Epa National Headquarters Electricity To Be Renewable
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that 100% of its power consumption at its Washington, DC headquarters will be supplied by green, renewable power. In addition, the vast majority of energy at over 30 regional and laboratory facilities will come from sustainable sources.
The EPA has contracted to purchase nearly 260 million kilowatt hours of renewable energy each year for 10 of the agency’s offices and 21 laboratories, which places the agency among the top three green power consumers in the country. Only the U.S. Air Force and Whole Foods Markets buy more green power.
Green power is energy generated from renewable sources. Energy for the EPA Green Power Purchase Program include sources such as methane from landfills, biomass, geothermal, and wind.
Depending on location, the agency may buy electricity generated by renewable sources from the local supplier, or purchase “green tags.”
These tags allow EPA to support green power production in a distant location. The idea is to displace traditional generation, stoke the rise of alternate energy sources and short-circuit the pressure for new power plants, Johnson said.
Since 1999, EPA’s commitment to renewables has grown to cover approximately 88 percent of the agency’s national electrical consumption.
EPA is a leading member and co-founder of the Green Power Partnership. The agency’s Green Power Purchase Program was awarded the Presidential Award for Leadership in Federal Energy Management in 2004.
Provided by the Environmental News Service.
