Green Power Partnership Frequently Asked Questions

• EPA's Green Power Partnership
• EPA's Green Power Communities

EPA's Green Power Partnership (GPP)

Q. What is the Green Power Partnership?

A. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Green Power Partnership is a federal program that works with a wide range of organizations with U.S.-based operations to purchase and use green power. We work to reduce the emissions and air pollution associated with traditional electricity use. For more information about EPA’s Green Power Partnership, see the About Us web page or download the Partnership Requirements document (pdf).

Q. Is there a fee to join the Green Power Partnership?

A. No. Joining EPA’s Green Power Partnership program involves no fees or additional expenses. To join, Partners must meet several basic Partnership requirements, including using a minimum amount of eligible green power as a percentage of the Partner organization’s total annual electricity use. Please see the Partnership Requirements document (pdf) for more information about the program and becoming a Partner.

Q. My organization is based outside of the United States. Can it join the Partnership?

A. Most organizations with operations or facilities in the United States may join EPA’s Green Power Partnership. As a U.S. federal domestic program, EPA’s Green Power Partnership seeks to advance the U.S. green power market and encourage the development of U.S.-based renewable electricity sources by increasing demand in U.S.-based electricity consumers. Some electricity users and suppliers are not eligible to join EPA’s Green Power Partnership. Please see the Partnership Requirements document (pdf) for more information about Partner eligibility.

Q. I want to install a renewable energy project for my home/business. Can I get financial assistance from EPA’s Green Power Partnership?

A. No. EPA’s Green Power Partnership does not provide financial assistance as part of its program. However, the federal government does offer some tax-based incentives for certain types of investments in renewable energy. To find more information about available financial incentives for you or your organization, please visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency®.

Q. How can some EPA Partners be using more than 100 percent green power?

A. There is a range of reasons why an organization may be shown to use more green power than the amount of electricity it consumes for its own operations (i.e., greater than 100 percent use). Reasons may include:

1. Simple changes to annual operational electricity use but the organization already contracted for a specific amount of green power.
2. Purchases to cover the organization’s corporate brand beyond its operational footprint (e.g., franchises).
3. Using green power to cover parts of the organization’s supply or value chain.

   
   EPA recommends that an organization disclose the reason for any green power use greater than 110 percent of its total annual electricity use. Organizations should only apply renewable energy certificates to emissions of and from the electricity sector.

Q. Why are the Green Power Partnership’s minimum green power usage requirements so low?

A. The minimum green power usage requirements are purposely low to encourage participation in the market, since most consumers will increase their green power use over time. The program sets its minimum green power usage requirements based on market and Partner data analysis. EPA data shows that 50 percent of the total recognized green power in the Partnership is from existing Partners increasing their purchases and usage of green power after joining the Partnership.

Since 2001, the Partnership has increased its minimum usage requirements on three separate occasions. The Partnership recognizes that using green power is a continuous journey for many organizations. Some start with purchasing green power for a single facility, then increase their procurement scope to be organization-wide. Similarly, many organizations will start with buying retail green power supply options, only to evolve their green power supplies to include a more diverse portfolio, such as specific project engagements and direct-purchase contracts. Lower green power usage requirements ensure that the level of buying itself is not a barrier. EPA’s recognition framework helps drive increased usage by Partners.

Q. Can project developers or electricity suppliers join the Green Power Partnership?

A. No. Project developers and electricity suppliers (e.g., utilities) are not currently eligible to join EPA’s Green Power Partnership. The Green Power Partnership seeks to support the advancement of the U.S. renewable energy market by increasing consumer demand for renewable electricity to move the U.S. electricity sector towards cleaner sources of power. Project developers and electricity suppliers may share information on how customers can join the Green Power Partnership as a value added to customers’ investments if their use meets EPA’s minimum requirements. Please see the Partnership Requirements document (pdf) for more information about the program and becoming a Partner.

Q. I am a residential electricity consumer. Can I join the Green Power Partnership?

A. No. EPA’s Green Power Partnership works with organizational consumers that use more than 100,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity each year. However, EPA offers resources and guidance on how to purchase green power that may be useful to residential electricity consumers interested in supporting and using green power for their homes. For more information, please see the Guide to Purchasing Green Power, which includes information on how to buy green power.

EPA's Green Power Communities

Q. What is the EPA Green Power Community initiative?

A. EPA’s Green Power Partnership builds off its organizational Partner framework to also recognize Green Power Communities. This initiative promotes community-based use of green power within a community’s designated boundaries. The initiative encourages local businesses, non-profits, institutions, government facilities, and residences to use green power in amounts that meet EPA’s minimum community usage requirement. Communities can qualify through local government leadership campaigns or Community Choice Aggregations. For more information, please contact EPA or visit EPA’s Green Power Community web page.

Q. What are the benefits of becoming an EPA Green Power Community?

A. A community’s electricity usage can be a significant source of emissions and air pollution. By advancing the use of green power, a community can help reduce its carbon footprint, demonstrate civic leadership, increase citizen pride, improve public health, and enhance its community image. EPA can work with the community to establish a local government campaign with the support of a local utility supplier. EPA can also help your community achieve Green Power Community status through a Community Choice Aggregation approach. By answering this call to action, a community, its citizens, and its businesses can collectively help move the United States toward a clean energy future and inspire other communities to do the same. EPA will give each Green Power Community two street signs that can be placed on a main thoroughfare to show that the community meets EPA requirements for green power use within its boundaries (e.g., city limits). For more information, please contact EPA or visit EPA’s Green Power Community web page.

Q. What is Community Choice Aggregation?

A. Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) is a local government program that aggregates electricity demand within its jurisdictions and procures electricity on behalf of all community members. These are also known as Municipal Aggregations. CCAs must be enabled by state policy. As of 2021, more than ten states had authorized Community Choice Aggregation policies.

Q. How does a community join the Green Power Partnership?

A. To become an EPA Green Power Community, a community must use an eligible minimum amount of green power as a percentage of its total annual electricity use within community boundaries. The community must also submit a Green Power Community Partnership Agreement to EPA. Communities may achieve their minimum green power use through two distinct pathways:

1. Community Choice Aggregation.
2. A local government-led green power campaign with the local utility’s support.

For more information, please contact EPA or visit EPA’s Green Power Community web page.