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EPA Names Top 20 Organizations Running on Their Own Green Power

Release Date: 07/27/2009
Contact Information: Dean Higuchi, (808) 541-2711, [email protected]

Macy’s recognized as a Green Power partner generating green electricity in Hawaii

(07/27/09) HONOLULU – For the first time, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership recognized 20 partners for generating the most green electricity on site. Combined, the top 20 partners are generating and consuming more than 736 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of on-site green power annually. This is equivalent to the electricity needed to power more than 61,000 American homes annually. The partners’ contributions are helping to expand America's renewable energy portfolio, improve the nation’s energy security, and reduce their organizations’ greenhouse gas emissions.

“These companies are leading a nationwide move to the clean energy economy, one that can create million of jobs, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and protect against global climate change,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "Our Green Power Partnership leaders are setting the standard for our clean energy future."

The top five partners from the list of 20, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, City of San Diego, San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant (Calif.), and CalPortland, consumed and generated the greatest amount of on-site green power. By using more than 535 million kWh of on-site green power, these partners prevented carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to the emissions from more than 70,000 passenger vehicles per year.

Green power is generated from renewable resources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, biogas, and low-impact hydropower. On-site green power is deployed directly at energy users' facilities rather than at central power plants. Green power electricity generates less pollution than conventional power and produces no net increase in greenhouse gas emissions.

EPA’s Green Power Partnership works with more than 1,100 partner organizations to voluntarily purchase green power to reduce the environmental impacts of conventional electricity use.
Overall, the partners are buying more than 16 billion kWh of green power annually, equivalent to the carbon dioxide emissions from electricity use of more than 1.6 million American homes.

EPA is also updating its other top partner lists, including its National Top 50 Purchasers list. Intel Corporation, PepsiCo, Whole Foods Market, Kohl’s Department Stores, and Dell Inc. continue to rank in the top five overall of green power purchasers.

Macy's, Inc. - California and Hawaii Stores are generating more than 10 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of solar power annually at its California and Hawaii stories. Macy's use of green power is equivalent to 3 percent of the electricity use of its stores located California and Hawaii Macy's currently ranks No. 14 on EPA’s Top 20 On-site Green Power Users List. Macy's also ranks No. 19 on EPA’s Top 20 Retail list of green power purchasers. According to the U.S. EPA, Macy's green power usage of more than 10 million kWh is equivalent to avoiding the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of more than 1,000 passenger vehicles per year, or is the equivalent amount of electricity needed to power more than 1,000 average American homes annually.

More information on top 20 on-site users of green power:
https://www.epa.gov/greenpower/toplists/top20onsite.htm

More information on EPA’s Green Power Partnership: https://www.epa.gov/greenpower

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