by Brianna Crandall — November 21, 2014—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its annual Green Power Leadership Awards on November 19, recognizing 19 Green Power Partners and four suppliers across the country—including the cities of Philadelphia and Las Vegas, Apple, Kohl’s, and Trek Bicycle Corporation—for achievements in advancing the nation’s renewable energy market and reducing greenhouse gas emissions fueling climate change.
EPA defines “green power” as electricity that is generated from renewable sources, including solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, and low-impact hydroelectric sources. Green power does not produce fossil fuel-based greenhouse gas emissions that fuel climate change.
The award winners below are being recognized for their efforts in expanding the domestic renewable energy market. From using enough green power to meet more than 100 percent of electricity needs to installing solar arrays on-site or entering long-term power purchase agreements, these organizations are demonstrating that green power is both accessible and affordable, and that it helps the environment while being a smart business investment.
The award-winning partners were chosen for their exemplary use of green power from more than 1,300 partner organizations that comprise EPA’s Green Power Partnership. Utilities, renewable energy project developers, and other green power suppliers are eligible to apply for the Green Power Supplier award.
EPA, through the Green Power Partnership, works with partner organizations to use green power as a way to reduce the environmental impacts associated with conventional electricity use. The Partnership currently has more than 1,300 partner organizations voluntarily using billions of kilowatt-hours of green power annually. Partners include a wide variety of leading organizations such as Fortune 500 companies, small and medium sized businesses, local, state, and federal governments, and colleges and universities.
The 2014 Green Power Leadership Award winners are listed below in the following categories:
- Green Power Partner of the Year: Apple Inc. (Cupertino, CA); BD (Franklin Lakes, NJ); Google Inc. (Mountain View, CA); Oklahoma State University (Stillwater, OK)
- Green Power Purchasing: City of Houston, TX; City of Beaverton, OR; Town of Peterborough, NH; Herman Miller, Inc. (Zeeland, MI); Philadelphia Insurance Companies (Bala Cynwyd, PA); Steelcase Inc. (Grand Rapids, MI); REI (Kent, WA); Trek Bicycle Corporation (Waterloo, WI);June Key Delta Community Center (Portland, OR)
- On-Site Generation: City of Las Vegas, NV; City of Philadelphia, PA
- Sustained Excellence in Green Power: Intel Corporation (Santa Clara, CA); Kohl’s Department Stores (Menomonee Falls, WI)
- Green Power Community of the Year: Medford, OR; Oak Ridge, TN
- Green Power Supplier of the Year: 3DegreesGroup, Inc. (San Francisco, CA); Portland General Electric (Portland, OR); Renewable Choice Energy (Boulder, CO); Washington Gas Energy Services (Herndon, VA)
The 2014 Green Power Leadership Awards will be presented on December 3, 2014, at the annual Renewable Energy Markets Conference in Sacramento, California.
