | Industrial goods & Services | The cornerstone of Lockheed Martin's environmental sustainability program is the "Go Green" program. Launched in 2008, the program established absolute targets across the company to identify and reduce 2007 levels of greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, and waste going to landfills by 25% by 2012. The company met its goals a year earlier than planned. A critical element of the Go Green program's success is due to Lockheed Martin's 2011 combined on-site and purchased green power use of more than 546 million kWh from biogas, low-impact hydropower, solar, and wind resources. This represents an increase of more than 250 million kWh from the previous year. The company's Sunnyvale, California facility recently installed a one MW solar photovoltaic system and, combined with the purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs), sustainable building projects, energy efficiency enhancements, and green Information Technology activities, Lockheed Martin reduced its absolute carbon emissions by seven% by year-end 2011. |
| McDonald's USA, LLC | 2012 | Green Power Purchasing | Food & Beverage | McDonald's USA has emerged as industry leader by purchasing green power equivalent to 30% of its electricity use at company-owned restaurants annually. The company is buying 306 million kWh of Green-e® certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) from wind sources. McDonald's has taken steps to promote its REC purchases to its stakeholders and the public, including in its 2012 "Global Best of Green" report. Multiple energy efficiency initiatives and technical innovations have reduced McDonald's restaurants' energy consumption. McDonald's is currently developing a national green power purchase program, which will enable all of McDonald's U.S. owner-operators to voluntarily match a percentage of their electricity use with RECs. |
| MOM's Organic Market | 2012 | Green Power Purchasing | Retail | In 2011, MOM's purchased more than 13.6 million kWh of renewable energy certificates (RECs) from wind power. This was a 5 million kWh increase from the prior year's purchase and equal to more than 400% of the company's own electricity use, providing exceptional support of the voluntary green power market. MOM's also matches employees' REC purchases and collaborates with a local clean energy supplier to provide gift cards for customers who switch to wind energy at home. In the coming year, MOM's plans to install solar panels at three store locations. MOM's other sustainability initiatives include the company's commitment to selling only 100% organic produce and sustainable seafood, conserving energy with LED lighting and efficient closed-door refrigeration units, composting produce clippings and utilizing biodegradable packaging. MOM's also supports other green businesses by featuring items from manufacturers who use renewable energy to make their products. |
| NYSE Euronext | 2012 | Green Power Purchasing | Banking & Fin. Srvcs | In 2011, NYSE Euronext purchased more than 125 million kWh of green power, equivalent to 100% of the company's total 2010 U.S.-based electricity use. NYSE Euronext plans to continue its annual purchase of 100% green power in future years, demonstrating a proactive choice to support cleaner energy alternatives. The company is a leader in its industry as the only global exchange to achieve carbon neutrality through its purchase of green power and carbon offsets. In the future, NYSE Euronext will continue to promote corporate and investor sustainability efforts. NYSE Euronext is firmly committed to collaborate globally to deliver world class sustainable facilities that are a conduit for customer success. |
| Quinnipiac University | 2012 | Green Power Purchasing | Education (Higher) | The school is proving to be a giant among its peers with its annual purchase of close to 38 million KWh of green power, equivalent to 100% of Quinnipiac's electricity use. Quinnipiac is purchasing Green-e® certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) sourced from wind. At the York Hill Campus, wind turbines generate 32,000 kWh of energy annually, while roof-top PV panels save another 250,000 kWh. On the North Haven Campus, environmentally-friendly features include: energy-efficient heating and cooling units and lighting fixtures, low-VOC paint, Green Guard-certified carpeting and new windows with energy-saving thermal glazing. On the Mount Carmel Campus, a community garden yields fresh fruit and vegetables. |
| TD Bank | 2012 | Green Power Purchasing | Banking & Fin. Srvcs | TD purchase renewable energy credits (RECs) for 100% of its electricity use in the U.S., and was first in the industry to open a net-zero energy store. TD Bank is also the largest U.S.-based bank to be carbon neutral. Annually, TD purchases more than 261 million kWh of green power and recently announced that it will reduce its carbon footprint by one metric tonne per employee by 2015. The company has also installed on-site solar generation at more 30 U.S. stores. TD continues to grow its Maine-to-Florida store network while simultaneously reducing its environmental footprint; for example, between 2008 and 2010 TD increased its real estate square footage by 11% while greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 11%. In growing this way, TD demonstrates that being environmentally responsible parallels its business success. TD also focuses on educating customers about being energy efficient. TD's LEED® certifications continue to grow with approximately 50 certified retail and corporate locations in the U.S., 89% of which are Platinum or Gold level. In addition, TD works to encourage renewable energy use in the various communities in which its stores are located. Looking ahead, TD plans to continue promoting and educating about its use of green power through social media, town hall meetings and annual and quarterly reports. |
| The North Face | 2012 | Green Power Purchasing | Retail | In 2011, The North Face's combined on-site and purchased green power totaled 18.1 million kWh, a 3.1 million kWh increase from 2010. This continues The North Face's commitment to using 100% green power for the electricity used in the company's headquarters, all U.S.-based retail locations, its distribution center and showrooms. By investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency measures, The North Face is on track to meet its five-year goal of a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from its U.S. operations by 2013. Furthermore, the company recently installed a one MW solar project at its Visalia, California distribution center and created its "Hot Planet, Cool Athletes" program that reaches thousands of high school students every year with an empowering, energizing multimedia presentation on climate change and sustainability. The North Face is also actively involved in shaping the sustainability future of the outdoor retail industry through its membership and leadership in Business for Innovative Climate & Energy Policy (BICEP), and Outdoor Industry Association and Sustainable Apparel Coalition committees. In addition, the company empowers its customers with green power information in its retail store dressing rooms and registers, and provides training to its employees on the company's commitment to operating sustainability. The North Face also encourages employees to purchase renewable energy certificates for their own electricity use. |
| Coca-Cola Refreshments | 2012 | On-Site Generation | Food & Beverage | In 2012, Coca-Cola Refreshments USA, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Company entered into an exclusive agreement to purchase all of the energy generated from a 6.5 MW combined heat-and-power system in Atlanta, Georgia. Fueled by landfill gas, the system supplies electricity, steam, and chilled water to Coca-Cola's Atlanta Beverage Plant and is located adjacent to the plant and it is the fifth-largest system of its kind in the U.S.. The project includes a vacuum-collection system that captures methane gas from a Georgia-based landfill, Hickory Ridge, and converts it to a clean-burning fuel. The system provides much of the facility's energy needs and generates at least 48 million kWh of electricity annually. The company is working toward reducing its absolute emissions from its manufacturing operations in Annex 1 (developed) countries by 5% by 2015, as compared to a 2004 baseline. |
| Zotos International, Inc. | 2012 | On-Site Generation | Consumer Goods | In 2012, Zotos met its goal of using 100% green power for its 670,000 square foot manufacturing plant in Geneva. Approximately half of the plant's electricity is generated on-site with a 3.3 MW wind project, which consists of two 1.65 MW wind turbines that generate up to approximately 5 million kWh of green power annually. Zotos purchases renewable energy certificates (RECs) sourced from wind for the remainder of its electricity needs. At that time, Zotos' wind project is the largest wind project of any manufacturer in the United States as well as the largest industrial wind plant in New York State, and the first industrial wind project in Ontario County. Zotos has also installed energy-efficient lighting and mechanical systems, reduced water consumption through facility upgrades, and pioneered plant-based plastics for its bottle production. Additionally, Zotos offsets 100% of its Scope 1 carbon dioxide emissions, supporting reforestation and biogas projects with carbon offset purchases. |
| Intel Corporation | 2012 | Sustained Excellence in Green Power Use | Tech and Telecom | Intel's electricity consumption accounts for more than 70% of the company's Scope 1 and 2 carbon footprint. To reduce its indirect emissions, Intel continues to be the nation's largest voluntary purchaser of green power. In 2012, Intel increased both its purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs), and its development of on-site solar projects. This year, Intel increased its REC purchase 12% to nearly 2.8 billion kWh, equal to nearly 90% of its U.S. electricity use. In addition to its REC purchases, Intel hosts 15 solar arrays on nine corporate campuses in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Oregon, Israel, and Vietnam, which together supply approximately 5 million kWh annually for Intel facilities. Additional facilities are in the final evaluation or initial construction phase. In combination with a robust energy conservation and efficiency program, reduced perfluorocompound emissions, and technological advances in product design, Intel achieved a 60% reduction in absolute greenhouse gas emissions below 2007 levels. Intel focuses on employee engagement as an important way to reduce the company's environmental impacts and help promote sustainable thinking. Intel also encourages its suppliers to reduce their environmental impacts, presenting information through conferences, presentations, webinars and seminars. The company shares its green power and sustainability leadership through a variety of media and on the company's internal and external websites. |
| Kohl's Department Stores | 2012 | Sustained Excellence in Green Power Use | Retail | 2012 marks the third consecutive year that Kohl's has been using 100% renewable energy to meet all of its electricity use, purchasing more than 1.5 billion kWh of renewable energy certificates (RECs) in 2012 alone. Additionally, in 2011, Kohl's expanded its green power portfolio to include on-site wind power, installing wind turbines at its Corpus Christi, Texas store and Findlay, Ohio distribution center. In 2011, Kohl's also activated its first fully-owned solar arrays on two store rooftops in Arizona. Together, these rooftops host 3,322 solar panels and generate 1.3 million kWh of electricity annually. As of April 2012, Kohl's boasts an impressive 124 solar locations, a 17-location increase since April 2011. Kohl's aims to use 100% renewable energy for all of its facilities, achieve net zero carbon emissions beginning in 2010 through 2012, and host and activate 200 solar arrays on building rooftops by the year 2015. Kohl's has met its target of using 100% green power for its electricity use and is on track to achieve its other targets. |
| Staples | 2012 | Sustained Excellence in Green Power Use | Retail | From using 2% green power in 2002, Staples' purchase has grown to more than 516 million kWh of renewable energy certificates (RECs) in 2012, along with deploying green power on-site. This purchase represents a 51% increase over the company's 2011 REC purchase. In total, 78% of Staples' electricity use comes from renewable energy sources. Staples' currently hosts 36 solar arrays on its properties and has generated 35 million kWh from its solar installations since 2005. Staples has also completed a 385 kW fuel cell installation at its Ontario, California distribution center, which supplies 90% of the base electrical requirements for the center, along with three 200 kilowatt fuel cells at its Rialto, California distribution site. In addition to expanding its on-site generation, Staples increased its fleet of all-electric delivery trucks from 41 to 53 in the last year. Staples engages its customers, associates, and stakeholders on its use of green power and other sustainability initiatives through its recently revamped "Staples Soul" website, in-store information, press releases, and social media. As Staples continues to pursue its goal of achieving zero carbon emissions in its operations, green power will be a major contributing factor. |
| Whole Foods Market | 2012 | Sustained Excellence in Green Power Use | Retail | Whole Foods Market was the first Fortune 500® company to purchase wind power for 100% of its electricity use across its U. S. operations, and in 2012 the company purchased over 800 million kWh of wind-powered renewable energy certificates (RECs). In addition to its REC purchases, Whole Foods Market also hosts or owns solar arrays at 16 store locations and one distribution center and has contracted for twenty more systems. This year, the solar array at the distribution center in Cheshire, Connecticut was expanded from 120 kW to 268 kW. The Brentwood, California store uses solar en¬ergy for 24% of its electricity needs, and the Edgewater, New Jersey store hosts an impressive array of 14,000 square feet of solar panels. The company has also incorporated fuel cell technology at four of its retail locations – three 400 kW units and one 200 kW unit. In addition, Whole Foods Market recently became the first company in the U.S. to generate its electricity needs on-site using recycled cooking oil at its Everett, Massachusetts-based commissary kitchen. In 2012, the company released its first-ever "Green Mission Report," providing a broad and in-depth look at its green efforts, including support of the green power market. |
| Beaverton, Oregon Community | 2012 | Green Power Community | Green Power Community | Annually, the City of Beaverton's city government, businesses, institutions, and residents are collectively using more than 93 million kWh of green power, equivalent to 5.3% of electricity use community-wide. The city also coordinated the Solar Beaverton program which provides residents with a no-obligation solar site assessment and home energy review. The program influenced over 258 solar system installations among residents, lowered the purchase price of a complete residential solar system by up to 80% and educated the community about renewable energy. The government has emphasized the educational aspects of on-site generation with the installation of a 17.6 kW solar system on the City Library in 2012. Alone, the Beaverton government purchases 100% green power for its buildings' energy use and for 58% of the city's overall operations – including for water pumping and streetlights. Beaverton also has a comprehensive Sustainability Strategy which guides the city in its efforts to reduce energy consumption, increase energy efficiency, and purchase or produce green power for the energy that it uses. The city plans to build off of its 2009 greenhouse gas inventory with a follow-up community carbon footprint analysis in 2012. |
| Oak Park, Illinois Community | 2012 | Green Power Community | Green Power Community | Oak Park is recognized as a regional leader in green power use both for its Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program and for installing the third largest municipal solar array in Illinois. In 2011, Oak Park set a national precedent with its CCA program by aggregating the community electricity load and purchasing green power from an alternate electricity supplier while still receiving transmission and distribution service from its existing provider. Oak Park is the first municipality in Illinois to choose a 100% green power portfolio standard for its residents and small business operators who participate in the community's CCA program. The program boasts an impressive 95% participation rate. Through the CCA program, Oak Park purchases wind renewable energy certificates (RECs) that will reduce local emissions by approximately 171,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year by adding more than 191 million kWh of wind energy to the local grid. The RECs are offered to aggregation members at a rate 25% less than the cost of the conventional utility product. The CCA program supports Oak Park's sustainability plan, created after signing the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement in 2007. The success of the Oak Park program has generated interest from across Illinois and the country. Oak Park also began offsetting its own electric use with a 99 kW solar panel array on its municipal parking garage, installed in March 2012 and providing approximately 30% of the garage's electricity needs. |
| Renewable Choice Energy | 2012 | Green Power Supplier | Supplier | In April 2012, Renewable Choice was the top renewable energy provider to members of the Green Power Partnership in terms of number of partners supplied. The company's "American Wind" RECs support wind farms across the country, and its "Clean Source" RECs are from a portfolio of projects including wind farms, biomass facilities, small hydro-electric installations, solar arrays and geothermal plants. In 2011, Renewable Choice clients helped prevent more than 5 billion pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere, which has an impact similar to planting over 58.5 million tree seedlings and growing them for ten years. Renewable Choice is also a leading global provider of greenhouse gas (GHG) measurement services and energy efficiency solutions. A free carbon calculator is also available on the company website, along with webinars, blogs, press release support, and other content. |
| Sterling Planet | 2012 | Green Power Supplier | Supplier | In April 2012, Sterling Planet topped the list of renewable energy providers to members of the EPA Green Power Partnership in volume of renewable energy kWh provided, with more than 5 billion kWh delivered annually. Beyond RECs, Sterling Planet also markets energy efficiency certificates and carbon offsets. The company's client list includes over 2500 business customers, among them the nation's foremost voluntary green power purchasers. Sterling Planet supports all renewable technology types and has provided financial assistance to owners of 11 small-hydro projects, helping them earn Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) certification. Sterling Planet is also developing its own new renewable projects and providing a mechanism for clients to invest in these and other projects led by development partners. More than 280 MW of new renewable energy capacity is in the development pipeline at sites nationwide. |
| Wellesley Municipal Light Plant | 2012 | Innovative Green Power Program of the Year | Government (Local) | In 2009, Wellesley, Massachusetts' Wellesley Municipal Light Plant (WMLP) began its "Power to Choose" program, which allows customers to select green power over conventional electricity options. Through 2011, Wellesley's customer participation rate grew to 6%— equivalent to 1% of the town's total electricity consumption. In 2011, building on this highest participation rate among public power systems in the state, WMLP embarked on a campaign to increase green power use even further. Meeting weekly and working with a large group of volunteers, the WMLP increased the amount of kWh purchased by almost 400% in only five months. In December 2011, WMLP's voluntary participants were purchasing two million kWh of green power. By the end of May 2012, customers were purchasing 9.8 million kWh and the customer participation rate grew from six to 11.5%. Growth was fueled by the involvement of the town's three local colleges—Wellesley College, Babson College, and Mass Bay Community College—all of which became Green Power Partners. |
| Empire State Building | 2011 | Partner of the Year | Real Estate | Through its two ¬year commitment to purchase nearly 55 million kWh of green power annually in January 2011, the Empire State Building became one of New York City's largest commercial purchasers of 100% green power. ESB's green power purchase further reinforces the building's sustainability strategy that was announced in April 2009 by President Bill Clinton and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. A team led by ownership, the Clinton Climate Initiative, Johnson Controls Inc., Jones Lang LaSalle, and the Rocky Mountain Institute created a ground breaking, replicable model for energy efficiency analysis and retrofit that will reduce energy consumption in the building by nearly 40% and $4.4 million annually. This innovative model made ESB a global leader for quantitatively ¬based energy efficiency retrofits. In July 2010, ESB unveiled an interactive, multi¬media sustainability exhibit in its second floor Observatory Visitor's Center, which showcases the energy retrofit project. The installation aims to educate the millions of people who visit the building every year on the positive global impact of energy efficient building, green power, and sustainable living practices. To further educate visitors and tenants about the benefits of the iconic building's use of green power, ESB installed a four ¬window display in its Fifth Avenue lobby. The display highlights the benefits of pollution ¬free green power versus traditional fossil fuels and also educates people about the economic and environmental attributes of green power. |
| Google LLC | 2011 | Partner of the Year | Tech and Telecom | In 2007, Google announced a commitment to carbon neutrality by taking responsibility for its carbon emissions and promoting sustainable environmental solutions. Google has since applied its energy and resources to both developing and using green power. To spur development in renewable energy, Google has invested in start¬up technology companies and internal R&D to drive down the costs of renewable electricity through its REC initiative. Google has also made financial investments totaling more than $850 million in renewable energy companies and projects. For example, Google helped create the largest residential solar fund in the U.S., and has invested in several renewable energy projects, including the world's largest wind project, the Alta Wind Energy Center, and solar power tower, the Ivanpah project. Ultimately, all of the projects in which Google has invested will deploy more than 1.7 GW of renewables. Google does not just invest in renewables and technology development — the company also buys and uses green power. In 2007, Google installed a 1.6 MW solar PV installation at its headquarters, the largest such facility at the time. In July 2010, Google signed a twentyyear power purchase agreement (PPA) for the output from 114 MW of wind power at the Story County II wind farm in Iowa. In 2010, this represented 4% of Google's total electricity consumption and is expected to cover almost 10% in 2011, the first complete year under contract. In April 2011, Google signed a similar PPA, this time for the output from 101 MW of wind power at the Minco II facility in Oklahoma. When up and running in 2012, Google expects these two projects to provide the equivalent of at least 15% of its electricity consumption. |
| Intel Corporation | 2011 | Partner of the Year | Tech and Telecom | In 2011 Intel increased its green power usage by 75%, from approximately 1.4 billion kWh to more than 2.5 billion kWh — equal to almost 90% of its U.S. electricity use. In addition to purchasing green power, Intel hosts a total of 12 solar systems on multiple locations in Oregon, New Mexico, Arizona, California, India, and Israel that total more than 3 MW. Several additional sites are due to be completed in 2011. These projects consist of ground and roof ¬mounted solar arrays, in addition to solar support structures in the parking lots. Intel's largest installation is an approximate 1 MW facility in Folsom, California, that spans 5.5 acres and produces more than 1.5 million kWh annually. "Solar kiosks" are located at each of Intel's solar sites to educate employees and visitors about the company's green power efforts, along with showing real ¬time information on electricity generated from these systems. |
| Kohl's Department Stores | 2011 | Partner of the Year | Retail | From 2009 to 2010, Kohl's increased its green power purchase by 60%, from approximately 850 million kWh to more than 1.3 billion kWh, enough to meet 100% of its purchased electricity needs. The largest retail sector host of solar power in North America, Kohl's has more than 100 solar locations in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, Oregon, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Arizona. The company retains the renewable energy certificates (RECs) for 1/3 of these installations. Kohl's activated solar arrays provide 20 to 40% of the power to each location they service, generating approximately 15 million kWh of green power annually. Kohl's actively engages stakeholders across its supply chain in an effort to maintain sustainable operations. In 2009, Kohl's began a program in collaboration with more than 300 top merchandise partners to measure supply chain sustainability. The program requires partners to complete quarterly surveys in order to measure sustainability improvements relating to energy efficiency and green power use. Kohl's has held a series of webinars and roundtables to share its commitment to the environment, highlighting its green power activities. Kohl's also shares its green power and sustainability efforts at various conferences each year. |
| Staples | 2011 | Partner of the Year | Retail | When Staples first committed to use green power nearly a decade ago, the goal was to purchase 2% of its total energy load, or nearly 9.5 million kWh of green power. Staples quickly exceeded its expectations and has continued to increase its green power use ever since. In 2011, Staples purchased green power equal to nearly 53% of its total electricity consumption, or 340 million kWh — double its 2010 purchase levels. Staples also deploys green energy technology at many of its facilities, including solar, fuel cells, and on¬site generation controls. In 2010, Staples expanded the number of sites where it hosts solar arrays from 28 to 34; additional sites are being considered this year. The company's on¬site electricity generating capacity is 10 MW, and within five years, Staples plans to increase the total installed capacity of alternative energy sources to 50 MW, a 500% increase. In addition to its commitment to green power, Staples operates 41 all¬ electric trucks that make deliveries to customers in multiple markets in the United States. Staples is also on the leading edge when it comes to educating customers, the general public, and suppliers about its green power use. |
| Adobe Systems Inc | 2011 | Green Power Purchasing | Tech and Telecom | Starting in 2008, the company embarked on a mission to achieve carbon neutrality for its headquarters by 2015, with a goal of operating net ¬zero facilities across its real estate portfolio. In late 2010, Adobe announced the installation of 12 Bloom Energy fuel cells at its San Jose campus. These fuel cells collectively provide approximately 30% of the campus' electricity needs, and after planned upgrades take place in 2012, they are expected to meet 80% of Adobe's San Jose power consumption. To reduce its use of fossil fuels, Adobe purchases green power in the form of clean biogas sourced from a landfill to power the fuel cells. In 2009, the company installed 20 Windspire wind turbines, and since then the wind turbines have consistently generated on¬site power for the company. To further reduce the company's carbon footprint, Adobe also purchases verifiable emission reductions (VERs) and renewable energy certificates (RECs) to offset its Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon emissions, respectively, for its U.S. and Canadian sites, and it is continuing to expand this program. |
| Allegheny College | 2011 | Green Power Purchasing | Education (Higher) | One of the charter signatories of the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment, Allegheny College has developed a Climate Action Plan and is actively pursuing its goal of becoming climate ¬neutral by 2020. In January 2011, Allegheny College committed to purchasing Green¬e certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) to match 100% of the college's electricity usage for three years, equal to approximately 15 million kWh per year. The green power purchase allows the college to significantly reduce its carbon footprint and move towards achieving its goal of climate neutrality by 2020. At the same time, the college is pursuing the implementation of many other environmentally responsible initiatives. Allegheny College has implemented energy¬ efficiency projects in campus buildings, established an on ¬campus composting facility, planted more than an acre of native species wildflowers to reduce grounds maintenance, and has developed a "Green Tour" for prospective students to highlight the campus's efforts to reduce its environmental impacts. |
| Datapipe, Inc. | 2011 | Green Power Purchasing | Tech and Telecom | Rooted in its belief that companies have a responsibility to mitigate the environmental impact of their operations, the company recently took the step of purchasing renewable energy certificates (RECs) equal to 100% of the electricity consumed each year by its U.S. offices and data centers. Datapipe has an annual purchase of nearly 56 million kWh of wind power for its U.S. operations. Datapipe's commitment to the environment extends beyond purchasing green power. The company has made energy conservation a top priority and uses sophisticated energy management technologies and energy efficient equipment, delivering a 55% drop in power demand compared to its baseline levels. The company has several other green initiatives, including using green building practices for new facilities, promoting recycling and waste reduction opportunities, incentivizing the use of mass transit for its employees, and rolling out a paperless billing option for its customers |
| Franklin & Marshall College | 2011 | Green Power Purchasing | Education (Higher) | Franklin & Marshall has been a supporter of green power for many years, purchasing wind power since 2002. Franklin & Marshall currently purchases wind ¬sourced renewable energy certificates (RECs) totaling more than 16 million kWh annually, equal to more than 80% of its electricity requirements. Franklin & Marshall has also led the charge for utility ¬scale solar in Pennsylvania by being the first to commit to a long ¬term solar renewable energy certificate (SREC) agreement. This is the first time that a retail electric customer in Pennsylvania has committed to purchasing RECs from a solar project prior to construction, demonstrating leadership not only amongst other higher education institutions in Pennsylvania but also across industries. Franklin & Marshall believes that sustainability and stewardship, as informed by the social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences, are inextricably linked in understanding humanity's place in the contemporary world. As such, the college has implemented a wide array of sustainability initiatives including energy efficiency programs, several green roofs, a bike sharing program, an organic garden as well as community gardens for faculty, staff, and students, a fair trade café, a sustainability themed house, a brownfield reclamation project, and an environmental action alliance student organization |
| Jackson Family Wines | 2011 | Green Power Purchasing | Wineries & Breweries | As a sign of its commitment, Jackson Family Wines purchases renewable energy certificates (RECs) equal to 130% of its annual electricity consumption. They've also moved into green power generation and are installing one of the largest solar cogeneration systems at a private facility, with 96 arrays producing electricity and hot water equal to almost 700,000 kWh annually. Jackson Family Wines takes extensive steps to reduce its electricity usage including installing procedures and equipment across its facilities to conserve over 9 million kWh annually. The company participates in a voluntary demand response program, removing more than 3 MW hours of demand from the grid when called upon. Additionally, they've completed two LEED® Gold certified projects and are pursuing certification for more than 20 other facilities. Jackson Family Wines also encourages its suppliers to use green power. Finally, the company encourages its employees to practice sustainability at home, and to help facilitate this, Jackson Family Wines purchases RECs on behalf of each of its 1,100 employees' home usage, providing each a certificate bearing their name and an explanation of the importance of using energy wisely. |
| Mercyhurst College | 2011 | Green Power Purchasing | Education (Higher) | In 2003, Mercyhurst made its first green power purchase covering 10% of the college's electricity needs. Later in 2008, Mercyhurst College increased the purchase to 30%. Currently, Mercyhurst College is using 100% green power and purchasing nearly 16 million kWh of wind and solar ¬generated renewable energy credits (RECs). The school also installed an on¬site solar system, which provides an additional 3,900 kWh of electricity each year Mercyhurst's commitment to the environment doesn't stop at using green power. The school also encourages ongoing participation in recycling and energy conservation, offers a major as well as minor in Sustainability Studies. The college is working on installing a compost system designed to accept an average of 200 pounds per day of compostable material, which aims to strengthen overall waste reduction efforts on campus while also reducing the need to purchase mulch. The college has also installed a green roof on one of its buildings, which reduces storm water runoff, extends the life of the roof, saves on energy costs, and provides educational opportunities for students and community members. |
| MetLife | 2011 | Green Power Purchasing | Insurance | MetLife began purchasing wind power in 2007 and has continued to demonstrate leadership by increasing its green power commitment in the intervening years. In 2011, MetLife purchased more than 65 million kWh of green power for the buildings it owns or operates, accounting for nearly 53% of its total U.S. electricity use. Purchasing green power is part of MetLife's broader carbon emissions reduction strategy, an initiative that has reduced the company's carbon emissions by nearly 40% since 2005. All 14 of MetLife's U.S. owned and/or operated buildings are ENERGY STAR certified, and six of them are LEED® certified. In addition, MetLife supports environmental sustainability by investing in ventures that will have a positive impact on the environment throughout its growing global enterprise. To date, MetLife has invested more than $1.6 billion in renewable energy projects. The company also encourages its business partners, suppliers, and vendors to use green power by including sustainability criteria in its request¬ for¬proposals template and weighting scores based on respondents' sustainability activities. MetLife communicates its green power purchasing to its many stakeholders — including 66,600 employees and more than 90 million customers in 60 countries — via internal and public websites, press releases, news stories, and its annual corporate social responsibility report. |
| Santa Clara University | 2011 | Green Power Purchasing | Education (Higher) | In 2004, SCU adopted a Comprehensive Policy on Sustainability. In 2006, SCU proposed a 20¬ year energy strategy. In 2007, Santa Clara University's President signed the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment. In 2010, SCU completed its first Climate Neutrality Action Plan, setting a goal to reach climate neutrality by the end of 2015. All the while, SCU has increased its commitment to purchasing green power. SCU's current green power commitment of 30 million kWh annually matches 100% of the university's electricity consumption. In addition to its green power purchase, the SCU campus is currently home to 1,050 kW of PV, and is working toward the goal of installing 3 MW of renewable energy generating capacity. In April 2011, SCU activated a 60¬ collector solar thermal system — the largest rooftop concentrating solar thermal installation built to date in California. The panels will produce an estimated 6,727 therms of energy annually and heat water for dining services, reducing water heating bills by as much as 70%. Finally, SCU is installing a smart microgrid, which ties its power source, transmission, distribution, and consumption data to weather reports, thereby maximizing energy savings. Once complete in December 2011, the smart microgrid is estimated to reduce energy consumption by 50% and save SCU about 20% in energy costs. |
| State Street Corporation | 2011 | Green Power Purchasing | Banking & Fin. Srvcs | In 2007, State Street began purchasing green power, and in 2010 the company nearly doubled its purchase to 110 million kWh of Green¬e certified green power, nearly 60% of State Street's total U.S. electricity use. State Street is committed to mitigating the effects of climate change and spreads awareness of its green power activities through its website, stakeholder calls, employee communication and outreach, annual corporate responsibility report, and environmental fairs in North America and Europe. State Street also combines its traditional investments in affordable housing with opportunities to invest in green power. It is the lead investor in a credit enhancement fund, managed by a nonprofit organization, whose sole purpose is to facilitate alternative energy use, especially solar for hot water and electricity generation, at 750 units in existing Massachusetts affordable housing developments. To date, the fund has installed solar panels capable of generating 1.9 MW of solar power. State Street's $5 million investment leveraged more than $17 million in other public and private funding for these investments. |
| University of Central Oklahoma | 2011 | Green Power Purchasing | Education (Higher) | Since University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) started purchasing wind power in 2006, it is the only university in Oklahoma to be 100% wind ¬powered. The university is purchasing 26 million kWh of green power annually through its local utility. To date, UCO has realized savings of more than $50,000 by switching to all wind power. In addition to purchasing wind power, the school is investigating the possibility of installing wind turbines on campus, which would supply power to the campus and be used for demonstration and educational purposes. UCO has clearly established its position as a national leader in sustainable best practices. UCO also has onsite biodiesel production, uses ENERGY STAR qualified products, was the first university in Oklahoma to institute a commercial car¬share program, developed one of the first sustainable bike¬share programs in the region, and garnered wins in both the Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Recycling categories of EPA's inaugural Game Day Challenge. |
| City of San Francisco, CA | 2011 | On-Site Generation | Government (Local) | The City of San Francisco, California, is a leader in on¬site green power generation, using more than 30 million kWh annually from its biogas facilities and municipal solar installations. Additionally, in the past year, the City installed two new municipal solar arrays, adding 135 kW to the city's existing 7.2 MW solar portfolio. San Francisco's solar installations are located on many city facilities, including the Moscone Convention Center, a water pollution control plant, a public health center, a recycling center, a public library, a MUNI transportation agency building, as well as the San Francisco International Airport. In 2010, San Francisco added a new milestone to its portfolio: California's largest urban, municipal solar project. The City installed 24,000 solar panels over an area the size of 12 football fields, tripling its municipal solar generating capacity from 2.2 MW to more than 7 MW. The City also operates more than 3 MW of biogas generation facilities. The City of San Francisco's goal is to obtain all city ¬used municipal electricity from pollution free sources, while creating jobs and driving economic growth. To help meet this goal, the City will continue to release bids for solar installations in 2012 and is planning for the installation of an in¬line hydroelectric renewable facility late next year. The City is also considering adding urban wind and ocean power projects to its portfolio. San Francisco also strongly encourages its businesses and residents to support clean power. In 2011, the City made $3.8 million available to San Franciscans for solar rebates through its GoSolarSF Program. |
| SC Johnson Consumer Brands | 2011 | On-Site Generation | Consumer Goods | A leader in on¬site green power generation, SC Johnson has taken steps to minimize its impact for decades. In 2003, a biogas ¬powered turbine was installed at Waxdale, the company's 2.2 million square foot facility in Sturtevant, Wis. that uses landfill gas from a local public landfill to generate nearly 27 million kWh of electricity annually. A second cogeneration turbine was constructed in 2004 to use a combination of landfill and natural gas. Together, these turbines generate the daily base load of electricity and between half and all the steam needed for the plant's operations. In 2008, SC Johnson purchased nearly 32 million kWh of wind power, enough to supply almost 50% of the electricity use of its Bay City, Mich. factory. In 2010, three SWIFT micro wind turbines were installed on a building at the Racine, Wis. headquarters to raise awareness of the urban applications of renewable energy. SC Johnson also has a 3MW wind turbine at its manufacturing plant in Mijdrecht, Netherlands. SC Johnson actively promotes green power by sharing its activities at conferences, public speaking engagements, and on its website. Tours of the Waxdale cogeneration operations are available to customers and suppliers, as well as non¬governmental and governmental organizations and educational institutions. |
| Portland, Oregon | 2011 | Green Power Community | Green Power Community | In 1993, the city released its Carbon Dioxide Reduction Strategy, which was followed eight years later by the joint Multnomah County ¬City of Portland Local Action Plan on Global Warming. As of 2009, local emissions had fallen to 2% below 1990 levels. Today, the city's Climate Action Plan has a community-wide goal of reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050. In 2010, as part of Portland's effort to reduce the region's carbon footprint, the city joined forces with its local utilities and challenged residents and businesses to support green power through their utility's voluntary program. The challenge was a great success, and by the end, Portland had more than tripled its goal of 1,000 new signups with a total of 3,130 new residential and business customers. Currently, Portland has the highest participation rate among Green Power Communities of its population size with more than 15% of its utilities' customers buying green power equal to nearly 8% of its total electricity load. Portland's city government is also leading by example. The city has set an aggressive target of using 100% renewable energy for its municipal operations in the near future. Portland currently produces 16 million kWh of electricity use from on¬site renewable resources, including a 1.7 MW biogas plant, a demonstration wind turbine, a biogas fuel cell, hydro generation, solar parking meters, solar pool and water heating, and solar electric installations totaling more than 400 kW. |
| Washington, D.C. | 2011 | Green Power Community | Green Power Community | The District's Government, businesses, institutions, and residents are collectively purchasing nearly 760 million kWh of green power annually. Alone, the District Government — through its Department of Real Estate Services and District Department of the Environment — purchases 244 million kWh of green power annually, or 50% of its total municipal load. The Community's green power leadership comes from a broad cross ¬section of the city's businesses, universities, embassies, hotels, restaurants, non¬profits, and residents. The Downtown DC Business Improvement District (Downtown BID) has led the charge in the commercial sector, while local energy suppliers have provided meaningful green power outreach to their customers. Through the collective purchases, more than 8% of the electricity sold in the District comes from green power. |
| City of San Francisco, CA | 2010 | On-Site Generation | Government (Local) | The City of San Francisco, California, is a leader in on¬site green power generation, using more than 25 million kWh annually from its biogas facilities and eight municipal solar installations. These solar installations are located on many facilities, including a water pollution control plant, a recycling center, San Francisco International Airport, and a public library. The City of San Francisco's goal is to obtain all City¬ used electricity from pollution ¬free sources, while creating jobs and driving economic growth. The City will soon triple its solar generating capacity from 2MW to more than seven once the solar installation on the City's Sunset Reservoir is complete. This solar array will feature more than 24,000 solar panels and is expected to become the largest municipal solar installation in California. The City is also in the process of placing additional solar arrays on other municipal buildings and is considering adding urban wind and ocean power projects to its portfolio. The City offers incentives to San Francisco residents and businesses to install solar power on their properties through its GoSolarSF program. |
| Phoenix Press, Inc. | 2010 | On-Site Generation | Media & Publishing | In 2010, the printer installed one of the state's largest wind turbines — a 100 kW turbine that produces approximately 165,000 kWh of electricity a year. The turbine provides 40% of Phoenix Press' yearly electricity use. In addition to providing electricity, the highly¬ visible wind turbine serves as an educational and community centerpiece. The printer also conducts turbine and facility tours for community residents. |
| BD | 2010 | Green Power Purchaser | Health Care | Within the past year, BD has increased its total green power commitment more than 200% to more than 200 million kWh of green power, purchasing a combination of renewable energy certificates (RECs) and utility green power products. This purchase covers nearly 40% of its U.S. operations. BD spreads awareness of green power through its sales presentations to potential customers and a number of corporate¬wide communications, which include an annual report, an annual sustainability report, press releases, and website. One of BD's environmental goals is to increase its green power use to 25% of its total global energy consumption by 2015 |
| BNY Mellon | 2010 | Green Power Purchaser | Banking & Fin. Srvcs | In 2010, the company announced a 5 ¬year agreement to purchase an additional 133 million renewable energy certificates (RECs), bringing its total green power usage to more than 229 million kWh. The bank's purchase of RECs and utility green power products supplies more than 75% of its electricity needs. To promote its green power commitment internally, BNY Mellon created a dedicated microsite accessible to all 47,000 employees on the company's intranet. The site features stories highlighting the company's green power investments, milestones, key initiatives, and recognition. BNY Mellon promotes its green power use to its stakeholders through traditional media relations as well as using the BNY Mellon.com website and corporate social responsibility reports. Additionally, the company's cost, savings, and revenue accomplishments related to sustainability practices are promoted to potential new clients as a demonstration of BNY Mellon's environmental commitment. |
| Carnegie Mellon University | 2010 | Green Power Purchaser | Education (Higher) | Today, Carnegie Mellon purchases nearly 87 million kWh of green power annually, enough to cover 75% of its electricity needs. In addition to purchasing wind¬ derived renewable energy certificates (RECs), Carnegie Mellon also generates green power on¬site through solar systems located on three campus buildings. The first system is located on a campus office building and is one of the largest solar arrays in Pittsburgh; a second system is located on a building constructed for the 2005 Department of Energy Solar Decathlon; and, the last solar array is found on the Robert L. Preger Intelligent Workplace located on Margaret Morrison Carnegie Hall, one of the original landmark buildings on campus. The Solar Decathlon building is now permanently installed on campus and is used as a meeting space and demonstration of green design practices. Carnegie Mellon is committed to the study of environmental sciences and the deployment of sustainable practices, making environmental research and action a university ¬wide priority. Among its accomplishments, Carnegie Mellon is home to one of the first green dormitories in the nation, owns 10 LEED ¬certified buildings with two more completed and pending review, has 21 centers that focus on environmental research, and presented one of the first courses in green chemistry in the country. |
| Chicago Public Schools | 2010 | Green Power Purchaser | Government (Local) | This past year, the Board significantly increased its green power use and purchases more than 107 million kWh of green power annually, representing 20% of its total electricity use. Additionally, it produces solar power on¬site at 16 schools and counting, totaling over 165,000 kWh annually. The Board of Education for the City of Chicago's environmental action plan lays out 11 goals and 26 strategies to engage the entire district in environmental stewardship, from energy conservation to school gardening. The Board plans to initiate age¬ appropriate science curricula and lesson extensions to teach students about green power, carbon management, and energy efficiency. In addition to educating students, parents, and staff on the importance of green power, the Board also encourages other school districts to purchase green power and integrate clean energy into their curriculums. |
| Harris Bank | 2010 | Green Power Purchaser | Banking & Fin. Srvcs | Harris Bank has become a sustainability leader by purchasing 100% green power. In 2010, Harris Bank purchased more than 91 million kWh of wind ¬derived renewable energy certificates (RECs). The company has also significantly reduced its overall energy use, achieved LEED certification for two buildings, and hosted an annual office supply exchange where Harris departments can swap unwanted or unused office supplies. Harris Bank informs and educates stakeholders about its green power commitment through its websites, press releases, and other outreach efforts. The Bank also encourages employees to volunteer for sustainability ¬related community organizations and events, such as ChicaGO Green in 2010. |
| Indianapolis Zoo | 2010 | Green Power Purchaser | Museums. Parks and Zoos | The Indianapolis Zoo purchases more than 14 million kWh of green power from a local utility, enough green power to cover 100% of its electricity needs. The Zoo The Zoo highlights its green initiatives and 100% green power status through building signage, maps, its annual report, and promotional materials. As part of its broader environmental efforts, the Zoo has implemented a host of environmental initiatives including a comprehensive recycling and composting program. The Zoo also maintains and promotes the website www.mycarbonpledge.com, which provides guests and other Zoo audiences the opportunity to commit to reducing their carbon footprint. |
| Intel Corporation | 2010 | Green Power Purchaser | Tech and Telecom | This past year, Intel increased its green power usage by 10% from approximately 1.3 billion kWh to more than 1.4 billion kWh, equal to more than 50% of its U.S. electric use. In addition to purchasing green power, Intel hosts solar systems on multiple locations in Oregon, New Mexico, Arizona, and California and will total nearly 3MW by year end. These projects consist of ground and roof¬ mounted solar arrays, in addition to solar support structures in the parking lots. Intel's largest installation is an approximate 1 MW facility in Folsom, California, that spans 5.5 acres and will produce more than 1.5 million kWh annually. "Solar kiosks" are located at each of Intel's solar sites to educate employees and visitors about the company's green power efforts, along with showing real¬ time information on electricity generated from these systems. Intel has developed a social networking platform called "Planet Blue," which is helping increase employee awareness of its commitment to green power. This platform provides opportunities for employees to collaborate on sustainability projects. Intel plans to continue expansion of its "Green Intel" intranet forum where employees can learn about the company's environmental initiatives and shares ideas for work and at home. Some employees have used the "share" feature to discuss the details of solar panel installations at their homes. |
| Pearson | 2010 | Green Power Purchaser | Media & Publishing | Since joining the Green Power Partnership in 2004, Pearson has dramatically increased its green power purchase from almost 2 million kWh to more than 157 million kWh. This purchase includes a combination of renewable energy certificates (RECs) and utility green power products. The company's U.S. operations now run on 100% green power. Pearson added its first on¬site solar installation to its green power portfolio in 2009 and this year has started construction on its second solar project. The company is also considering constructing a wind turbine at one of its Midwest locations in 2011. In 2009 Pearson developed "Planet Pearson," an employee intranet dedicated to the company's environmental commitments. By the beginning of 2011, Pearson will expand the scope of the website to external audiences and will include communications promoting green power. Pearson is in the process of developing marketing, sales, and human resources environmental communication materials to help its employees explain the company's environmental commitments. |
| Port of Portland | 2010 | Green Power Purchaser | Government (Local) | The Port of Portland recently conducted a greenhouse gas inventory of all operations and found that approximately half of its carbon emissions were associated with its electricity use. To reduce these emissions, in 2010 the Port increased its green power commitment from 35 million kWh to approximately 75 million kWh of wind¬ derived renewable energy certificates (RECs) to cover its entire electricity needs. In addition to purchasing green power, the Port also produces 30,000 kWh of green power through solar panels on the Portland International Airport's canopy. The Port retains the RECs from this system. |
| State of Illinois | 2010 | Green Power Purchaser | Government (State) | In 2010, the State purchased 176 million kWh of green power through a combination of renewable energy certificates and utility green power products. Green power now accounts for 33% of the State government's electricity use and is one of many environmentally preferable commodities that the State procures. Each year the State purchases recycled content paper products, green cleaning supplies, hybrid and flex¬fuel vehicles, and green building materials. The State of Illinois also advocates for the development of projects and funds such projects to improve the availability of green energy supplies within its borders. Over the past two fiscal years, the State has provided a total of nearly $5.1 million in grant and rebate support to residential, commercial, government, and non¬profit entities to install on¬site renewable energy systems. Additionally, the state granted more than $25 million in federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to community ¬scale and large¬scale green power projects and awards tax credits and other financing assistance to large¬scale green power generators, including wind farms and biomass plants. Spurred by this support, at the end of 2009 Illinois had more than 1,800 megawatts of installed wind generation capacity — enough to provide emissions¬ free power to about 500,000 homes. |
| Kohl's Department Stores | 2010 | Partner of the Year | Retail | From 2009 to 2010, Kohl's increased its green power purchase by 60%, from approximately 850 million kWh to more than 1.3 billion kWh, achieving 100% green power usage. Kohl's is one of the world's largest retail solar hosts, with almost 100 solar systems activated in California, New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Connecticut. The company retains the renewable energy certificates (RECs) for 1/3 of these installations. 10 additional systems are under construction. Kohl's activated solar arrays provide 20 to 40% of the power to each store they service, generating approximately 15 million kWh of green power annually. Kohl's sustainability team actively engages stakeholders across its supply chain. In 2009, Kohl's began collaborating with its 300 top merchandise vendors to measure supply chain sustainability. Kohl's requires these vendors to complete quarterly surveys in order to measure sustainability improvements relating to energy efficiency and green power use. Kohl's has held a series of webinars and vendor roundtables to share its commitment to the environment, highlighting its green power activities. Kohl's also shares its green power and sustainability story with other retailers at various conferences each year. |
| Motorola, Inc. | 2010 | Partner of the Year | Tech and Telecom | Motorola joined the Green Power Partnership in 2009 and has already increased its renewable energy certificate purchase by more than 50%, from approximately 78 million kWh to 119 million kWh. Motorola's green power purchase represents more than 30% of its United States electricity use. Motorola promotes its green power use both to stakeholders and employees around the world. Externally, Motorola promotes its green power initiatives through press releases, its public website, and a display at its Innovation Center for visitors, located at its global headquarters in Illinois. |
| TD Bank | 2010 | Partner of the Year | Banking & Fin. Srvcs | In 2010, TD Bank purchased more than 240 million kWh of renewable energy certificates. These wind-derived RECs supply 100% of the bank's electricity needs. TD Bank actively promotes its green power purchase in press releases and other materials. The Bank's use of green power is also prominently featured on in¬store monitors and electronic messaging boards. TD Bank educates its staff about its green power commitment through an employee intranet site that also provides tips on how employees can practice sustainability at home. |
| Whole Foods Market | 2010 | Partner of the Year | Retail | Whole Foods Market was the first Fortune 500® company to purchase wind power for 100% of its electricity use across its United States operations. In 2010, the company increased its purchase to 815 million kWh of wind ¬based renewable energy certificates (RECs), keeping pace with the company's continued growth. While the majority of Whole Foods Market's green power consists of RECs, green power is produced through solar systems located on a distribution center and 14 retail stores across the nation. The company retains the RECs for four of these installations. The company has also incorporated fuel cell technology at two of its stores, is installing a 100% bio¬fuel generator at one of its commissaries, and is evaluating on¬site wind. Showcasing green power and its benefits has become standard operating procedure. Whole Foods Market encourages and educates its stakeholders to become active participants in green power initiatives. |
| Corvallis, Oregon Community | 2010 | Green Power Community | Green Power Community | In 2005, Corvallis was purchasing a little over 17 million kWh of green power. Today, Corvallis' green power use has reached more than 100 million kWh annually and makes up approximately 15% of the community's total electricity consumption. Corvallis' community¬wide participation is the result of strong collaborative efforts between the city government, residents, businesses, and educational institutions. In 2005, by way of a City Council Resolution, the Corvallis local government chose to lead by example by purchasing 7% green power for all city¬ owned facilities and urged its residents and businesses to do the same. Oregon State University is the largest single purchaser of green power in Corvallis and this is in part due to the "green energy" fee that students approved in 2007. The University purchases more than 51 million kWh of green power annually, accounting for more than half of its overall electricity use. |
| Park City, Utah | 2010 | Green Power Community | Green Power Community | Park City first committed to purchasing green power in 2003 through a City Council Resolution. In 2009, Park City developed a website, ParkCityGreen.org, to promote sustainability practices and green power to residents and businesses. Over the first nine months, the website received more than 11,000 total visits. Park City also launched a "My Sustainable Year" campaign to further increase traffic on ParkCityGreen.org and to promote weekly green idea challenges. Challenges have included eating vegan for a week, using only cold water, and calculating your carbon footprint. Through the My Sustainable Year program, the ParkCityGreen.org website is mentioned over 15 times each week on the local radio station, is included in a monthly newspaper column, and receives additional support from local non¬profits. In response to such extensive outreach efforts, more than 10% of the community now purchases green power, equaling over 11 million kWh annually. |
| Applied Materials | 2009 | On-Site Generation | Tech and Telecom | Applied Materials' annual green power usage, including on¬site solar generation at its facilities in Texas and California, is more than 34 million kWh. Applied Materials is actively promoting the concept of turning parking lots into power plants. The company is leading this effort through its 2MW rooftop¬ and parking lot¬ based solar array system at its research and development campus in California. This array is among the largest on an existing corporate campus in the United States. In addition to its on¬site generation, Applied Materials has purchased more than 31 million kWh of green power from projects located in Texas and California. Applied Materials expects to install more on¬site solar generation capacity at additional facilities, as well as purchase additional green power from local utilities. To promote green power and environmental awareness, Applied Materials has developed creative outreach and educational methods, including a "Bright Future" card game. This card game is used by teachers across the country to educate students about renewable energy, sustainability practices, and about the importance of working together to protect the planet. |
| Butte College | 2009 | On-Site Generation | Education (Higher) | Butte College set a goal of reaching "carbon neutrality" by 2015. To achieve this goal, Butte College is ramping up its on¬site solar electricity generation in three phases by more than a million kWh annually. Butte College installed its first 5,700 solar panels on a four¬ acre field in 2005. In 2009, Butte College completed a second phase of on¬site generation by installing four additional solar arrays, bringing the total number of panels to over 10,000. These additional panels generate 1.6 million kWh of electricity annually and have saved the college $300,000 annually in energy costs, reducing its utility bills by a third. Butte College currently produces 39% of its electricity needs through its solar arrays, generating more than 2.7 million kWh per year. Proposals for a third phase are in consideration. To promote green power and educate the student body on the benefits of on¬site solar electricity, the College has placed four interactive kiosks on its campus. The kiosks include information on the three-phase solar installation plan, solar electricity generation, and real time solar production. The campus is also helping to train a future "green" workforce by launching a certificate program in sustainable studies and offering green building courses and workshops on the weekends. The college's solar arrays are incorporated into courses' curriculum to show students solar technology at work. |
| Wal¬Mart Stores, Inc. / California and Texas Facilities | 2009 | On-Site Generation | Retail | Wal¬Mart Stores Inc. is steadily investing in green power as part of its long¬ term goal of being supplied by 100% renewable energy. During the past two years, the company has taken steps to increase the amount of green power used at its California¬ and Texas ¬based stores, Sam's Club locations, and distribution centers. In 2008, Wal¬Mart's on¬site green power produced and wind power purchased totaled more than 240 million kWh of electricity. The company installed company ¬owned solar PV arrays at many facilities in California. As Wal¬Mart developed and implemented its solar program, it shared lessons learned with other retailers and business entities to further promote green power within its industry sector. Wal¬Mart also engages its customers by offering renewable energy systems for homes and businesses at nine of its Sam's Club stores in southern California. For its 350 Texas stores and facilities, Wal¬Mart has established a four¬ year wind power purchase agreement with a wind farm located in Notrees, Texas. This wind farm is expected to generate 226 million kWh of renewable energy annually, which will supply up to 15% of the electricity demand for Wal¬Mart's Texas stores and facilities. |
| Beaulieu Commercial | 2009 | Green Power Purchasing | Clothing & Textile | In 2008, the company made a purchase of over nine million kWh of wind¬ derived renewable energy certificates (RECs), supplying 100% green power for its U.S. facilities. As part of Beaulieu's overall environmental strategy, the company's carpet tile backing is made of 85% postconsumer material and all of its carpet products contain some portion of postconsumer material. To promote its green power purchase both internally and externally, Beaulieu Commercial has produced and conducted several press releases, press conferences, and print, radio, and television advertising. Beaulieu Commercial's public Web site shares information about its green power purchase with a broad audience. |
| Bloomberg LP | 2009 | Green Power Purchasing | Media & Publishing | In 2008, Bloomberg purchased more than 155 million kWh of wind¬ and biomass¬ generated renewable energy certificates (RECs). This purchase covers 64% of the annual electricity use across Bloomberg's U.S. operations. Purchasing green power is part of Bloomberg's larger initiative to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, which also includes energy efficiency improvements and aggressive waste reduction strategies. The company is also planning to install on¬site solar systems to power its U.S. facilities. Bloomberg communicates the importance of its green power purchase to its workforce, vendors, and stakeholders through several outreach tools, including tradeshows, employee education programs, and workshops. |
| EarthColor, Inc. | 2009 | Green Power Purchasing | Media & Publishing | In 2008, EarthColor purchased more than 27 million kWh of wind¬ derived renewable energy certificates (RECs), which supplies 100% of the company's electricity needs. Having purchased wind energy since 2006, EarthColor actively highlights its commitment to renewable energy through interviews, press conferences, speaking events, newsletters, and at industry trade shows. EarthColor also encourages its clients and supply chain partners to embrace the benefits of renewable energy through its Client/Merchant Education Program. |
| FoulgerPratt Management, Inc. | 2009 | Green Power Purchasing | Real Estate | In 2009, Foulger¬Pratt Management purchased more than 34 million kWh of wind¬ derived renewable energy certificates (RECs), which powers 74% of its facilities. To increase awareness of its purchase, Foulger¬Pratt Management installed plaques that announce its green power commitment in each of the main lobbies of its buildings and informed its 225 tenant firms through an internal newsletter. The company also hung a large banner announcing the purchase on its Potomac, Maryland, building, which faces a major highway and can be seen by an estimated 70,000 cars daily. |
| Motorola, Inc. | 2009 | Green Power Purchasing | Tech and Telecom | Motorola, Inc. increased its green power purchase by 55% from 2008 to 2009, for a total of more than 78 million kWh of renewable energy certificates (RECs). The wind¬ generated RECs supply 20% of the company's U.S. electricity needs. Motorola promotes its green power purchase through press releases and its public Web site. The company has been able to include its workforce in its environmental promotion efforts — more than 10,000 employee volunteers participated in Motorola's green ¬themed Global Day of Service, where employees worldwide participated in various community and environmental projects. |
| Neenah Paper, Inc. | 2009 | Green Power Purchasing | Industrial goods & Services | Neenah Paper has been purchasing green power since 2005, and currently purchases more than 46 million kWh annually. Neenah plans to continue its green power investment in direct relationship to its sales growth. The purchase of green power is one part of the company's overall commitment to sustainability. Neenah promotes its green power use through public speaking engagements at sustainability conferences, press releases, participation in the Green¬e Advisory Council for the print, paper and packaging industry, and its "Conservation" newsletter series, an educational marketing piece about its environmental initiatives. |
| Shaklee Corporation | 2009 | Green Power Purchasing | Consumer Goods | In 2000, Shaklee Corporation became one of the first consumer products companies to purchase 100% green power. Since then, Shaklee has demonstrated a continued commitment to green power. In 2008, the company purchased more than 6 million kWh of wind¬ derived renewable energy certificates (RECs) to cover its entire electricity needs. It has also begun exploring opportunities to install solar photovoltaic technologies at its facility. To reach out to both internal and external audiences about its green power purchase as well as future sustainability efforts, Shaklee has used various outreach tools, including a public Web site, press releases, and media outreach. |
| Steelcase Inc. | 2009 | Green Power Purchasing | Consumer Goods | Steelcase is taking meaningful steps toward a more sustainable future. One example of this is Steelcase's recent agreement to purchase all of the green power produced from the "Wege Wind Energy Farm, provided by Steelcase" in Texas for the wind farm's first five years of operation. Through this commitment, Steelcase has purchased enough green power to equal a minimum of 20% of its annual electricity usage, or more than 28 million kWh in 2009. This purchase represents roughly a ten-fold increase from 2007. Steelcase spreads the word about green power and its commitment through media outreach and interviews, sales team communications, marketing brochures, its Corporate Responsibility report, and a white paper on the Wege Wind Energy Farm |
| The Joinery | 2009 | Green Power Purchasing | Consumer Goods | The Joinery has a history of supporting green power, beginning in 1996 with its first purchase of wind-derived renewable energy certificates (RECs). In 2004, it increased its wind power purchase to cover 100% of its electricity needs. In 2008, The Joinery purchased 280 million kWh of green power, again equal to its entire electricity consumption. The Joinery plans to install on¬site solar photovoltaic panels on its facility by 2012. The Joinery educates its staff and customers of its green power commitment and its benefits through company seminars, store window stickers, brochures and flyers, speaking events, conferences, and presentations. In addition to The Joinery's commitment to green power, the company has put into action several other sustainability programs. To reduce waste, The Joinery's paper products are produced from 100% postconsumer recycled materials and the company donates its leftover scrap wood and sawdust. The Joinery has also shortened its work week to a four¬day work week to limit employee commuting and has worked to meet various environmental standards and certifications, including the Forest Stewardship Council certification. |
| Western Pennsylvania Energy Consortium | 2009 | Green Power Purchasing | Government (Local) | The Western Pennsylvania Energy Consortium (WPEC) is comprised of the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pittsburgh Water & Sewer, The Sports and Exhibition Authority, and the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. These organizations have come together to form a single purchasing authority focused on green power initiatives and other environmental programs. In 2008, WPEC made a purchase of more than 11 million kWh of renewable energy certificates (RECs), which were used to supply 10% of WPEC's annual electricity needs. Through this conglomerate, affiliated members now have the opportunity to purchase larger amounts of green power at more affordable prices. During 2009, WPEC plans to increase its use of green power to 15% of its annual electricity needs. This green power increase will assist the consortium toward its goal of reducing its 2003 greenhouse gas emissions level by 20% by 2023. To increase awareness of its green power purchase, WPEC communicates with media and the public through press releases, press conferences, and seminars. WPEC attracts additional members into the consortium by holding press conferences at nearby universities and county government facilities. |
| Deutsche Bank AG | 2009 | Partner of the Year | Banking & Fin. Srvcs | In 2009, the company made an annual purchase of 160 million kWh of wind¬ derived renewable energy certificates (RECs), which represents 100% of the electricity needs for its U.S. operations. This purchase parallels the growth in the organization's international renewable portfolio. Green power plays an important part in Deutsche Bank's overall environmental strategy to become carbon neutral by 2012. The bank communicates its green power commitment to employees, customers, and the community at large through its Banking¬on¬Green.com public Web site and news releases. |
| Intel Corporation | 2009 | Partner of the Year | Tech and Telecom | Intel's current green power purchase of more than 1.3 billion kWh is equal to nearly 50% of its annual U.S. electric use. During 2008, Intel initiated a pilot program to install on¬site solar PV systems at several Intel facilities. Intel has completed its first two U.S. solar installations in Hillsboro, Oregon, and Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Both projects are designed to highlight the benefits of solar energy use in data centers. These projects are considered first steps of a larger program to identify and implement cost-effective green power opportunities at additional Intel facilities. To increase awareness of its commitment to green power within its organization, the company's intranet site features a "Green Intel" forum where employees from around the world can learn about Intel's environmental initiatives, learn how they can participate, and share ideas for work and at home. |
| Kohl's Department Stores | 2009 | Partner of the Year | Retail | Since joining the Green Power Partnership in 2006, Kohl's has steadily increased its green power usage. Kohl's current commitment of more than 600 million kWh supplies 50% of its electricity needs. Kohl's is one of the world's largest retail solar hosts, with 69 solar power systems activated in California, New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Connecticut. The company retains the renewable energy certificates (RECs) for 30 of those installations. Ten additional systems are in construction. Its activated solar arrays provide 20 to 40% of the power to each store they serve. Additionally, Kohl's purchases RECs and utility green power products. Kohl's communicates its green power commitment to employees through an intranet Web site and video. Kohl's spreads the word to the public about its green power use through news releases, its annual report, and a dedicated sustainability Web site, www.kohlsgreenscene.com. |
| Mohawk Fine Papers, Inc. | 2009 | Partner of the Year | Ag. & Nat. Resources | In 2003, Mohawk became one the first large¬scale paper production facilities in the United States to support its operations with wind energy, with a renewable energy certificate (REC) purchase of four million kWh. Since then, Mohawk Fine Papers has progressively increased its level of purchase to 110 million kWh annually. This commitment represents the purchased electricity use for all of Mohawk's manufacturing, converting, and distribution operations in New York and Ohio. In 2009, Mohawk extended this commitment to cover the emissions from purchased electricity of its off¬site product manufacturing by selected suppliers. Mohawk shares its enthusiasm for renewable energy and its social, environmental, and economic benefits with its stakeholders, employees, and external community through a variety of communications efforts. This includes press releases, print advertising, a public Web site, radio and television appearances, and supplier, distributor and customer outreach. To reduce its climate change impact, Mohawk has adopted several greenhouse gas emissions reduction strategies. |
| Kohl's Department Stores | 2008 | On-Site Generation | Retail | Kohl's currently buys or produces power from green sources equal to 20% of its annual electricity use for stores, offices and distribution centers nationwide. This amount equals more than 236 million kWh annually. Kohl's plans to maintain its 20% purchase through 2009, and is on contract to have 133 on-site solar PV arrays installed on rooftops in Oregon, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Connecticut and Maryland. Kohl's has currently activated 48 of these systems, with 52 more planned by the end of 2008. |
| Lundberg Family Farms | 2008 | On-Site Generation | Food & Beverage | Lundberg Family Farms' annual purchase of over 4 million kWh of California wind-derived renewable energy certificates is enough to supply more than 100% of the operation's total electricity use. Lundberg's purchase currently represents the largest U.S. renewable energy commitment by an agribusiness. In addition to this purchase, Lundberg installed two solar PV arrays on company warehouses, which produce nearly 688 thousand kWh annually. Both systems feed into the California power grid, enabling them to contribute extra power to the grid during summer months when the state's power demands are the highest. Lundberg features its purchase on product packaging and spreads the word about green power through its public web page, speaking events, newsletters and at industry trade shows. Multiple local broadcast stations have also featured stories about the company's green power activities. |
| City of Houston, TX | 2008 | Green Power Purchasing | Government (Local) | As part of the City of Houston's comprehensive renewable energy, the city has bought more than 350 million kWh of wind-derived renewable energy certificates, enough to meet nearly 27% of its annual electricity needs, at a cost lower than traditional electricity. Houston has a goal of buying an added 40 MW of wind energy and hosting several solar photovoltaic projects. The city actively sends out communications to the media and public through press releases, newsletters, and website announcements to increase awareness about green power. The city of Houston also developed two websites: one helps the public learn about green power benefits, and the other compares the costs of different kinds of energy, including green power. |
| The Estée Lauder Companies, Inc. / Operations | 2008 | Green Power Purchasing | Consumer Goods | The Estée Lauder Companies 36 million kWh wind purchase powers 100% of its U.S. manufacturing, distribution, research and development and owned office spaces. In addition to the wind purchase, the company also installed a 600 kW solar photovoltaic array at its Oakland, New Jersey facility, one of the largest solar PV projects in the state. In 2008, The Estée Lauder Companies is planning to install additional on-site systems to power other facilities within its operations. The company's U.S. purchase is part of a larger initiative to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, which also includes purchases for global facilities, and preferential status to the company's suppliers that use green power. The Estée Lauder Companies communicates its environmental values to customers, employees and shareholders as a vital part of its sustainability goals. The company uses window decals and ads to promote its green power purchase to customers in retail stores, and actively communicates to employees and stakeholders through newsletters, reports, and employee education events. |
| ING | 2008 | Green Power Purchasing | Banking & Fin. Srvcs | ING's annual purchase of more than 75 million kWh of wind-derived renewable energy certificates (RECs) supplies 100% of the electricity needs for its U.S. operations. ING's parent company, ING Group, played an important role in developing ING's U.S. green power procurement strategy, drawing on the company's experience in buying green power for its Netherlands, Switzerland and Belgium operations. Through its green power purchase, ING seeks to increase awareness of environmental issues. The company has successfully expanded its outreach to influence those within and outside the organization, using e-mails, presentations, surveys, on-site displays and newsletters. The company's first green power purchase inspired employees to create a corporate-wide greening effort called "Orange Goes Green," which educates employees about renewable energy. Through this program, ING encourages its employees to sign up for wind power at home and to also adopt energy efficiency measures. Part of ING's green power purchase includes participation in a Connecticut green power program through the local utility, which earmarks a free solar PV system to a local community for every 1 million kWh purchase. ING plans to have its donated systems placed on a library and a school. |
| Merritt 7 Venture, LLC | 2008 | Green Power Purchasing | Real Estate | Merritt 7 Corporate Park made a renewable energy certificate (REC) purchase of more than 21 million kWh, or 100% of the organization's remaining electricity use. The company has taken a broad view of energy efficiency, from replacing water pumps and common area lighting fixtures, to upgrading elevator mechanical equipment and replacing cooling towers. Merritt 7 also installed data metering devices to enable the landlord to record electricity consumption and provide control of unusual conditions or spikes in electricity use. |
| Oregon State University | 2008 | Green Power Purchasing | Education (Higher) | Oregon State University's (OSU) purchase of nearly 67 million kWh of renewable energy certificates (RECs) is equal to nearly 75% of the total campus electricity consumption. The school funded its purchase through a student "Green Fee" approved during a general campus election, and resulted in a purchase of RECs from a mix of biogas, biomass and wind resources. The Green Fee produced the highest voter turnout in OSU history, with more than 70% of voting students supporting the initiative. As a part of OSU's purchase agreement, its green power supplier will set aside a part of each payment into a reinvestment fund that will finance an on-site solar photovoltaic project in 2009. The University advises students about the Green Fee and the REC purchase at table displays during campus events. It also offers information to help students reach the campus goal of 100%. |
| PepsiCo, Inc | 2008 | Green Power Purchasing | Food & Beverage | PepsiCo currently buys or produces power from green sources equal to 100% of its electricity purchased in the United States. This amount totals more than 1.1 billion kW hours annually. In 2008, PepsiCo increased its purchase amount by nearly 40 million kWh per year to keep pace with growth in the company's U.S. operations. Buying green power is only one aspect of PepsiCo's comprehensive and continuing program of environmental sustainability. PepsiCo focuses on internal efficiency improvements, communication with supply chain partners and external opportunities to reach beyond the boundary of the company's own facilities. PepsiCo demonstrated leadership through organizing a green supply chain initiative with three of its bottlers. The bottlers followed PepsiCo's lead and each independently bought 100% green power for their own operations. |
| The Philadelphia Phillies | 2008 | Green Power Purchasing | Sports teams & venues | The Philadelphia Phillies currently buys 20 million kWh annually, enough to power 100% of the annual electricity use for Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies' purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs) are from wind and biomass resources. The Phillies "Red Goes Green" announcement included notable attendees such as EPA's regional administrator, the governor of Pennsylvania, the mayor of Philadelphia, Major League Baseball's executive vice president and chief information officer, as well as the Phillies' president and chief executive officer. A Major League Baseball game followed the announcement, where players sported green hats, drawing questions from both media and fans. Broadcasters explained the significance of the green hats and the REC purchase to viewers during a live TV broadcast. The media event drew attention from local, regional and national news agencies including ESPN, FOX, CNN, CBS, NBC, ABC, Sports Illustrated and many more. Since the event, four other major league clubs have contacted the Phillies to learn more about its REC purchase. |
| Powdr Resorts | 2008 | Green Power Purchasing | Recreation | Powdr Resorts' annual purchase of nearly 50 million kWh of wind-derived renewable energy certificates (RECs) is enough to supply 100% of the operation's total electricity use. With many visitors each season, Powdr Resorts recognizes a great opportunity to reach out to its guests and share its story about green power. On its website, www.saveoursnow.net, the organization prominently provides details about its renewable energy purchase, and also holds community meetings to educate others on what they can do. Powdr Resorts also shares green power news in vacation planning guides provided to hotels and resort visitors. |
| U.S. Air Force | 2008 | Green Power Purchasing | Government (Federal) | The U.S. Air Force made an annual purchase of more than 899 million kWh. The purchases made by 54 bases consist of a varied resource mix of biomass, wind, landfill gas and solar, delivered by a diverse product mix of renewable energy certificates (RECs), utility-delivered products and on-site systems. The U.S. Air Force has complemented its renewable power purchases with several on-site renewable energy projects. Projects include wind farms at Warren Air Force Base (AFB) (3.3 MW) and Ascension Island (2.7 MW). In addition, the U.S. Air Force has a landfill gas project at Hill AFB (2.3 MW), as well as 3 solar photovoltaic arrays at Nellis AFB (14.2 MW), Luke AFB (a 0.4 MW) and March AFB (0.4 MW). The solar PV array at Nellis AFB is considered the largest solar array in the Western Hemisphere. By taking part in industry and federal workshops, U.S. Air Force energy leaders encourage participants to embrace the benefits of green power. |
| Bellingham, Washington Community | 2008 | Partner of the Year | Government (Local) | In early 2007, by a unanimous city council vote, the Bellingham local government chose to lead by example by buying 100% green power for all city-owned facilities. Later, the city partnered with the local utility's green power program and a local non-profit organization to launch the Bellingham Green Power Community Challenge. The goal of the challenge was to increase green power purchasing among the city's residents and businesses to more than 2% of the city-wide electricity use. To date, the community has far surpassed that original goal and is now buying more than 81 million kWh of renewable energy certificates (RECs). This amounts to nearly 11% of the community's total electricity use. More than 2,400 households and businesses have enrolled to buy green power through the challenge. |
| Cisco Systems, Inc. | 2008 | Partner of the Year | Tech and Telecom | In June 2008, Cisco Systems announced a corporate global greenhouse gas reduction goal of 25% in absolute terms by 2012, sending a strong message that corporate growth and environmental protection can go hand in hand. Cisco is using green power both in the United States and internationally as a strategy to meet its greenhouse gas reduction goal. The company's annual purchase in the United States of 378 million kWh of green power is supplied mainly from biomass, wind, solar and small hydro sources. Cisco's purchase represents nearly 44% of its total annual electricity across its U.S. operations. To support the green power industry, Cisco buys from small and mid-sized suppliers. Cisco plans to increase its green power purchase by 22 million kWh in 2009, including various on-site renewable electric systems for its facilities. |
| Intel Corporation | 2008 | Partner of the Year | Tech and Telecom | Intel Corporation powers over 46% of its U.S. facilities through the purchase of more than 1.3 billion kWh a year of renewable energy certificates (RECs) generated from wind, solar, geothermal and biomass sources. Intel's purchase is just one part of a multi-faceted approach to protect the environment, and one the company hopes will spur added development and demand for renewable energy. In addition, Intel Corporation's venture capital arm, Intel Capital, invests selectively in various Cleantech-related domains, including solar PV, with the objective to hasten innovation in start-ups and use of renewables worldwide. Besides promoting greater energy efficiency in its products and facilities, over the last six years Intel has invested over $21 million towards more than 250 energy conservation projects that saved over 500 million kWh. To increase awareness of this landmark purchase, the company launched a comprehensive communications plan around the announcement which included press outreach in both traditional and social media publications, as well as print and online advertising. Intel launched a new environmentally-focused website. |
| University of Pennsylvania | 2008 | Partner of the Year | Education (Higher) | The University of Pennsylvania buys nearly 193 million kWh of wind-generated renewable energy certificates (RECs), an amount equivalent to 46% of its total purchased electricity use. The University is funding its wind power purchase with savings achieved through aggressive energy conservation. Over the past few years, the University reduced peak electricity demand by 18%. Penn's long-term commitment to buying green power helps support developing new wind generation facilities, including a 12-turbine, 20 MW Pennsylvania wind farm. In 2007, Penn's President became the first in the Ivy League to sign the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment. As a result, Penn formed the Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee comprised of faculty, students and staff working across multiple disciplines to research and write a long range plan for reducing Penn's carbon footprint. In addition, Penn formed the Green Campus Partnership as an umbrella group to promote Penn's commitment to sustainability and advocate for enhanced policies at Penn. |
| WhiteWave Foods Company | 2008 | Partner of the Year | Food & Beverage | The company has a rich history of supporting green power, beginning in 2003 with its first purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs) for the Silk® Soymilk brand operations. In 2004, the company began buying RECs to cover the operations for the Horizon Organic® brand, and in 2006 for the electricity used at the company's corporate headquarters. In 2008, WhiteWave added the International Delight® and Land O'Lakes® creamer brands by increasing the company's overall purchase to more than 98 million kWh annually. To further build on the impact of its REC purchases, WhiteWave helps engage and educate its customers, partners and media about the benefits of green power. WhiteWave promotes green power on its Silk and Horizon Organic packaging and offers unique consumer incentives and promotions. For two years running, Silk has engaged consumers in learning more about wind energy with its Green Caps for Green Energy program. Consumers who buy qualifying Silk products can enter the products' UPC numbers at SilkSoymilk.com, and for each UPC entered, Silk donates 30 kWh of RECs for its customers. WhiteWave also buys green power for electricity used at events, such as the Farm Aid concert and Natural Products Expo tradeshows, to help spread the word about the benefits of renewable energy. WhiteWave continues to use online tools to help drive consumers to learn more about green power and to make informed decisions. |
| City of Chico, CA | 2007 | On-Site Generation | Government (Local) | The city of Chico's first installation was a 91 kW solar photovoltaic system installed at the city of Chico's downtown parking structure, which also provides shade to parked vehicles. The second installation was a 1.1 MW solar system at the city's water pollution control plant, which at the time of its installation was recognized as the world's largest solar tracker system at a sewage treatment facility as well as the state of California's largest municipal solar array. Together the two municipally owned systems produce over 2 million kWh annually. The wastewater treatment plant solar array provides approximately 40% of the facility's electricity needs, resulting in a 55% utility cost savings compared with the previous year of operation. City officials have said that the total cost savings of these systems would be enough to hire three full-time police officers. The city dedicated both installations by organizing events hosted by the mayor and attended by local officials, state representatives and regional media. These events generated publicity and raised the awareness of renewable energy within the community. The city government also conducted targeted outreach to the broader community through newsletters, which was further supported by the installation of an educational kiosk in the foyer of the Municipal Center to educate visitors. The city of Chico has implemented a task force, with representation from community stakeholders, to assist in future sustainability endeavors. |
| Macy's, Inc. West Division | 2007 | On-Site Generation | Retail | In 2007, Macy's signed contracts to install solar power systems totaling 8 MW at 28 stores in California. By combining energy efficiency measures with solar power, Macy's looks to recognize a 40% reduction in utility-provided electricity, while locking into a fixed electricity price over the life of the solar systems. There were several interesting challenges involved in Macy's purchasing process, including a race against a California solar rebate funding deadline and the requirement to evaluate over 50 store rooftops, and complete 39 in-person surveys to ensure rooftop suitability for the solar photovoltaic systems. Real estate hurdles were numerous, particularly for stores where Macy's leases rather than owns the property. Macy's promoted its green power purchase through a globally-launched press release. The company also educated its employees on the benefits of green power through an employee web cast and newsletter, and plans to promote the program to Macy's customers through a "Macy's Goes Green" in-store event this fall. |
| The Timberland Company | 2007 | On-Site Generation | Clothing & Textile | At Timberland's California distribution center, a 400 kW onsite solar array produces approximately 60% of the facility's electricity needs. In addition, Timberland also purchases wind-based renewable energy certificates (RECs), representing approximately 3% of the entire company's purchased electricity use. The company's commitment is part of a larger ongoing company strategy to become carbon neutral by 2010. Timberland creatively communicates their green power commitment to customers through several innovative methods. At every retail location Timberland provides brochures describing the benefits of wind power with discounts available to customers, with a web link for customers to take action. Every store displays a window sticker communicating their carbon neutral commitment, and footwear packaging has a "nutrition label" detailing the company's commitment to green power. |
| Kohl's Department Stores | 2007 | Green Power Purchasing | Retail | Kohl's voluntary purchase of more than 201 million kWh of green power annually represents nearly 20% of the company's total purchased electricity load. Kohl's has communicated its commitment to green power internally by publishing the information on their purchase on the company "intranet" website and by writing an article about the company's involvement with EPA's Green Power Partnership. Further internal communication to Kohl's associates is achieved with a video that highlights Kohl's green power commitment. |
| New York University | 2007 | Green Power Purchasing | Education (Higher) | With a renewable energy certificate (REC) purchase of nearly 119 million kWh, New York University (NYU) established itself as one of the largest green power purchasers among colleges and universities. The commitment represents 100% of the school's purchased electricity use and is met with RECs generated from New York and national wind resources. The NY-based purchase demonstrates NYU's commitment to further the development of green power resources within New York State. NYU has also taken action to spread the success of the university's green power purchase and environmental responsibility actions to a broader audience. The university has developed a Green Action Plan, which involves extensive outreach and joined the Environmental Consortium composed of higher education institutions in the Hudson Valley and New York region so the university could share best practices and expand communication among the higher education community. NYU also joined the American College and University President's Climate Commitment, which involves a pledge to create and implement a plan to reduce carbon emissions. |
| PepsiAmericas, Inc. | 2007 | Green Power Purchasing | Food & Beverage | PepsiAmericas 100% renewable energy certificate (REC) purchase of just over 157 million kWh ranked the company among the Top 100% green power purchasers. PepsiAmericas plans to use the consumer brand recognition of the Pepsi name to increase the visibility of retail green power products around the world. PepsiAmericas is coordinating with the leadership teams from other independent bottlers to maximize ongoing environmental promotion activities that impact the Pepsi brand. The group is planning to develop a consumer labeling program to promote the impact of their respective green power purchases to stakeholders. |
| Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc. | 2007 | Green Power Purchasing | Food & Beverage | The Pepsi Bottling Group's own purchase of nearly 458 million kWh in renewable energy certificates (REC), represents 100% of the company's total purchased electricity load, and places the bottler as the one of the largest green power purchasers in the packaging and bottling industry. The Pepsi Bottling Group also is working with the leadership teams of PepsiCo, from which The Pepsi Bottling Group spun off as an independent public company in 1999, and Pepsi's other independent bottlers to develop a consumer labeling program that would expose nearly 200 million consumers to its green power message every day. |
| Pepsi Bottling Ventures, LLC | 2007 | Green Power Purchasing | Food & Beverage | Pepsi Bottling Ventures demonstrated leadership in the U.S. Southeastern and Mid Atlantic regions with its 100%, nearly 15 million kWh renewable energy certificate (REC) purchase. In an effort to maximize the ongoing promotion of green power and green power initiatives, PepsiCo is working with Pepsi Bottling Ventures and other Pepsi Bottlers to develop a consumer labeling program that highlights the use of renewable energy in the manufacturing of beverages. |
| Starbucks Coffee Company | 2007 | Green Power Purchasing | Restaurants & Cafes | In 2005, Starbucks purchased 185 million kWh of wind based renewable energy certificates (RECs), matching 20% of the company's purchased electricity use for its U.S. retail locations. The company increased its annual purchase to match its aggressive business growth, and in 2006, actually quadrupled its purchase of green power. Starbucks also leverages its size and reach to engage its partners, suppliers and customers in opportunities to address their own greenhouse gas emissions. By way of its website, launch of Plant Green Game — a free online game, seasonal promotions, press releases, and six full-page ads in The New York Times, Starbucks is drawing widespread attention to the benefits of green power. The company is also using its influence to spur new renewable energy development by encouraging its supply chain to purchase green power. The company is leveraging its purchasing power with its green power provider to obtain favorable rates. |
| City of Bellingham, WA | 2007 | Green Power Purchasing | Government (Local) | In early 2007, by way of a unanimous City Council vote, the Bellingham local government chose to lead by example by purchasing 100% green power for all city owned facilities. This purchase amounted to 25 million kWh annually. Later the same year, the City partnered with the local utility's green power program and a local non-profit organization to launch the Bellingham Green Power Community Challenge. The goal of the challenge was to increase green power purchasing among the city's citizens and businesses in route to meeting more than 2% of the city-wide electric load. The citizens and businesses of Bellingham took note and followed the city government's leadership by more than tripling the city's commitment of 25 million kWh over the six month community challenge. The city's leadership also led other neighboring cities and counties to organize their own green power purchases. Bellingham's purchase ranks among the largest on EPA's Top 10 Local Government list of green power purchasers. |
| Johnson & Johnson | 2007 | Partner of the Year | Health Care | In 2007, Johnson & Johnson increased its annual green power commitment by more than 94 million kWh. Johnson & Johnson's green power purchase of over 400 million kWh represents 39% of the company's total U.S. purchased electricity use and includes the direct purchases of low-impact hydro, wind power, on-site solar PV, and the purchase of renewable energy certificates from wind power and biomass facilities. From 2005 through 2008, Johnson & Johnson plans to provide funding for 47 clean energy projects, resulting in an investment of more than $96 million. |
| Mohawk Fine Papers, Inc. | 2007 | Partner of the Year | Ag. & Nat. Resources | In 2003, Mohawk Fine Papers became one the first large-scale paper production facilities in the United States to support its operations with wind energy, with a renewable energy certificate purchase of 4 million kWh. Since then, Mohawk Fine Papers has progressively increased its level of purchase to more than 100 million kWh annually. This represents 100% of the purchased electric use for all of Mohawk's manufacturing, converting and distribution operations in New York and Ohio. Mohawk is also known in the industry for its environmental standards and sustainable stewardship practices. The company has worked to meet various environmental standards and works to further the impact of their green power commitment through public education. |
| PepsiCo, Inc | 2007 | Partner of the Year | Food & Beverage | In 2007, PepsiCo purchased enough renewable energy certificates (REC) to match 100% of the company's purchased electricity load in the U.S. This purchase equates to more than 1 billion kWh annually. To date, PepsiCo's leadership has influenced three independent bottlers in buying an additional 681 million kWh of green power annually For more than 8 years, PepsiCo has been improving energy and water efficiency across its operations by focusing on resource conservation and investment in new technologies. This effort has led to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions as well as energy and water costs. Other sustainability actions include engaging the company's strategic supply chain partners as well as focusing on the communication of these environmental efforts. |
| Staples | 2007 | Partner of the Year | Retail | Staples purchased nearly 122 million kWh of green power, which represents more than 20% of the company's purchased electricity use within the United States. The majority of Staples' green power consists of renewable energy certificates, but the company also purchases direct green power through various utility programs. In addition, Staples has aggressively pursued on-site roof-top solar installations and now has nine active solar power systems on distribution centers and retail stores across the nation. The company is currently investigating other on-site projects including wind power and fuel cells. The company continues to lead through its green power initiatives and serves as an example to businesses interested in learning more about green power. |
| Wells Fargo & Company | 2007 | Partner of the Year | Banking & Fin. Srvcs | Wells Fargo & Company purchased 550 million kWh of wind energy each year for the next three years, a purchase that represents 42% of the company's total purchased electricity use on an annual basis. The company has invested more than $250 million in wind and solar energy projects, and plans to expand this part of their business in the future. The company's REC purchase supplements its energy conservation efforts and serves as a basis from which the company promotes green power. Wells Fargo & Company became the first financial services company in the U.S. to make green power available to customers through its credit card Rewards Program. Wells Fargo & Company also established an Environmental Finance unit to aggressively pursue sustainable financing opportunities such as green power projects. |
| Whole Foods Market | 2007 | Partner of the Year | Retail | This year Whole Foods Market increased its purchase to over 509 million kWh of wind-based renewable energy certificates, keeping pace with the company's continued growth. This year Whole Foods Market expanded upon its purchase to reach out to customers in new and innovative ways. The Wind Power Card is a first-of-its kind retail product that makes point-of-purchase green power sales easier than ever before both for the retailer and the customer. Currently the company is selling the Wind Power Cards at over 100 locations nationwide. Showcasing wind power and its benefits has become standard operating procedure at this grocery chain. |
| Chena Hot Springs Resort | 2006 | On-Site Generation | Recreation | The natural thermal springs at Chena Hot Springs Resort have always been a place to relax, but now they're also the site of the first geothermal power plant in Alaska, and the first in the world to use geothermal water as 'cool' as 165ºF to generate power commercially. Because the 165ºF water is not hot enough to boil and generate steam, the use of a steam turbine was impractical. Instead, the power plant uses the heat from the geothermal water to vaporize a fluid with a lower boiling point. The vapor and resulting pressure created by this fluid helps drive a turbine to generate an estimated 200 kW of power. Chena Hot Springs also took advantage of mass produced refrigeration chiller components, which greatly reduced the overall cost of the project. Chena Hot Springs Resort is being developed as a sustainable community with commitments to renewable energy, energy independence, self-sufficiency, and environmental stewardship. At a cost of $2.2 million the geothermal power plant is expected to pay for itself within five years. The resort also saves thousands of dollars annually through a geothermal heating system, including a new 4,320 square foot greenhouse which supplies fresh produce to guests and employees year-round. The power plant was unveiled in August at the resort's first Renewable Energy Fair that drew more than 1,400 people. In 2006 alone, Chena Hot Springs provided classroom tours to over 50 groups of students, and have hosted over 70,000 visitors from around the world. |
| County of Butte, CA Government Center | 2006 | On-Site Generation | Government (Local) | The 100% new renewable energy installation at the Oroville Government Center was completed in August 2004. The project is comprised of 6,360 185-watt solar panels in four separate arrays producing 997 kW alternating current or 1180 kW direct current. They power three Butte County government buildings. The arrays include a roof-mounted East Jail facility, a parking lot shade structure, a West Jail Facility ground-mount array, and a second ground-mount array located near the county's administration building. The solar energy system is completely American made. The panels were the first off the production line of a plant located in Tennessee, while the inverters and transformers were made in California. County project managers continue to create awareness and share best practices with the public through presentations, a web site and articles published in California County magazine. On-site monitoring kiosks, placed in locations easily accessible to county employees and the public, offer daily real-time viewing of solar energy production to promote environmental awareness. |
| San Diego Unified School District | 2006 | On-Site Generation | Government (Local) | Through an innovative public private partnership the School District was able to turn their need to replace the roofs of more than 30 schools into an opportunity to profitably generate green power. Working with solar roofing contractor, the District installed 3,600 kw of solar roof-integrated solar PV systems at 24 educational and support facilities, and is working on replacing additional roofs each year. The solar roof contractor installed over 1 million square feet of solar roofs, initially at no upfront cost to the District. As a result, the School District receives electricity produced by the solar roofs at a fixed price; whereas the system financier receives income from the power sales as well as the tax and depreciation advantages associated with the systems. The District anticipates more than $37 million in total cost-savings over 20 years when all 6,500 kW of planned systems are installed. The savings consist of avoided roof replacement and maintenance costs, and a projected electricity cost savings of more than $3 million. The story was featured on San Diego's CBS affiliate TV station, and in the San Diego Union Tribune newspaper. The project is also used as an educational tool in the schools. |
| Coldwater Creek | 2006 | Green Power Purchasing | Clothing & Textile | Coldwater Creek is currently the largest purchaser of renewable energy among the apparel industry, purchasing 45 million kWh annually. The company has committed to expand its green power commitment to match the company's projected business growth over the next three years. The company moved decisively upon entering the world of green power, meeting 100% of its electricity load across its U.S. facilities. Coldwater Creek is growing rapidly at 25% per year and recognizes that this growth creates a larger environmental footprint. In addition to its large purchase, Coldwater Creek is actively broadcasting its green power commitment to its stakeholders, taking both an educational and informative approach. The first target has been its employees, making sure they understand that environmental awareness is a company priority and empowering employees with knowledge about ways they can take action in their own lives. The plans for communications to the company's customers are already underway. |
| Commonwealth of Pennsylvania | 2006 | Green Power Purchasing | Government (State) | In 2005 the Commonwealth purchased nearly 3.5% of its electricity load, making Pennsylvania the first state to make a voluntary green power purchase. In 2006, the state upgraded its purchase to nearly 8%. The Commonwealth's total voluntary purchase of eligible renewable energy totals almost 80 million kWh. Pennsylvania's purchase is integral to the state's overall goal and strategy to develop a stable, locally produced clean energy supply. The State successfully recruited a Spanish wind turbine manufacturer to locate its US headquarters in Philadelphia and build four manufacturing facilities across the state. Other initiatives include the development of statewide interconnection and net metering standards, a model wind ordinance for municipalities, and a small turbine grant program designed to promote visibility and awareness of wind energy by installing wind turbines around the state at schools and municipal buildings. A clean fuels initiative is now underway to produce 900 million gallons of clean indigenous transportation and heating fuels annually within ten years |
| IBM | 2006 | Green Power Purchasing | Tech and Telecom | IBM has increased its commitment to renewable energy sources over the past four years, making direct purchases of wind, solar and biomass-generated electricity and purchasing renewable energy credits. IBM's purchase of nearly 94 million kWh of green power is one of the largest corporate purchases in the United States. The company utilizes both local utility green pricing products as well as renewable energy certificates to meet its corporate-wide electricity needs. In addition to the purchase, IBM's Climate Stewardship program includes an operational energy efficiency objective, a focus on product energy efficiency, employee commuting programs, and renewable energy purchases. These renewable energy purchases have helped IBM reduce its CO2 emission footprint. IBM's purchase led to media coverage in 110 media outlets around the country, including Business Wire, Greenbiz, USA Today, and numerous trade journals. IBM helped educate more than 330,000 of its employees through an intranet based communications program, and reports its successes in its corporate citizenship report. |
| prAna | 2006 | Green Power Purchasing | Clothing & Textile | In fall 2005, prAna launched its Natural Power Initiative, meeting the electricity needs of 250 of its retail locations nationwide, 100% of its headquarters, and all of the homes of its full-time employees with green power. For 2006, this alone is estimated to offset more than 17 million kWh. The company has also been successful in introducing the use of green power to its parent company, Liz Claiborne Inc., which subsequently made its own purchase to meet 100% of the electricity used in its New Jersey headquarters. PrAna is committed to its initiative and, in 2007, plans to increase the number of its retailers participating in buying green power, including a portion of its contracted U.S.-based manufacturing. The company's longer-term goal is to help other apparel industry companies understand the environmental benefits of purchasing wind-generated power. |
| Staples | 2006 | Green Power Purchasing | Retail | With a purchase of more than 71 million kWh, Staples, Inc. plans to add green power each year as it adds stores, and is committed to maintaining its green power purchase at a minimum 10% level corporate-wide. Notably, Staples, Inc. installed 260 kWs of solar photovoltaic generation capacity across three distribution centers with plans for more next year. Staples, Inc. takes a proactive position on reducing conventional energy use and has invested heavily in green technologies when designing, building and opening new facilities, stores, and distribution centers. Staples, Inc. demonstrated commitment to protecting the environment through its purchase of green power, as well as through the company's recycling programs, the promotion of Energy Star products in its stores and corporate offices, the company's energy awareness campaigns, and by implementing energy efficient construction practices. |
| Stonyfield Farm | 2006 | Green Power Purchasing | Food & Beverage | Stonyfield Farm purchases green power and CO2 offsets to cover 100% of the carbon footprint resulting from its operations. Its purchase of over 9 million kWh of RECs in 2005 includes energy from a new 50 kW solar array located atop the yogurt works. Despite the lack of any state incentives, Stonyfield Farm's environmental commitment resulted in the company investing in one of the largest PV solar arrays in New Hampshire—one of the largest in New England. |
| The Holland, Inc. | 2006 | Green Power Purchasing | Restaurants & Cafes | The Holland, Inc. and its family of Burgerville restaurants has expanded upon its commitment to sustainable operating practices and use of locally-sourced ingredients by using renewable wind power produced in the Pacific Northwest. Their purchase of more than 13 million kWh of green power provides 100% of the electricity needs for all its restaurants throughout Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington, as well as its local headquarters in Vancouver, Washington. The Holland, Inc. utilizes Pacific Northwest-sourced ingredients for its restaurant's menus, and recycles 100% of used cooking oil into biodiesel fuel as part of their commitment to direct economic and environmental benefits for the region. They demonstrate more regional support by purchasing regionally-produced wind energy. The Holland, Inc.'s wind power purchase represents the largest national commitment to wind power by a quick-service restaurant chain. Since the company's original purchase of green power one year ago, The Holland, Inc. has also taken many steps to spread wind power awareness to its clientele, utilizing tabletop signage that invites guests to purchase renewable energy and through the placement of 12 inch model turbines in its restaurants. The company also participates in community events to encourage other businesses and individuals to use renewable energy. |
| The Tower Companies | 2006 | Green Power Purchasing | Real Estate | The Tower Company's purchase of over 79 million kWh of wind energy, and makes them the only real estate company currently represented in the rankings. The Tower Companies is known internationally for their work on green building technology and setting new standards for green development in business, residential, retail and mixed-use real estate environments. Through their leadership, The Tower Companies persuaded business partners to purchase more than 37 million kWh of RECs for Washington Square, Huff Court and Bethesda Place developments. The Tower Company's efforts have generated significant publicity and media interest. They continue to publicize their endeavors so others may also strive to achieve a healthier, self sufficient America. |
| Vail Resorts | 2006 | Green Power Purchasing | Recreation | Vail Resorts addressed 100% of its electricity use by purchasing nearly 152 million kWh of wind energy for its five mountain resorts, its lodging properties, all of its 125 retail locations and its new corporate headquarters in Broomfield, CO. They are actively using their leadership position to inspire others to make the switch to clean and renewable sources of energy. Vail Resorts has organized a comprehensive marketing and public relations campaign to spread the word about wind power, launching an onsite promotional campaign at their five mountain resorts and retail locations around the country. The announcement of their landmark purchase was covered in the Wall Street Journal, CNN Headline News, the New York Times, USA Today, the Washington Post and was syndicated by the Associated Press. |
| WhiteWave Foods Company | 2006 | Green Power Purchasing | Food & Beverage | Demonstrating the company's commitment to sustainable business practices, WhiteWave Foods further expanded its green power purchase to encompass the energy used by Horizon Organic operations and its new corporate headquarters for a total purchase of 53 million kWh. The company also supports green energy beyond its own walls. The company actively sponsored the "greening" of New Hope Natural Media's Expo West and East, which are the largest natural and organic products conferences in the nation. In addition, WhiteWave Foods purchased enough renewable energy certificates to cover all of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with this year's Farm Aid Concert, and the energy used for the 25,000 attendees to drive to the concert. Finally, WhiteWave Foods began a mobile educational tour for its retailers and families to inform them about the benefits of organic foods. The tour van's trip was "greened" by purchasing renewable energy certificates. |
| Aspen Skiing Company | 2006 | Partner of the Year | Recreation | Aspen Skiing Company established itself as a leader in the ski industry by purchasing nearly 25 million kWh of wind-generated green power. The company's move to meet 100% of their electricity use had a noticeable effect in the skiing industry as other resorts followed its lead. The company has announced completion of a 2.3 kW solar array that has been called "the most beautiful solar array on planet earth." The solar energy system is mounted on the Aspen Highlands Patrol Headquarters building and is framed with the stunning backdrop of Colorado's Maroon Bells Mountains. In the summer, when the patrol building isn't occupied, the electric meter runs backwards, creating a credit for the following year. News about Aspen Skiing Company's purchase reached a nationwide audience through Newsweek, PBS, USA Today, Time, and others. Aspen also promotes Green Power education to its customers through its web site, featuring information about the wind energy purchase and other environmental programs, including the use of biodiesel in all snowcats, green purchasing programs, green building construction programs, and the SkiGreen tags that customers can purchase with their lift tickets to support renewable energy. |
| HSBC North America | 2006 | Partner of the Year | Banking & Fin. Srvcs | In just one year, HSBC—North America increased its renewable purchases from 23% to 35% of its entire North American load, with its most recent purchase measuring close to 125 million kWh. With top management support, HSBC—North America is fully committed to raising awareness about the importance of climate change. HSBC—North America shares its green power commitment with the public through its website and speeches. The company has also developed corporate buildings with green standards in mind; including a branch in Rochester, New York which features onsite green energy sources including solar PV. The company also has begun building a new North America Corporate Headquarters for an estimated 3000 company executives and employees, which will feature state of the art systems including solar-thermal heating and the use of 100% green power. |
| Johnson & Johnson | 2006 | Partner of the Year | Health Care | Johnson & Johnson has incrementally increased its annual green power commitment, and last year increased its use of green power, renewable energy credits, and on-site solar projects to more than 306 million kWh annually. In its publicly-released energy policy, Johnson & Johnson outlines its commitment to reduce its CO2 emissions by 7% by 2010, compared to 1990. According to this policy, these reductions must be made in absolute levels, rather than levels relative to the company's growth. At year end 2005, CO2 emissions were 11.5% below 1990 levels. The wide variety of onsite renewable projects developed to meet these goals demonstrates how these types of projects can provide a good return on investment, as well as significant environmental benefits. |
| Starbucks Coffee Company | 2006 | Partner of the Year | Retail | Starbucks 150 million kWh REC purchase is raising the profile of green power. By purchasing RECs, Starbucks is reducing its climate footprint while helping consumers better understand green power and RECs. Starbucks is using its broad influence to spur new renewable energy development by encouraging its supply chain to purchase renewable energy. Starbucks' green power provider extends a preferred rate to all of its suppliers so that they too can receive the low rates associated with a large purchase of wind energy. The launch of this green power supply chain initiative provides a model for how U.S. companies shape the actions of their stakeholders to achieve corporate environmental goals. The impact that this program can have on renewable energy growth is immense. In the past year, Starbucks increased its commitment four-fold to 20% (up from 5% last year) of its electricity consumption at retail locations across the United States. Starbucks' message about the importance of renewable energy growth is coupled with its commitment to improving public education and awareness of the importance of addressing climate change. |
| Whole Foods Market | 2006 | Partner of the Year | Retail | Whole Foods Market made a landmark purchase of RECs from wind farms for 100% of the electricity used in all of its stores, facilities, bake houses, distribution centers, regional offices, and national headquarters in the United States. This purchase of more than 458 million kWh per year was at the time the largest corporate purchase of green power in the United States. Whole Foods Market undertook a very strong communications effort to promote its historic wind energy credit purchase both externally and internally. The company's media team conducted a very extensive outreach to national and regional media, resulting in the largest media coverage of a green power purchase in the United States. |
| City of Vallejo, CA | 2005 | On-Site Generation | Government (Local) | When the State of California announced its goal of deploying enough renewable energy to meet 17% of its energy needs by 2006, the City of Vallejo began looking for ways to help meet the challenge while saving money on their energy purchases and improving the local environment. In March 2002, Vallejo undertook an aggressive solar electric generation program to supplement their electricity usage, installing 4 PV systems at city-owned facilities. Collectively, the installations are rated at 619 kW and include multiple rooftop and ground-mounted systems. The City held dedication ceremonies for each new installation and distributed fact sheets and case studies providing details about Vallejo's new solar systems. The City of Vallejo also held seminars and tours of the rooftop and ground-mounted PV systems for national and international visitors. |
| County of Alameda, CA | 2005 | On-Site Generation | Government (Local) | The County is now generating 6% of its electrical needs from on-site solar power, significantly reducing their operating costs and helping the State of California achieve its sustainability goals. In 2002, the County installed its first solar electric system—a 1.2 MW system atop its Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, California. In 2005, Alameda County doubled its solar energy capacity with 7 newly-installed PV systems representing over 1.1 MW of capacity, including five rooftop arrays on County-owned facilities and 2 innovative, 250 kW solar tracking carport systems. In addition to generating electricity, the carports also provide shaded parking for 245 vehicles. Together these eight systems total 2.3 MW, making Alameda County one of the nation's largest solar-powered local governments. |
| FedEx Express – Oakland Hub Facility | 2005 | On-Site Generation | Shipping | In May, FedEx Express – Oakland Hub Facility completed installation of one of the largest corporate-owned solar electric systems in the country, covering 81,000 square feet of roof space at the FedEx Express Oakland International Airport hub. The 904 kW array is expected to provide nearly 80% of the facility's peak energy load. In addition, the solar panels will help shade the buildings, further reducing heating and cooling costs. A dedication ceremony on August 9th received wide coverage from local and national media. In addition to demonstrating solar power's business benefits, FedEx Express is contributing to the City of Oakland's goal to add 5 MW of solar power to its energy mix by the end of 2005. |
| St. Francis Winery & Vineyards | 2005 | On-Site Generation | Wineries & Breweries | In 2004, the company installed a 457 kW, grid-connected PV rooftop solar system that supplies 40% of its total power usage. Saint Francis's Chief Financial Officer Robert Aldridge has made renewable energy presentations at several conferences and has hosted numerous visits from other wineries, dignitaries and international delegations to showcase the economic and environmental advantages of renewable energy. |
| University of Minnesota, Morris | 2005 | On-Site Generation | Education (Higher) | In March 2005, the first large-scale wind turbine at an American public university began generating power. Located 1.5 miles east of the University of Minnesota, Morris (UMM) campus near the West Central Research and Outreach Center (WCROC), the 1.6 MW turbine provides approximately 50% of the campus' electricity needs. In addition to on-site generation, the University also purchases wind energy from Otter Tail Power Company's Tailwinds Program to power the UMM Student Center. Students helped enable the wind power purchase by participating in an energy conservation program to reduce the campus' electricity, water and waste needs. In 2006, UMM and the WCROC plan to construct a biomass gasification heating plant capable of producing heat for 80% of the school's campus. UMM faculty are integrating green energy research into the classroom and academic environment. These ongoing initiatives will allow for research and advancement in the areas of biomass consumption and efficiency while creating green power development models for rural communities. |
| Aspen Skiing Company | 2005 | On-Site Generation | Recreation | In addition to their annual purchase of 1,200 MWh of wind power, Aspen has constructed a 115 kW microhydro plant, meeting a combined total representing 5% of their electricity usage. Aspen is also the first and only ski industry member of the Chicago Climate Exchange and hopes to achieve a 10% reduction in annual carbon dioxide emissions by 2010 based on a 1999 baseline. In 2004, another local ski resort increased their own wind power purchase to 3% of their total electricity use, citing Aspen as a clear leader. |
| City of Fresno, CA | 2005 | On-Site Generation | Government (Local) | After evaluating many renewable energy options, the City of Fresno chose to install one of the largest municipal solar projects in the nation. Covering 62,500 square feet of parking canopy roof at Fresno's 14-acre Municipal Service Center campus and numerous bus shelters, the solar electric system has a peak capacity of 668 kW. |
| Atlantic Golf, a Division of the Brick Companies | 2005 | Green Power Purchasing | Sports teams & venues | Atlantic Golf is 100% powered by renewable energy and boasts the first living roof in Anne Arundel County. Atlantic Golf leads the company in green power purchasing. Atlantic Golf has offset their energy use through renewable energy certificate purchases of over 600 MWh annually. This includes the electricity load for one of its 36-hole courses, Queenstown Harbor, as well as other facilities. In September, Queenstown Harbor hosted a "Cool Golfer Family Day" which launched Atlantic Golf's Cool Golfer program that offers members the opportunity to "green" their memberships by purchasing carbon dioxide offsets. All of the Cool Golfer Day proceeds were dedicated to purchasing additional certificates to support the development of a new anaerobic methane digester on the Schrack Family Dairy Farm in Pennsylvania. |
| Dagoba Organic Chocolate | 2005 | Green Power Purchasing | Food & Beverage | Since its founding in 2001, Dagoba Organic Chocolate has purchased renewable energy for 100% of its annual energy use. Dagoba factors energy and resource use into all operational decisions: they use only organic beans from environmentally responsible farms, work directly with cacao producers to sustain rainforests and revive heirloom species, print labels and materials on 100-% recycled paper, and follow a comprehensive recycling and conservation program. Green power is central to Dagoba's brand messaging and is mentioned throughout company materials. In addition to displaying green power logos on their sales materials, Web site and trade show exhibits, Dagoba also informs their staff about opportunities to purchase renewable power at home. The company also strives to work with suppliers who use renewable energy and employ similarly sustainable operations. |
| Green Mountain Coffee Roasters | 2005 | Green Power Purchasing | Food & Beverage | Known for their wide-ranging environmental commitments, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters recently achieved their goal of 100% carbon neutral operations through renewable energy purchases. Their latest purchase of renewable energy certificates will cover all fossil fuel use, totaling 226% of their electricity load. Green Mountain's purchase will help build two new renewable energy facilities—a farm methane project in Loganton, Pennsylvania that came online in 2005 and a wind project to be completed in 2006. In addition to addressing electricity usage, the company has also offset the environmental effects of fossil fuel use for roasting their product, delivery of products by company-owned vehicles, heating their facilities, business travel and employee commuting. Along with other socially responsible companies, they recently placed a national magazine advertisement promoting action to slow global warming. |
| Harvard University | 2005 | Green Power Purchasing | Education (Higher) | In less than two years, Harvard University has become a leading green power purchaser in the higher education sector. Eight of Harvard's schools and departments are now purchasing renewable energy, collectively accounting for nearly 22,000 MWh annually or 7% of Harvard's total electricity usage. Through the Harvard Green Campus Initiative, thousands of staff and students have been encouraged to participate directly in saving energy to raise funds for purchasing RECs. Many design teams for Harvard building projects have elected to purchase green power for credit in the LEED certification process. In addition, both the Kennedy School of Government and Faculty of Arts and Sciences students voted to increase school fees to offset the cost of purchasing RECs, and Harvard Business School students secured funding to install a 37 kW photovoltaic array on their building. Other schools and departments purchasing green power include Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Divinity School, Harvard Real Estate Services and Radcliffe College. |
| Hyatt Regency Dallas & Hyatt Regency DFW | 2005 | Green Power Purchasing | Hotel & Lodging | In June 2005, Hyatt Regency Dallas in downtown Dallas and Hyatt Regency DFW at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport entered an agreement to purchase approximately 36,000 MWh annually of 100% new renewable energy. As the largest national purchase of green power by a hotel, this commitment represents a significant investment in renewable energy for an industry that reaches thousands of potential clean energy consumers and business purchasers. |
| Mohawk Fine Papers, Inc. | 2005 | Green Power Purchasing | Ag. & Nat. Resources | In 2003, Mohawk became one of the first large-scale production facilities in the United States to use wind-generated electricity for manufacturing 100% post-consumer waste recycled papers. Since 2003, Mohawk has increased their annual purchase of wind energy by more than 350% to run their two mills in upstate New York and a newly purchased facility in Ohio. Their annual purchase of 45,000 MWh of RECs offsets 21% of the electricity used at Mohawk Fine Papers' two New York mills (with plans to increase to 50% in January 2006) and 50% of the electricity used at Mohawk's mill in Beckett, Ohio. |
| Safeway Inc. | 2005 | Green Power Purchasing | Retail | Safeway recently purchased enough RECs for all of their U.S. fuel stations, their corporate and Northern California offices and all 15 of their grocery stores in San Francisco. This sizable purchase of 78,000 MWh of wind power makes Safeway the first U.S. retailer to offset the electricity usage of all their fueling stations. Safeway plans to further demonstrate environmental leadership by launching an aggressive campaign to promote green power. Information about the company's green power commitment will be prominently displayed on fuel pumps at 270 locations throughout 15 states and at every company store in San Francisco. Additionally, an explanation of the purchase's environmental benefits appears on Safeway's Web site, which generates a significant amount of traffic from its online shopping service. |
| Starbucks Coffee Company | 2005 | Green Power Purchasing | Retail | In April 2005, Starbucks announced the purchase of 24,000 MWh of RECs from wind power, bringing the corporate power load covered by renewable energy to 5%. The purchase will support approximately 9 MW of wind power capacity in California and Minnesota. Starbucks believes it is important to communicate the Company's purchase to a broad audience. Internally, Starbucks informed their nearly 100,000 partners (employees) via a three-part climate change series in the Company's monthly newsletter. Externally, Starbucks publicized their green power purchase through a press release that prompted successful media coverage. |
| Whole Foods Market – Rocky Mountain Region | 2005 | Green Power Purchasing | Retail | Whole Foods Market, Rocky Mountain Region, has completed one of the largest retail purchases of wind power in Colorado and New Mexico. For the 9 natural foods stores in the Rocky Mountain Region, Whole Foods Market purchases nearly 25,000 MWh of RECs, offsetting 100% of each location's electricity usage. Whole Foods Market informs their customers about green power through a variety of promotions, including their Earth Month celebrations. In April 2004 and 2005, participating stores offered customers a free month of wind power for their homes. To further highlight the promotion, stores displayed banners and six foot wind turbines while store team members wore windmill hats and buttons. |
| The World Bank Group | 2005 | Green Power Purchasing | Non-Profit (NGO) | In 2004, the World Bank Group made an impressive commitment to renewable energy by increasing their green power purchase from 12% to 100% of annual electricity use at their Washington, D.C. headquarters. Renewable energy purchasing represents just one part of the World Bank's overall Greening Program—an effort to reduce the Bank's environmental footprint in areas such as procurement, energy and waste management, and staff commuting. The World Bank Group has also made an international commitment to increase support for renewable energy and energy efficiency by 20% annually for the next five years in development projects worldwide. |
| Western Washington University | 2005 | Partner of the Year | Education (Higher) | Western Washington University's Students for Renewable Energy campus group introduced the idea of purchasing green power in 2003. In spring 2004, the renewable energy purchase was supported by 85% of students participating in a campus-wide vote, and the measure received final approval from the Board of Trustees in 2005. Western Washington University will purchase approximately 35,000 MWh of RECs annually from their provider. Positioned among other national leaders in green power purchasing, Western has used numerous methods to promote their commitment to alumni and the greater community, including press releases and Web site articles. |
| HSBC North America | 2005 | Partner of the Year | Banking & Fin. Srvcs | In December 2004, HSBC became the first major bank to set a goal of becoming carbon neutral by the end of 2006. A major component of their environmental initiative is HSBC's 68,000 MWh purchase of RECs, the fourth largest U.S. corporate purchase of green power to date. " HSBC communicates their dedication to environmental protection and sustainable development to their customers on an environmental wall in all their new branches. Internally, HSBC's intranet educates employees about renewable energy issues, with firm support from executive management. |
| Johnson & Johnson | 2005 | Partner of the Year | Health Care | Within the past year, Johnson & Johnson has more than doubled their 2003 procurement of 102,000 MWh of RECs with an additional purchase to bring total renewable energy procurement of REC's, green energy purchases and on-site solar projects to 214,000 MWh annually. This makes Johnson & Johnson the largest corporate renewable energy purchaser in the United States. In addition to their REC purchases, the company also generates a significant amount of their own renewable energy through a variety of on-site projects, with more scheduled for completion by the end of 2005. Johnson & Johnson is an active member of many groups dedicated to promoting environmental protection and addressing global climate change. The entire company has committed to reducing their carbon dioxide emissions to 7% below 1990 levels by 2010, in absolute terms, and believes green power will play a major role in achieving that target. |
| U.S. Air Force | 2005 | Partner of the Year | Government (Federal) | During fiscal year 2004, ten Air Force bases collectively purchased over 320 GWh of RECs, accounting for 41% of all green power purchased by the federal government. In early 2005, the Air Force completed a Renewable Energy Study commissioned by Congress with the recommendation to increase use of renewable energy while increasing commercial development of new renewable power. The Air Force is turning recommendations into reality through power purchasing initiatives that include a variety of landfill gas, wind and solar power opportunities. These purchasing initiatives are complemented by a number of on-site projects, including a wind farm and PV system at Ascension Island, biomass power generation at Hill Air Force Base in Utah and a wind power project recently completed at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming. Additional solar power projects are currently in development for Los Angeles Air Force Station and March Air Reserve Base in California. Air Force energy leaders are promoting their efforts and encouraging others to embrace renewable energy's benefits by participating in numerous industry and federal workshops. |
| California State University at Hayward | 2004 | On-Site Generation | Education (Higher) | In early 2004, California State University at Hayward (CSU Hayward) invested in solar to reduce operating costs, as well as set an example for environmental stewardship. The University maintains PV installations with a total capacity of 1 MW, enough to provide 1,290 MWh per year of electricity. With installations on four of the campus' largest buildings, the university gets 7.5% of its annual electricity needs from solar PV. Touted to be the largest PV installation on any university campus in the world, Hayward's array is capable of providing 30% of the campus' peak demand during summer months and can save the institution up to $200,000 in electricity bills annually. The University has publicized and promoted its purchase of a renewable energy generation system both internally and externally. Internal communications efforts include several articles in the campus newspaper, a documentary aired on the campus television station, and an informational booth at the campus' Earth Day celebration event. External communications efforts have included multiple press conferences and press releases. |
| City and County of San Francisco, Moscone Convention Center | 2004 | On-Site Generation | Government (Local) | The Moscone Center project, with a capacity of 675 kW, the PV installation on the Moscone Center is currently the largest City-owned solar project in the country. This 20 year old convention center hosts 2 million visitors a year and conventioneers are able to learn about the solar and efficiency projects by accessing a unique, interactive kiosk. The Moscone project consists of two parts: solar power generation and energy efficiency. The solar installation includes high efficiency PV modules on the Moscone Center roof that will produce a minimum of 825,000 kWh annually. The energy efficiency measures at Moscone include upgrades to lighting equipment and building controls which will save an estimated 4.5 million kilowatt hours annually. Together, the solar installation and energy efficiency measures produce and save the city enough power to generate electricity for 1,000 homes. |
| HARBEC, Inc. | 2004 | On-Site Generation | Industrial goods & Services | Harbec Plastics, Inc. purchases wind RECs in the amount of 51.6 MWh, and also operates an on-site wind turbine with a capacity of 250 kW at a commercial facility. The wind turbine, which will generate about 350 MWh annually or about a third of the power used by the facility, has blades which are 30 meters in diameter and turn atop a 40 meter tapered tubular tower. In addition to using renewable energy, Harbec recently established an employee benefit that offers its employees a subsidy for buying utility supplied green power at their residence. One-third of all employees are participating. Harbec spreads the word through participation in numerous industry and public forums. |
| Mauna Lani Resort | 2004 | On-Site Generation | Recreation | Mauna Lani Resort operates multiple PV installations totaling 620 kW. More than 50% of the electricity required by the golf operation is provided by solar. There are three rooftop systems on the hotel, a rooftop system on the golf course, 160 golf carts, and a 2.5 acre ground-mounted tracking system at the well water pumping facility. In addition, there are two maintenance warehouses, a cart barn, and an 8000 square foot air- conditioned proshop. To publicize its use of PV, the resort produced informative case studies and fact sheets, issued press releases and media advisories, invited key policymakers and other officials to the dedication, created marketing collateral such as banners, T-shirts, and press kits, and even mounted a webcam near the solar array. |
| Rodney Strong Vineyards | 2004 | On-Site Generation | Wineries & Breweries | On a sunny day, the extensive lightweight PV installation on Rodney Strong's barrelhouse can meet most of the winery's electricity needs. At 766 kW, this array is the largest solar electric system at any vineyard anywhere in the world and covers the roof of over half of the winemaker's 100,000 sq. foot barrelhouse. To mark the completion of its solar project, Rodney Strong held a press conference, issued press releases nationally, and offered a combination tasting/tour to view the facility. |
| Alterra Coffee Roasters | 2004 | Green Power Purchasing | Food & Beverage | Alterra Coffee Roasters buys 100% of its power for every one of its retail locations in the form of green power that is sourced from wind, small hydro, and biomass sources. Alterra's efforts in expanding awareness for green power are extensive. They include "java jackets" that tout wind power, presentations at a variety of Milwaukee events, press releases, and newsletters. |
| College of the Atlantic | 2004 | Green Power Purchasing | Education (Higher) | College of the Atlantic (COA) is a strong patron of renewable energy, committing to provide electrical power from wind energy for all campus buildings including dorms and its off-campus Beech Hill Farm. COA currently offsets the atmospheric emissions associated with 100% of the campus's annual electrical energy use, 942 MWh, by purchasing green tags generated at the Rosebud Sioux Tribe's St. Francis Wind Farm in South Dakota. College of the Atlantic has committed to purchase all of the campus and farm's electrical energy needs from the Reddington Mountain Wind Farm. |
| Edwards Air Force Base | 2004 | Green Power Purchasing | Government (Federal) | Edwards Air Force Base is part of a distinguished collection of Air Force Bases that purchase green power in large quantities. In addition to setting the example for environmental action, they also realize financial benefits associated with renewable energy. They used renewable energy to significantly mitigate the financial impacts of the electricity price increases associated with the California energy crisis. The Base currently purchases 138,000 MWh, enough for 60% of its power needs. Estimates put dollar savings over a five-year purchase period at some $42 million. |
| Interface, Inc. | 2004 | Green Power Purchasing | Consumer Goods | Three divisions at Interface (Bentley Prince Street, Interface Flooring Systems and Interface Fabrics) have collectively purchased 8,807 MWh per year in renewable energy certificates. These three divisions together get 10% of their annual electricity needs from renewable sources. The Bentley Prince Street business unit uses 100% renewable electricity, buying renewable energy certificates (RECs) to cover approximately 80% of its electricity needs. The remainder is obtained from on-site generation and green power purchased directly from the grid. Interface Flooring Systems buys Renewable Energy Certificates to cover 3% of its electrical load. Interface Fabrics, has taken a creative approach with purchasing RECs to cover 9% of its electrical usage. This purchase covers all of the electricity used to produce the Terratex® brand products, which are made of 100% recycled and renewable materials. Terratex is marketed with the following message: "100% of the electricity used to make select patterns of Terratex® is matched with RECs." Interface strives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in its North American facilities to 15% below 2001 levels, per unit of production, by 2010. By 2020, the company wants to be powered 100% by renewable sources. |
| Johnson & Johnson | 2004 | Green Power Purchasing | Health Care | In 2003, Johnson & Johnson utilized over 103,000 MWh of Green Power in the United States. Of that, 1,400 MWh were produced from on-site solar generation, 23,600 MWh were purchased as green energy from a variety of electric suppliers, and 78,000 MWh were purchased as Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). All of the green power purchases are Green-e certified and sourced from new generation. The green power purchases are being utilized at over 28 corporate business units across the nation. Green power now represents about 9.8% of the total electrical consumption of Johnson & Johnson facilities in the United States. Johnson & Johnson's initial green power purchases several years ago have helped build support internally for additional purchases, especially since the company promoted its purchases worldwide to all Johnson & Johnson companies through emails, presentations and an intranet site dedicated to renewable energy. In addition, through the adoption of its Climate Friendly Energy Policy, Johnson & Johnson has voluntarily committed to reducing carbon dioxide emissions from its facilities worldwide by 7% in absolute terms by 2010, compared to a 1990 baseline. |
| Lundberg Family Farms | 2004 | Green Power Purchasing | Food & Beverage | Lundberg Family Farms' purchase of approximately 4,800 MWh per year of California wind-derived Renewable Energy Certificates is enough to supply 100% of the operation's total load. Lundberg puts the Green-e logo on product packaging and plans to have all packaging brandish the Green-e logo in the years ahead. Lundberg has spread the word about green power through coupons in Pacific Power's renewable energy customer welcome kit, displays and posters at industry trade shows, and media coverage. |
| NY Municipal Wind Buyers | 2004 | Green Power Purchasing | Government (Local) | The New York Municipal Wind Buyers Group is an excellent example of power through collaboration. The consortium is comprised of 22 municipalities, each purchasing different amounts of wind RECs. It only took 4 of these communities to purchase wind power before a price reduction was reached that applied to the rest. Commitments to purchase wind power range from 1 to 5 years. The group of towns and villages is currently purchasing nearly 6,000 MWh of green power per year. |
| Salt Lake City | 2004 | Green Power Purchasing | Government (Local) | Salt Lake City is purchasing 1,557 MWh of green power through its provider's wind power program. Wind power accounts for 20% of the energy used at the City and County Building and the Main Public Library. Although there is an additional cost associated with wind power in Utah, Salt Lake City is able to make the wind power purchase at no additional cost to taxpayers through energy conservation measures implemented at the City and County Building. Salt Lake City has also been instrumental in generating public participation in its utility's green power program. |
| Whole Foods Market | 2004 | Green Power Purchasing | Retail | Many stores in its North Pacific and South Pacific regions, Southwest region, and North and Mid-Atlantic regions are powered by wind, solar, small hydro, biomass, or geothermal energy. Currently, Whole Foods Market is purchasing or generating over 71,000 MWh, or 20% of its total national power load, from certified green power sources. |
| Clif Bar, Inc | 2004 | Partner of the Year | Food & Beverage | Clif Bar now purchases almost twice as many RECs than necessary to cover its total power load. The purchase of certificates to represent over 3,266 MWh is equivalent to 179% of the company's electricity use. Clif Bar has joined with other like-minded purchasers and helped build the first Native-American-owned large-scale wind farm in the U.S. The communications efforts of Clif Bar include the "Undo It" field marketing campaign seeks to educate the public about ways to undo global warming. The mobile marketing tour uses a 22-foot bus powered by B100 diesel to spread the word about Clif Bar and the Undo It campaign along the East Coast. Native Energy's "Ski Cool" program ensures that wind credits are in place to offset all aspects of the company ski trip's climate impact, including travel and the use of the ski lifts. This is in addition to radio ads, website outreach, print and electronic media coverage, and Green Business workshops held at Clif Bar headquarters. |
| Montgomery County, MD | 2004 | Partner of the Year | Government (Local) | Montgomery County led a wind energy purchase by a regional partnership including six Montgomery County agencies and twelve other government jurisdictions. 5% of all of the electricity used by the regional energy purchasing partnership comes from wind energy. Montgomery County's portion of the wind purchase is over 38,400 MWh per year, and it is the largest wind purchase ever made by a local government. This effort was marketed via the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, the International City/County Manager's Association, and numerous interactions with local environmental organizations and local government energy managers. Efforts to further expand the regional energy buyers group, or create new regional buying groups, are continuing in Maryland and Virginia. |
| Silk | 2004 | Partner of the Year | Food & Beverage | Last year White Wave, the makers of Silk® Soymilk, impressed the green power community by buying Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) to offset more than 100% of its electricity use. Now called Silk, the soymilk maker extended the impact of its renewable energy purchase to cover its entire supply chain. Under a three-year agreement with its supplier, the makers of Silk are committed to purchasing RECs to represent 100% of its needed power through 2005. This year alone, that purchase is equal to approximately 24,700 MWh. The company takes an active role in promoting the use of wind energy to its millions of customers, partners and suppliers. |
| Staples | 2004 | Partner of the Year | Retail | Staples' original commitment to purchase 2% of their total energy load or 9,494 MWh green power was an ambitious goal and they exceeded expectations and managed to achieve 10% or 48,283 MWh. As they continue to grow, they are committed to make sure that 10% of their energy will come from green power sources. With stores all over the country, Staples buys their landfill gas, biomass, solar, and wind power from 5 providers that supply Staples with green power through delivered energy products as well as Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). Two of their distribution centers in CA are in the process of being powered by on-site solar PV installations. These innovative installations will be based on their supplier's solar hosting model, whereby Staples purchases solar services at a fixed price schedule, but they are not required to provide the capital costs up front for the solar system. Staples is a leader in their communication efforts related to their green power purchasing, including educating customers and the general public through their website, with in-store signage and through press releases. |
| U.S. General Services Administration – Region 2 | 2004 | Partner of the Year | Government (Federal) | The United States General Services Administration (GSA) procures a large amount of green power, 92,000 MWh, in the NE/Caribbean Region. Of this, 76,184 MWh goes towards powering its own facilities in NY and NJ, representing a third of the GSA's regional total power requirements. This is 13 times more than required by Executive Order 13123, which asks federal agencies to purchase 2.5% of their facilities' energy requirements in green power. The remainder is used by a disparate group of federal agencies and NGOs that came together because they believed in the importance of buying green power: the United Nations, the Smithsonian, the Social Security Administration, the Coast Guard, the Red Cross, the National Pa r k Service, and the EPA. Most of the energy is biomass, provided by four separate suppliers. Wind energy also constitutes a portion. All of the GSA's renewable purchases are Green-e certified by the Center for Resource Solutions. By aggregating purchases of green power for other federal and non-federal facilities, the GSA is now paying less for green electricity than for non-green at some locations. These savings are helping to underwrite further green power procurements. |
| BMW | 2003 | On-Site Generation | Automotive | BMW Manufacturing on-site power generation used landfill gas to generate 25% of the power needed to operate its Spartanburg County, South Carolina manufacturing facility. BMW purchased the equivalent of 4,000 cfm of landfill gas, which is piped 9.5 miles from the landfill to the factory to power its four gas turbines, which generate 4.2–4.4 MW of electricity for the factory and supply 270 degree water to provide its cooling, heating and hot water needs. The landfill gas project provided 25% or 5 MW of the facility's electrical load and 80% of its thermal load. The natural gas turbines were installed when BMW Manufacturing was built in 1992 but had only been used intermittently. BMW chose to retrofit the existing turbines to use landfill gas, and the turbines actually achieved a higher efficiency because the landfill gas combusts at a lower temperature. This is the first and largest project of this type in the country. |
| City of San Diego | 2003 | On-Site Generation | Government (Local) | On August 7, 2003, Mayor Dick Murphy announced his commitment to producing 50 MW of renewable energy in San Diego within the next decade. The City operates a Gas Utilization Facility (GUF) located in the Point Loma Waste Water Treatment Plant (PLWWTP). This cogeneration facility is powered by methane gas and generates 4.57 MW of electricity. In addition, PLWWTP also employs a hydroelectric facility producing another 1.35 MW of power generated by the 100 foot drop of treated sewage flow exiting the plant into the ocean. The newest addition to this treatment plant is a 1.2 MW generator peaking unit that runs on 80% digestor gas and 20% diesel fuel. This is the first time any existing diesel generator has been con¬ verted to be a peaking unit utilizing digester gas. Methane gas produced by the set of digesters at the Metro Biosolids Center (MBC) and landfill gas from the adjacent Miramar Landfill is captured and converted to produce 6.4 MW of electricity. Following the success of the MBC, the North City Water Reclamation Plant (NCWRP) was built to produce 3.8 MW of energy from excess landfill gas. These facilities produce power for their own wastewater treatment operations as well as sell excess electricity to the local utility. A total of 10.2 MW is produced from cogeneration as a result of these two facilities. The City of San Diego generates 152,617 MWh of renewable power on an annual basis, which is equivalent to powering 17,470 homes. Approximately half of the 10.2 MW produced at the wastewater treatment plants is utilized on-site. |
| Domaine Carneros | 2003 | On-Site Generation | Wineries & Breweries | Domaine Carneros built the largest rooftop PV system on any winery in the world with a peak capacity of 120 kW. It is expected to produce 381,500 kW annually which is 40% of the total electric load. The solar roof panels cover 9,400 square feet, also reduce heating and air conditioning costs due to their insulation and thermal reflection value, as well as protect the roof for 25 years from thermal cycling and UV degradation. They officially marked the completion of the solar installation on June 21, 2003 in conjunction with the opening of the new Domaine Carneros Pinot Noir Facility and a combination tasting, tour and celebration. A solar information kiosk to educate staff and visitors has been installed in the Domaine Carneros' tasting room, which showcases the energy and environmental benefits of the solar electric system. |
| Fala Direct Marketing | 2003 | On-Site Generation | Media & Publishing | In 2003, Fala Direct Marketing deployed the largest commercial solar rooftop installation in the nation. The entire system covers over 100,000 square feet of combined roof area on three rooftops at the headquarters campus in Farmingdale, New York. Completed in April 2003, Fala DM's solar electric system generates 30% of the company's energy needs during the day to power over 1,000 homes. It has a peak capacity of 1.01 MW and has a projected annual output of 1,065 MWh per year. In addition to generating electricity, the system insulates the buildings, thus reducing the cost of heating and air conditioning while extending the life of the roof. Fala DM partnered with the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) on financing the project. The company share was paid through a seven year lease finance arrangement through M&T Bank. The biggest challenge for the lease financing agreement was in convincing the Lessor, the lease financing company, of the long term value and reliability of PV assets. In an added benefit, LIPA will study the transmission and distribution impacts of Fala DM's large-scale photovoltaic system on the grid. |
| Hayward Lumber | 2003 | On-Site Generation | Retail | Hayward Lumber's green power commitment is reflected in their flagship building, the Hayward Building Systems Manufacturing facility in Santa Maria, California. The facility features a 118 kW PV system that provides 45% of the facility's electricity load. Hayward Lumber has effectively marketed and showcased its new manufacturing facility as a successful, profitable example of a green building. |
| Loyola Marymount University | 2003 | On-Site Generation | Education (Higher) | In keeping with their track record of sustainability, Loyola Marymount University installed the largest solar electric rooftop system at any university in the world, and the largest system in Southern California in early 2003. The 725 kW system is expected to generate 868,000 kWh annually, providing 26% of total energy used at the University. Thanks to an innovative partnership between Loyola Marymount University, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), the Southern California Gas Company, and solar power provider PowerLight, this 725 kW peak solar rooftop system was installed on Loyola Marymount's campus in Westchester on two of the university's largest buildings: University Hall, and the Von der Ahe Library. Covering a combined 81,000 feet of rooftop, the solar system is expected to generate roughly 880,000 kWh annually, and provide enough electricity during the daytime to power more than 750 homes. |
| Solano County | 2003 | On-Site Generation | Government (Local) | In April 2001, the Solano County Board of Supervisors authorized the County Administrator to install additional clean distributed energy solutions in County buildings. In March 2003, a 230 kW solar electric system was installed on the County's Health and Social Services Building covering 18,000 square feet. By deploying a combination of solar PV and cogeneration, Solano County will generate enough electricity by the year 2004 to power over 3,000 homes. It is expected to produce 381,500 kWh annually, satisfying approximately 36% of electricity needs with solar power. The solar system is being leased/purchased from Chevron Energy Solutions, which also managed the installation, and is being funded through energy rebates, which pay for 50% of the system, and annual lease payments over 15 years. When completed in 2004, Solano County's combined solar and cogeneration system will generate enough electricity to power over 3,000 homes, and use the system's waste heat to provide low cost electricity as well as chilled and hot water. The County anticipates annual savings of $800,000 in combined energy reduction costs, which yield lifetime savings of $16 million. |
| Toyota Motors Sales, USA, Inc. | 2003 | On-Site Generation | Automotive | From concluding the first large green power purchase (40,000 MWh per year) in 1998 to installing one of the world's largest commercial solar rooftop electric system, Toyota demonstrates a firm commitment to environmental stewardship and energy improvement. Toyota's 536 kW solar rooftop system, completed in February 2003, shows Toyota's initiative and creative thinking in improving the environment as well as company operations. The system is installed on the world's largest Gold certified LEED project at the company's headquarters in Torrance, CA. Toyota's photovoltaic system consists of five arrays, one on each of the five buildings of the new headquarters campus in Torrance, CA. It generates enough electricity during the daytime to power over 500 homes. The energy generated by the PV system will provide approximately 20% of the needs of the campus. |
| Austin Grill | 2003 | Green Power Purchasing | Restaurants & Cafes | The Austin Grill was the first multi-unit restaurant company in the nation to be 100% wind powered and incorporated their purchase into their company-wide initiative. Austin Grill encourages their patrons to follow their lead. This restaurant group will educate millions of people who pass through each year about their purchase and encourage them to support wind energy and local environmental initiatives. |
| City of Moab | 2003 | Green Power Purchasing | Government (Local) | In February 2002, the City of Moab, Utah made a commitment to renewable energy by purchasing 68 MWh annually of renewable wind power. To build upon the city's purchase, the Moab Blue Sky Community Challenge was created to encourage and motivate Moabites to demonstrate their commitment to renewable energy by purchasing one or more blocks of Blue Sky wind energy. On April 22, 2003, the Moab Blue Sky Community Challenge began with a goal of signing up 5% of the area's residents and businesses by October 2003, a goal reached in a little more than one month. Today, more than 8.6% of Moab area electric customers are purchasing Blue Sky wind energy: an additional 1,450 MWh. Nearly 1.5% of the community's total energy usage now comes from renewable wind power. |
| Clif Bar & Company | 2003 | Green Power Purchasing | Food & Beverage | Clif Bar has taken responsibil¬ity for its "carbon footprint" by arranging for renewable energy based offsets not just for electricity usage but also for the fossil fuels required to power and heat its facilities and the bakeries producing its goods, and car and air-miles of business travel. Clif Bar purchased over 2,200 MWh of green power, with a 130% green power commitment of total electricity load through the NativeEnergy WindBuilders business program, offsetting 100% of carbon emissions from all its various energy uses. Clif Bar is now telling this story on its Web site, and will support outreach to its customers regarding global warming, renewable energy solutions, and incentives for Clif Bar customers to take personal action to offset their global warming pollution. |
| Kinko's | 2003 | Green Power Purchasing | Retail | Kinko's operates in both regulated and restructured markets and spends considerable effort navigating a continuously changing regulatory landscape. Over the last year, Kinko's grew its total annual green power commitments to 27 million kWh, or roughly 10% of its total electricity load. Kinko's now buys green power in 18 States and at more than 25% of its U.S. locations. Over the past year, Kinko's expanded its purchases in Colorado, Pennsylvania, Texas, Wyoming and the Pacific Northwest. Kinko's also signed up for a large green tag purchase in three Mid-Atlantic States, including Virginia, South Carolina and North Carolina. |
| State of New Jersey – NJCESP | 2003 | Green Power Purchasing | Government (State) | In July 2003, a group of NJ agencies signed an historic green energy contract. Under the 21-month agreement, the agencies will meet the 10% green goal established by NJ Governor James McGreevey, and create a demand for 12 MW of wind power. This is the largest annual retail wind purchase in the Eastern U.S. and the largest state government purchase in the nation. This year's commitment is also fueling demand for the 20- MW Bear Creek wind farm, which will be constructed next year in PA. NJ is showing green power leadership on other levels by actively participating in developing the PJM GATS system, the Mid-Atlantic Green-e stakeholder group, and the U.S. EPA Green Power Partnership. |
| Tower Companies | 2003 | Green Power Purchasing | Real Estate | Tower Companies has committed to purchase more than 24 million kWh of renewable energy for all its 2.5 million square feet of residential and commercial space in Washington, D.C. area buildings during an 18-month period. This renewable energy commit¬ment is an example of Tower's broader commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability. |
| WhiteWave Foods Company | 2003 | Green Power Purchasing | Food & Beverage | Last February, White Wave purchased Green-e certified wind power credits to offset the electricity used for 100% of its supply chain, from the bean field through distribution. White Wave initiated the program by purchasing a minimum of 20,000 MWh of green tags per annum for the next three years. White Wave's heavy promotion of its green tag purchase at the 2003 Natural Products Expo West led to several other natural products companies entering into serious consideration of green tag purchases. |
| City of Portland | 2003 | Partner of the Year | Government (Local) | The City attracted national attention by adopting an ambitious energy plan in 1979, and later by establishing the nation's first municipal global warming action plan in 1993. A series of successes in smaller-scale renewable development culminated in 2001 with a long-term commitment to become the first 100% renewable energy powered city by 2010. Portland has recently passed a significant milestone on the road to this ambitious goal by attaining its interim target of 10% by 2003. In addition to tapping the green potential of their existing infrastructure, they have also funded large-scale renewable development beyond the city's borders. Other innovative initiatives include installation of micro hydro facilities in the drinking water supply, utilization of waste methane from a wastewater treatment facility with microturbines and fuel cells, and use of photovoltaics in parking meters and maintenance vans. Several city bureaus have also collaborated to purchase a large volume of green tags from a new wind farm, which total 40.5 million kWh over three years. Future projects include an "urban turbine" within city limits to provide power and public education opportunities designed to educate Portland's next generation of renewable energy leaders. |
| Dyess Air Force Base | 2003 | Partner of the Year | Government (Federal) | This year, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, became the largest purchaser of Green Power at a single site in the nation, as well as the largest military purchaser of green power ever. A competitively-awarded energy supply contract issued by the Defense Energy Support Center (DESC) to TXU Energy was modified to provide 100% wind-generated electricity making all of the base's electrical power pollution-free. The Dyess purchase will result in approximately 80 million kWh of wind energy generated annual¬ly, enough electricity to power an estimated 8,000 homes for a year. |
| Johnson & Johnson | 2003 | Partner of the Year | Health Care | Johnson & Johnson is actively investing in green power as part of its commitment to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions 7% below 1990 levels by 2010. Last year, Johnson & Johnson successfully completed green power transactions involving all three major types of green power-green electricity, green tags, and on-site renewable power generation systems. Expanding on its purchase commitments established in 2002, the company is now committed to an estimated 47,081 MWh per year of green power it its New Jersey and Texas facilities and has combined on-site generation capacity of 1.2 MW. |
| University of Pennsylvania | 2003 | Partner of the Year | Education (Higher) | On Earth Day 2003, the University of Pennsylvania became the largest non-governmental purchaser of wind power in the nation, announcing that it would double its wind power purchase, already the highest nationally, to 40 million kWh annually. The University also extended the length of this contract from 3 years to 10 years becoming the first 10-year customer certificate contract in the wind energy industry. The University has funded its historic wind power purchases through savings achieved through aggressive energy conservation. Over the past few years, the University reduced peak electric demand by 18% and peak electric load from 23 to 13 MW and reinvested a portion of these savings into wind energy. The University of Pennsylvania's new long-term commitment will make it possible for Community Energy and other partners to construct a new 12-turbine, 20 MW Pennsylvania wind farm. |
| Pennsylvania State University | 2002 | Renewable Energy Certificates | Education (Higher) | In 2000, a group of students and faculty published The Indicators Report, which evaluated the Pennsylvania State University's global environmental and social impact. At the same time, University staff also was seeking ways to make the University more sustainable. Since purchasing renewable energy was a key goal for both groups, the University announced that it would become one of the largest purchasers of wind power in the country by committing 5% of the main campus' electrical needs from wind energy over the next five years from Community Energy, Inc. The University is currently purchasing 17.6 million kWh of energy produced at a Pennsylvania wind farm. The total green power purchase amounts to the annual output of four 1,500 kW wind turbines. |
| University of Pennsylvania | 2002 | Renewable Energy Certificates | Education (Higher) | Following the winter of 2001, University of Pennsylvania's facilities department faced severe operating deficits from a winter of rising fuel costs. In response, the University instituted an aggressive demand-side management plan to reduce its peak electrical demand by 3%. By turning off unnecessary lights, elevators, and even entire buildings not in use and regulating the air conditioning, they were able to reduce peak demand by 10,000 kW - an 18% reduction. These energy savings provided the resources necessary for the University to invest in clean wind energy. Using those funds, the University now purchases 20 million kWh of wind energy each year to further reduce its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. |
| Johnson & Johnson | 2002 | On-Site Generation | Health Care | Seeking to become a corporate leader in addressing the challenge of climate change, Johnson & Johnson has committed to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions 7% below 1990 levels by 2010. To achieve this goal, Johnson & Johnson is actively investing in green power as an alternative to fossil fuel energy. Three buildings are currently purchasing energy from a local wind farm, while three other buildings are producing their own energy through a solar photovoltaic system. The investment in green power is not only benefiting the environment, but is also a good business decision - providing a reliable and stable supply of energy for the company. |
| County of Alameda, CA | 2002 | On-Site Generation | Government (Local) | In spring 2002, the largest rooftop solar electric system in the nation was completed in the County of Alameda. The solar installation, consisting of 3 acres of solar PV panels, is located on top of 14 of the 18 housing units of Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, California - generating 1.4 million kWh annually. Santa Rita Jail is the largest energy user of Alameda County's government buildings. Along with major energy efficiency improvements, as well as the solar installation, the County was able to reduce the jail's use of utility-generated electricity by 30%. The initial project was designed to generate 519 kW of solar power. However, the continued availability of financial incentives made the project profitable enough to double the production capacity to 1,180 kW. Due to the project's success, over 2.4 million kWh of electricity annually are no longer purchased from the grid in Alameda County. |
| Advanced Micro Devices, Inc | 2002 | Green Power Direct Purchase | Tech and Telecom | Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD), recognizing the potential environmental impacts of global climate change and the need to take precautionary action to protect our global environment, set a goal to reduce carbon emissions from its manufacturing operations by 15% by 2005. Shortly after its first purchase of renewable energy in 2000, natural gas prices soared and became even more costly than the fixed green power premium. By 2001, AMD saved approximately $100,000 from its green power procurement and, in response, doubled the company's purchase for the following year. AMD is currently purchasing over 24 million kWh of clean renewable energy each year – 90% of which comes from a Texas wind farm. |
| State of New Jersey – NJCESP | 2002 | Green Power Direct Purchase | Government (State) | The State of New Jersey proved its dedication to renewable energy and a sustainable future with the largest State government commitment to green power procurement in the nation. New Jersey's commitment of 86 million kWh a year, or 12% of the State government's energy use, was realized with assistance from the New Jersey Consolidated Energy Savings Program (NJCESP), a group organized under the New Jersey Department of Treasury. A total of 196 State-operated facilities are now purchasing renewable energy from Green Mountain Energy Company. |
| Kinko's | 2002 | Partner of the Year | Retail | In 1997, Kinko's, Inc. adopted its Environmental Vision Statement, recognizing the role companies must play in ensuring a sustainable and healthy future. The company's efforts to reduce its environmental footprint include buy¬ing renewable energy, reducing energy use, offering recycled and alternative papers, and minimizing waste. A total of 93 branches across 13 states are now purchasing green power, 13 of which are using 100% renewable energy. All together, this amounts to approximately 7.7 million kWh of green energy. Kinko's, Inc. is procuring its power from a wide variety of sources, including wind, geothermal, landfill gas, solar, and small hydro. |
| City of Chicago | 2002 | Partner of the Year | Government (Local) | The City of Chicago became a leader in the procurement of renewable energy when it decided to obtain one fifth of its power from "green" sources, such as wind, solar, and landfill methane. Seeking alternatives to coal and nuclear energy, Mayor Richard M. Daley announced that the city would purchase 10% of its power from renewable sources in 2002, growing to 20% within five years. With its chosen energy provider, ComEd, one of the nation's largest utility companies, and Illinois Wind Energy, Chicago announced plans for creating the first commercial wind farm in Illinois. In addition to wind, the City plans to order 600,000 kWh of solar energy per year. |
| New Belgium Brewing Company | 2001 | Green Power Purchaser | Wineries & Breweries | The only brewery in the Unites States to rely 100% on wind power, New Belgium Brewery signed an agreement to purchase wind energy for at least 10 years. The company evaluated its whole-plant operations to identify where emissions levels were highest and discovered that conventional electricity generation released more CO2 emissions than the fermentation process. New Belgium decided to buy wind power. The company found that switching to wind power exclusively increased its energy costs. New Belgium Brewery sought ways to offset that premium. The brewery defrayed costs by taking advantage of peak utility contribution rates and by aggressively monitoring its power system load using sophisticated in-plant controls. As a result, the brewery's end cost in 2000 was $0.069 per kWh — slightly less than the average energy cost for businesses ($0.072 per kWh), according to Energy Information Administration data. The brewery is preparing to expand its green power usage by generating electrical and thermal energy on-site with an anaerobic wastewater treatment system. New Belgium's dedication to using wind power influenced other local businesses and the city of Fort Collins, Colorado to also purchase renewable energy. New Belgium proudly promotes its use of green power on every box it sells, on its Web site, and through press releases. |
| University of Colorado-Boulder | 2001 | Green Power Purchaser | Education (Higher) | In spring 1999, the University of Colorado Student Union's Environmental Center decided to focus on energy conservation issues resulting 2000 elections ballot to give students the opportunity to vote for an increase in fees to support renewable energy. In the Spring 2000, University of Colorado at Boulder (CU) students enthusiastically supported a referendum to increase student fees for the purchase of clean, wind-produced energy. The first in the country to increase fees to purchase clean energy, CU students will purchase two million kWh of 100% new wind energy at a cost of approximately $50,000 per year for a minimum of four years. |
| Kinko's | 2001 | Green Power Purchaser | Retail | Kinko's began purchasing green power in 1999 as a means to help fulfill the company's six-point Environmental Vision Statement. At first, Kinko's established green power agreements in California and Pennsylvania. Within four months, the company purchased nearly 800,000 kWh of renewable energy. To expand on this success, Kinko's focused on recruiting new green power subscribers. The company invited more than 6,000 California and Pennsylvania employees to join its "Friends and Family Program" and offered new members $30 in Starbucks, Blockbuster, and Ben & Jerry's coupons. In addition, many Kinko's branches displayed green power information from their energy suppliers on store counters and signed-up customers. As a result of this campaign, more than 100 residential energy customers joined the program. Last year, Kinko's set out to extend its renewable energy purchase plan to branches in other states. Although the fluctuating status of regulated and deregulated energy markets across the country was a barrier, Kinko's carefully researched, then signed agreements with 10 utility and energy providers for facilities in Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, and New York within a 17-month period. Currently, the company is pursuing green power purchasing opportunities in Texas, Nebraska, and New Jersey. It is also monitoring energy and green power supply stability and developing contingency renewable energy strategies, particularly for branches in California, Pennsylvania, and Colorado. To date, Kinko's has provided 124 branches in 10 states with green power and continues its vigilant efforts to improve the company's environmental performance. |
| City of Santa Monica, CA | 2001 | Green Power Purchaser | Government (Local) | Santa Monica was the first U.S. municipality to purchase 100% renewable energy for its facilities. In 1998, in response to the restructuring of California's electric industry, the city of Santa Monica hired a consulting firm to evaluate energy management options available to the city and its residents. In addition to analyzing the city and community's energy consumption and usage patterns, they compared the environmental and economic benefits and costs of purchasing renewable energy for both groups. To gauge community interest in purchasing renewable energy, the City Council surveyed over 400 residential and commercial customers and determined that green power would receive strong community support as long as the price was competitive with non-renewable energy. Following City Council approval, in November 1998, the city issued a Request for Qualifications/Proposals to California Public Utility Commission-certified Energy Service Providers (ESPs) to serve the Santa Monica residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal sectors with either renewable or a mix of renewable and non-renewable electricity sufficient to meet the city's demand. The city of Santa Monica selected Commonwealth Energy Corporation as its supplier of renewable energy and negotiated a one-year contract, with an option to renew for four additional one-year periods. Commonwealth Energy established contracts with Calpine Corporation to supply up to 20 MW of geothermal power and with Cal Energy to provide new renewable energy from its expanded geothermal plant at the Salton Sea. Due to California's energy crisis, many ESPs have not been able to obtain green power at a competitive price and have returned their residential and commercial customers back to service utilities. However, because of Commonwealth Energy's contract with Calpine, the city is able to renew its agreement for a third year. |
| Carnegie Mellon University | 2001 | Green Power Purchaser | Education (Higher) | Carnegie Mellon University will make the nation's largest, single, retail purchase of wind energy to date when it purchases 5% of its total electricity over the next year from the Exelon-Community Energy Wind Farm in western Pennsylvania. Totaling 4.8 million kWh, the Carnegie Mellon wind energy purchase will require more than an entire dedicated turbine to meet its annual demand. The process leading up to the purchase began in 1997 when Carnegie Mellon formed the Environmental Practices Committee tasked to identify campus opportunities for more environmentally sustainable practices, decreased waste production, and conservation of natural resources and energy. Working for 4 years to make the switch to renewable energy, the committee made it a goal to purchase 1 to 5% green power. Carnegie Mellon Green Design Initiative evaluated green power supply bids to determine which bid was the most environmentally friendly and cost effective and determined that wind power was the best "environmental" buy for the University's 5% purchase. |
| Toyota Motors Sales, USA, Inc. | 2001 | Green Power Purchaser | Automotive | Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. was the first, large company in California to purchase direct access to renewable electricity for its facilities in April 1998, just 29 days after the state's electricity market deregulated. This agreement also marked the largest purchase of renewable energy at the time. Originally, Toyota purchased 100% renewable energy from Edison Source. Toyota promoted its use of renewable energy to customers, employees, and other companies in company marketing and advertising materials. This awareness effort led many Toyota employees and customers to also opt for green power alternatives. In 1999, Toyota's renewable energy supplier stopped selling direct access electricity. Toyota then contracted with Green Mountain Energy Company in January of 2000 for approximately 40 million kWh annually. This purchase was estimated to be the equivalent amount of power consumed annually by 6,000 average California homes. Today, Toyota Motor Sales is actively in the process of identifying renewable on-site generation, green pricing programs, and direct access purchasing opportunities around the country. |
| Fetzer Vineyard | 2001 | Green Power Purchaser | Wineries & Breweries | Fetzer Vineyards is the first and only U.S. winery to buy 100% green power. Fetzer Vineyard's President, Paul Dolan and Senior Vice President, Pat Voss began to explore renewable energy as a way to meet the company's voluntary commitment to EPA's Climate Wise Program. With California's deregulation, energy companies approached Fetzer Vineyards with green power packages, which quickly encouraged the company to make the switch. In May 1999, Fetzer signed a contract with Pacific Gas and Electric Energy Services to purchase 100% renewable energy over three years. Fetzer believed it could offset the premium it would have to pay by implementing energy efficiency measures. Enron purchased Fetzer's contract in March 2000 and continues to supply the company with renewable power primarily though biomass and wind purchases. Also in 1999, Fetzer purchased and mounted on the roof of its administration building a 40 kWh PV display. The 90 solar panels feed directly into the electric grid, producing 56,800 kWh of electricity in 2000 and supplying 75% of the building's energy needs. |