Green Power Leadership Awards
The 2017 Green Power Leadership Awards application period has closed. EPA will present the awards in conjunction with the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) Exit during the , which will take place in New York City from October 22-24, 2017. The awards serve to recognize the leading actions of organizations, programs, and individuals that significantly advance the development of green power sources.
See below for more information about award categories, , and the Renewable Energy Markets Conference. Read EPA's press release recognizing the 2016 awardees.
| U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | Center for Resource Solutions |
|---|---|
| Partner Awards | Market Development Awards |
| Excellence in Green Power Use | Green Power Market Development |
| Green Power Partner of the Year | International Green Power Market Development |
| Sustained Excellence in Green Power | Leadership in Green Power Education |
| Direct Project Engagement | Green Power Leader of the Year |
| Green Power Community of the Year |
EPA Partner Award Categories
- Excellence in Green Power Use Award: Recognizes Partners that distinguish themselves by using green power in amounts that exceed the minimum benchmark requirements, or where the partner can demonstrate a distinct market impact through innovation, communications and stakeholder engagement. Winners in this category perform better than what is minimally required and offer a compelling example to their sector peers.
- Green Power Partner of the Year Award: Recognizes Partners that distinguish themselves through their green power use, leadership, overall strategy, and impact on the green power market. Winners represent a beacon for other organizations to follow, represent best in class in terms of market impact, and have a compelling story that is both unique and replicable to a wider set of market participants. This category is the highest organizational honor in EPA's Green Power Leadership Awards and the activities are commensurate with this level of recognition.
- Sustained Excellence in Green Power Award: Recognizes continual leadership in advancing green power development. This award category recognizes a combination of both "sustained" green power use coupled with "excellence" in procurement size and diversity of supply. Award winners demonstrate a similar level of sustained excellence as it relates to communications and market engagement related to their use of green power: they have won at least three (3) previous Green Power Leadership Awards – including one "Direct Project Engagement" (previously known as On-site Generation) award and one "Partner of the Year" award. Award winners demonstrate excellence by using at least 100 percent green power for its organization-wide purchased electricity use. The Partner must also demonstrate sustained 100 percent green power use for no fewer than 3 years prior to its first award in this category. Organizations can only receive a Sustained Excellence award once every 3 years, over which time they must maintain continued sustained excellence activities.
- Direct Project Engagement Award: Recognizes Partners that distinguish themselves through direct project engagement with on- and off-site projects using a variety of financing structures to access renewable energy certificate (REC)-based green power. Eligible direct project engagements include on- and off-site self-generation and physical power purchase agreements (PPAs) as well as direct investments and synthetic/virtual PPAs with off-site projects. Eligible generation must come from new projects that were a result, in part, from the engagement of the award winner (Partner). EPA's intent, in part, is to recognize direct long-term commitments with eligible projects. Award winner's contractual relationship to the project shall be for no fewer than five (5) years. Self-generation shall be considered a 20-year contract term.
- Green Power Community of the Year Award: Recognizes EPA Green Power Communities that distinguish themselves through their green power usage, leadership, citizen engagement, renewable energy strategy, and impact on the green power market. Winners coordinate successful community campaigns to buy green power in amounts that exceed the minimum GPC requirements. Both the success of the GPC campaign as well as the leadership of the local government will be evaluated under this category.
Center for Resource Solutions Market Development Award Categories
- Green Power Market Development: Recognizes organizations and individuals building and growing the voluntary market for green power. This may include organizations using renewable energy, electricity suppliers and REC providers, policy advocates, leaders in project development, and others influential in driving green power. The award honors industry leaders that are innovators and champions of renewable energy and whose actions are supporting the accelerated development of green power markets.
- International Green Power Market Development: Recognizes organizations and individuals who are building markets or demonstrating leadership in green power procurement outside North America. This may include organizations using renewable energy, project developers, policy advocates, certificate providers, electricity suppliers, or others influential in developing and growing green power markets.
- Leadership in Green Power Education: Recognizes effective and unique programs and organizations focusing on green power education. This award honors work that spreads the word about the environmental benefits of green power, and efforts to boost public interest in renewable energy.
- Green Power Leader of the Year: Recognizes outstanding leadership by an individual who is leveraging his or her influence, power, position, or purchasing power to increase the prevalence of renewable energy. Evaluation criteria include: efforts and achievements of an individual, contributions to building the green power market, and dedication to and vision for renewable energy.
What does winning an EPA Green Power Leadership Award mean to an organization?
An EPA Green Power Leadership Award offers significant opportunities for recipients:
- Demonstrate your environmental leadership
"Green power purchases are an effective and important way we can implement renewable energy sources as we work to reduce our carbon footprint. As an EPA Sustained Excellence Award winner, we have increased our purchases that are applied company-wide, achieving 100 percent green power in 2010, 2011 and 2012. We are pleased to have extended this commitment through 2015." - Ken Bonning, Senior Executive Vice President, Kohl's - Become part of a prestigious group
"Pearson is proud to receive this prestigious award from the US EPA for a second time. Green power is an important tool in helping combat climate change and we are honored to stand alongside the many US schools and universities that also choose clean sources of electricity as part of their sustainability strategies." - Rich Glicini, SVP Corporate Social Responsibility, Pearson - Promote participation in the Green Power Partnership
"We're thrilled to be part of the EPA's Green Power Partnership. It's an unprecedented opportunity for us to integrate this meaningful and long-lasting environmental initiative into our operations." - Brad Haeberle, Vice President and Sustainability Council Chair, Siemens Industry, Inc.'s Building Technologies Division - Be featured at the
Award winners will be recognized at the industry's paramount annual gathering attended by leading renewable energy and green power industry stakeholders.
Green Power Leadership Award Application Process
The 2017 Green Power Leadership Awards application period has closed. EPA will present the awards in conjunction with the Renewable Energy Markets Conference, which will be held October 22-24, 2017 in New York City. The Green Power Leadership Awards Ceremony will take place during the conference, on Monday, October 23.
EPA's Green Power Leadership Awards recognize exceptional achievement and leading actions of organizations, programs, and individuals that significantly advance the development of green power sources.
Learn more about the , or winners from previous years.
| U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | Center for Resource Solutions |
|---|---|
| Partner Awards | Market Development Awards |
| Excellence in Green Power Use | Green Power Market Development |
| Green Power Partner of the Year | International Green Power Market Development |
| Sustained Excellence in Green Power | Leadership in Green Power Education |
| Direct Project Engagement | Green Power Leader of the Year |
| Green Power Community of the Year |
.
Visit the web page for information about last year's winners.
Please contact us if you would like information on eligibility requirements and evaluation criteria for the 2017 Green Power Leadership Awards.
Selection Process
An EPA evaluation panel reviews and evaluates all applications submitted by the deadline. Applications must be accurate and complete. EPA reviews all applicants to ensure that they are in good standing with EPA. Finalists will need to pass an EPA compliance screen in order to be selected. EPA will notify award winners and applicants in late summer.
Awards Ceremony
Each fall, award winners are recognized at the Green Power Leadership Awards Ceremony held during the Renewable Energy Markets (REM) Conference. This year's REM Conference will be held October 22-24, 2017 in New York City. The Green Power Leadership Awards Ceremony will take place during the conference, on Monday, October 23.
Visit the Renewable Energy Markets Conference website Exit for more information.
Questions?
To learn more about the awards and the conference, visit the and the Renewable Energy Markets Conference website Exit.
Green Power Leadership Award Winners
2016 EPA Green Power Partner Awards
Excellence in Green Power Use
- Biogen, Inc.
- BNY Mellon
- Forest County Potawatomi Community, Wisconsin
- Goldman Sachs
- Government of the District of Columbia (Washington, DC)
- Intel Corporation
- SC Johnson
Green Power Partner of the Year
Sustained Excellence in Green Power
Direct Project Engagement
Green Power Community of the Year
CRS Market Development Awards
For more information on the 2016 Market Development Award winners, please visit the Center for Resource Solutions websiteExit.
Excellence in Green Power Use
This award category recognizes Partners that distinguish themselves by using green power in amounts that exceed the minimum benchmark requirements, or where the partner can demonstrate a distinct market impact through innovation, communications and stakeholder engagement. Winners in this category perform better than what is minimally required and offer a compelling example to their sector peers.
Biogen, Inc.
Founded in 1978, Biogen is one of the world’s oldest independent biotechnology companies. Over the past five years, Biogen has strengthened its commitment to renewable energy, which is integrated into its business strategy.
Biogen made big strides in its green power goals by procuring all of its electricity from renewable sources. In 2015, Biogen used 100 percent renewable energy domestically after purchasing 91 million kilowatt-hours 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.
Biogen became an EPA Green Power Partner in 2016.
BNY Mellon
BNY Mellon provides investment management, investment services, and wealth management for institutions and individuals worldwide. BNY Mellon emphasizes environmental leadership across its organization, including in environmental management, renewable energy use, and on climate change.
In 2015, BNY Mellon met all of its annual electricity demand with green power. The company purchased 290 million kilowatt-hours (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.
BNY Mellon became an EPA Green Power Partner in 2009 and received a Green Power Purchasing Award in 2010.
Forest County Potawatomi Community, Wisconsin
The Forest County Potawatomi Community (FCPC) is a federally-recognized Native American Tribe with a membership of more than 1,400. The Tribe has a reservation in Forest County, Wisconsin, and also holds tribal trust and fee lands in Milwaukee, Oconto, and Fond du Lac Counties, Wisconsin.
The Tribe's 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 photovoltaic (PV) systems at 15 tribal facilities in Milwaukee and Forest Counties. The individual installations range from nine kilowatts (kW) to 448 kW, utilizing both roof and ground mounts depending on site-specific needs. In 2015, FCPC used 100 percent renewable energy after purchasing more than 55 million kilowatt-hours of Green-e® certified renewable energy certificates.
Forest County Potawatomi Community has been an EPA Green Power Partner since 2010.
Goldman Sachs
Goldman Sachs is a global investment banking, securities, and investment management firm that provides financial services to corporations, financial institutions, governments, and individuals.
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 percent 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 percent 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 kilowatt-hours of Green-e® certified renewable energy certificates, Goldman Sachs uses green power for 100 percent of its U.S. operations.
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. joined the EPA Green Power Partnership in 2016.
Government of the District of Columbia (Washington, DC)
The District of Columbia (DC) is committed to clean energy, sustainable development, and the green economy.
The DC Government-led Sustainable DC Plan established science-based targets to reduce District-wide energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions 50 percent 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 kilowatt-hours of renewable electricity annually from a 46-megawatt (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.
The city, which has been a Green Power Partner since 2010 and a Green Power Community since 2011, received a Green Power Purchasing Award in 2015.
Intel Corporation
Intel Corporation, a leading semiconductor manufacturer, develops computing technologies, products, and initiatives with a goal to advance the way people work and live. Since 2008, the company has been the largest purchaser of green power within the Green Power Partnership, and since 2013, has purchased 100 percent green power for its U.S. operations. In total, Intel has purchased more than 18 billion kilowatt-hours (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 percent green power in its U.S. operations through 2020 and tripling its on-site alternative energy program by 2020.
Intel joined the Green Power Partnership in 2008 and received Sustained Excellence in Green Power Awards in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015; Partner of the Year Awards in 2008, 2009, and 2011; and a Green Power Purchasing Award in 2010.
SC Johnson
SC Johnson is a family-owned and managed manufacturer of household cleaning, home storage, air care, pest control, and shoe care products.
The company’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 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity, respectively, in 2015. In total, SC Johnson procures 44 percent 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 percent 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.
SC Johnson has been a Green Power Partner since 2010 and won a Green Power Leadership Award for On-Site Generation in 2011.
Green Power Partner of the Year
This award category recognizes Partners that distinguish themselves through their green power use, leadership, overall strategy, and impact on the green power market. Winners represent a beacon for other organizations to follow, represent best in class in terms of market impact, and have a compelling story that is both unique and replicable to a wider set of market participants. This category is the highest organizational honor in EPA's Green Power Leadership Awards and the activities are commensurate with this level of recognition.
Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems designs, manufactures, and sells internet protocol-based networking products related to the communications and information technology (IT) industry, and provides services associated with these products and their use.
In 2015, the company more than doubled its green power use to more than 1.1 billion kilowatt-hours of green power globally, representing approximately 97 percent of its total U.S. and 72 percent 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 percent 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.
Cisco Systems has been a Green Power Partner since 2006 and received a Partner of the Year Award in 2008 and 2013.
Jackson Family Wines
Founded in 1982, Jackson Family Wines (JFW), is a multi-generational, family-owned wine company featuring wineries and estate vineyards across California, Oregon, Italy, France, Australia, Chile, and South Africa. Inspired by founder Jess S. Jackson’s commitment to innovative advances in land management and wine growing, responsibility and environmental stewardship remain at the heart of this family business.
JFW has a long-term goal of reducing its environmental impacts. Using creative approaches to energy management, JFW focuses on investing in the development of clean, renewable energy. The company has a goal to power 50 percent of its winemaking operations with on-site renewable energy by 2021.
The company is 35 percent green powered for winemaking operations with the completed installation of more than 6.5 megawatts 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 percent green power for the company’s annual electricity use, JFW also purchases green power on behalf of all 1,500 of its employees to cover their electricity use at home.
Jackson Family Wines has been an EPA Green Power Partner since 2008 and received a Green Power Purchasing Award in in 2011.
University at Buffalo, the State University of New York
The University at Buffalo (UB) is a research-intensive public university, and is the largest in the 64-campus State University of New York (SUNY) system.
In 2015, UB procured more than 212 million kilowatt-hours 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 kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic 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.
University at Buffalo has been an EPA Green Power Partner since 2003.
Sustained Excellence in Green Power
This award category recognizes continual leadership in advancing green power development. This award category recognizes a combination of both "sustained" green power use coupled with "excellence" in procurement size and diversity of supply. Award winners demonstrate a similar level of sustained excellence as it relates to communications and market engagement related to their use of green power: they have won at least three (3) previous Green Power Leadership Awards – including one "Direct Project Engagement" (previously known as On-site Generation) award and one "Partner of the Year" award. Award winners demonstrate excellence by using at least 100 percent green power for its organization-wide purchased electricity use. The Partner must also demonstrate sustained 100 percent green power use for no fewer than 3 years prior to its first award in this category. Organizations can only receive a Sustained Excellence award once every 3 years, over which time they must maintain continued sustained excellence activities.
Apple Inc.
Apple Inc. is an American multinational technology company that designs, develops, and sells consumer electronics, computer software, and online services.
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 percent 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 kilowatt-hours of renewable energy for its U.S. operations, which includes four operational data centers, 268 retail stores, and more than 140 corporate offices.
Three principles guide Apple’s net-zero energy program: displace dirtier forms of energy; ensure energy provided is surplus to what would have otherwise occurred; and demonstrate accountability through, for example, tracking systems and certifications.
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.
Apple won a Green Power Leadership Award for On-Site Generation in 2013 and Partner of the Year Awards in 2014 and 2015.
Kohl’s Department Stores
Kohl’s is a U.S.-based, family-focused, value-oriented specialty department store. Kohl’s seeks to be an environmentally responsible retailer and takes an integrated approach to environmental stewardship in its business endeavors with the goal of long-term sustainability.
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 kilowatt-hours 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. Kohl’s has ranked first on the Green Power Partnership’s Top 30 Retail list since 2009. Additionally, since joining the Partnership in 2006, Kohl’s won Green Power Leadership Awards in 2007 and 2008, Partner of the Year Awards in 2009, 2010, 2011; and Sustained Excellence in Green Power Awards in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015.
Direct Project Engagement
This award category recognizes Partners that distinguish themselves through direct project engagement with on- and off-site projects using a variety of financing structures to access renewable energy certificate (REC)-based green power. Eligible direct project engagements include on- and off-site self-generation and physical power purchase agreements (PPAs) as well as direct investments and synthetic/virtual PPAs with off-site projects. Eligible generation must come from new projects that were a result, in part, from the engagement of the award winner (Partner). EPA's intent, in part, is to recognize direct long-term commitments with eligible projects. Award winner's contractual relationship to the project shall be for no fewer than five (5) years. Self-generation shall be considered a 20-year contract term.
General Motors / GM Orion Assembly Plant
Headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, General Motors Co. (GM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries. Globally, the company sources more than 106 megawatts (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 kilowatt-hours of renewable energy generated from its on-site landfill gas system, which is equivalent to 54 percent of the facility’s total electricity usage.
GM’s Fort Wayne facility received a Green Power Leadership Award for On-Site Generation in 2015. GM Orion Assembly Plant became an EPA Green Power Partner in 2016.
Google Inc.
Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful. The company works to minimize the environmental impact of its services.
Google procures large volumes of renewable power for its data center operations. In 2015, Google procured more than 2 billion kilowatt-hours 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 megawatts (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 kilowatt cogeneration unit, which uses local landfill gas to generate electricity and heat.
Google won the Partner of the Year award in 2011 and 2014.
HARBEC, Inc.
In 1977, toolmaker Bob Bechtold formed HARBEC, Inc., a full-service supplier of precision plastic and metal component parts and sub-assemblies to many Fortune 500® customers.
HARBEC has continuously improved its company-wide energy performance while simultaneously growing its business. In 2001, the company installed a 250 kilowatt (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 percent 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 percent subsidy for buying utility-supplied green power at their residences.
HARBEC, Inc. has been an EPA Green Power Partner since 2004 and received a Green Power Leadership Award for On-Site Generation in 2004.
Green Power Community of the Year
This award category recognizes EPA Green Power Communities that distinguish themselves through their green power usage, leadership, citizen engagement, renewable energy strategy, and impact on the green power market. Winners coordinate successful community campaigns to buy green power in amounts that exceed the minimum GPC requirements. Both the success of the GPC campaign as well as the leadership of the local government will be evaluated under this category.
Maplewood Green Power Community, Missouri
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. The challenge’s goal was 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 embraced the challenge and nearly doubled its original goal of collectively supporting three percent green power. The community’s support of renewable energy certificate-based green power increased by more than 300 percent through the challenge, resulting in a community-wide use of more than six million kilowatt-hours 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 five percent of the community-wide total electricity use. The city achieved this Green Power Community distinction in just five months.
Maplewood became a Green Power Community in 2015.
Renewable Energy Markets Conference
About the Conference
Renewable Energy Markets Exit is the industry's paramount annual gathering attended by leading renewable energy and green power stakeholders, and is held in a different major city each year. This year’s Renewable Energy Markets Conference will be held October 22-24, 2017 in New York City. Visit the Renewable Energy Markets Conference website Exit for more information.
At the REM conference, attendees:
- Network with the industry's key players, including power marketers, renewable energy developers, retail and wholesale green power suppliers, electric utilities, equipment manufacturers, government agencies, energy consultants, and nonprofit experts
- Gain new insights about the major issues facing voluntary renewable energy and carbon markets
- Learn about profitable strategies for industry growth and current renewable energy supply and demand trends
- Attend the Green Power Leadership Awards Banquet, which is held in conjunction with the conference
About the Awards Ceremony
EPA co-sponsors the Green Power Leadership Awards in conjunction with the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS). The awards recognize the leading actions of organizations, programs, and individuals that significantly advance the development of the voluntary green power market. This year’s Green Power Leadership Awards Ceremony will take place on Monday, October 23 at the Renewable Energy Markets Conference.
To receive Partnership and awards updates, please contact us and indicate your interest in receiving updates from the Green Power Partnership.