Project Map Reference Documentation

Overview

The Project Map is hosted by the Green Power Partnership (GPP). The interactive map enables users to explore and visualize Partners' green power projects. The Map has filters which the user can adjust to determine which projects the map displays. Available filters include renewable resource, supply option, project size, industry, and Partner. As items are selected from the filters, summary values above the map will update automatically as will the projects shown on the map. Depending on the location of the filtered projects, the map will automatically zoom to show the entire set of selected projects. To clear all filters, click the Show All button to the left of the map.

Users can learn about an individual project by placing their cursor over its icon to access an informational pop-up box. The pop-up box includes the Partner Name, Project Name, Renewable Resource, Rated Capacity, Annual Procurement (kWh), Year Installed, Supply Option, and State.

The Project Map also enables users to see up-close satellite imagery of projects and the contextual environment in which they operate. By selecting a project dot icon on the map and then clicking the "Confirm" button adjacent to the map, the map will automatically zoom into the selected project. Additionally, the user can zoom in (or out) manually using the navigation controls at the far right of the map. After zooming into a project click the Show All button to return to the full map.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) strives to offer transparency in all documents and data collection. This webpage describes the information and data submitted by Partners in accordance with their voluntary participation in the EPA's Green Power Partnership and how that information is presented on the Project Map. The Project Map supports the EPA's efforts to transparently document its data and data collection methodology and procedures.

Data Sources and Collection Procedures

All project data presented in the Project Map have been collected from Partners who are voluntarily participating in the EPA's Green Power Partnership. EPA collects green power data from Partners once per collection year using the Partner Reporting Form, including information on project-specific supply arrangements. All Partners are required to report their electricity use and green power use over a 12-month reporting period (e.g., calendar year, fiscal year) of their choosing. EPA reviews submitted data for completeness and accuracy, but as a voluntary program EPA does not require Partners to verify their procurement and project details, such as through submittal of purchase invoices, utility bills, or contract documentation. Partners do attest to the reported information meeting certain minimum program requirements.

Partner projects are automatically included on the Project Map if they meet the below requirements.

  • Project is supplying eligible green power to the Partner that can be substantiated with the Partner's ownership of the associated renewable energy certificates. See the Partnership Requirements document for additional details.
  • Project is classified as a Project-Specific Supply Type. Learn more about how EPA classifies supply option types.
  • Project was reported to EPA in the Partner's most recent annual submittal via the Partner Reporting Form with latitude and longitude coordinates data fields populated.
  • Project is in the continental United States.

Partners may opt out of having their project(s) included on the Project Map by emailing the Green Power Partnership Team at green_power_partnership@epa.gov or their account manager.

Project Map's Data Elements and Metrics

Projects featured on the Map have the below data elements summarized in the project's informational pop-up box.

  • Project Name is the name of the project.
  • Renewable Resource is the renewable resource used by the project to generate electricity. EPA categorizes renewable resources as: Biogas, Biomass, Geothermal, Low Impact Hydro, Solar, and Wind.
  • Rated Capacity (kW) is the measure of a green power project's potential to generate power.
  • Annual Procurement (kWh) refers to the kilowatt-hour use of green power from the project during the Partner's most recent reporting period. In some cases, a project may have only been operational during a portion of the reporting period and consequently its kilowatt-hour use levels may reflect an prorated output over a 12-month reporting period time frame.
  • Year Installed is the year in which the project became operational. In some cases, the Year Installed is the year in which the project was re-powered or expanded.
  • Supply Option is the category of supply used to purchase and deliver green power to the Partner. Learn more about how EPA defines supply options.
  • State indicates the state in which the green power project is located.

Across the top of the Project Map are data metrics that summarize the aggregated totals for projects represented on the map based on the filter settings. The data metrics are:

  • Mapped Projects indicates the number of Partner projects depicted on the Map based on the filter settings.
  • Total Projects indicates the number of Partner projects that are categorized as Project-Specific engagements. The Total Projects metric is greater than the Mapped Projects metric because some Partner's projects are excluded from the map either because the project's geographic coordinates were not provided, the project is located outside the Continental United States (but in AK, HI, or a U.S. territory), or the Partner requested to have the project excluded from the Map.
  • Green Power Use (kWh) represents the total green power use by Partners sourced from the projects on the map based on the filter settings. Green power use is the kWh use during the Partner's most recent 12-month reporting period.
  • Rated Capacity (kW) of Projects represents the total reported rated capacity of projects on the map based on the filter settings. Some Partners may not have reported the rated capacity of their project(s) and therefore their project's rated capacity would not be available or listed.

Using the Project Map

Map Functionality

The Project Map provides users a tool to visualize and learn about Partners' green power projects. Users can see the geographic distribution of projects, use filters to explore linkages and patterns in project deployment, contextualize a project's surrounding operational environment, and better understand how Partner projects contribution to the success of the voluntary green power market. To learn more about the Partners and voluntary green power market, visit the EPA's Green Power Partnership webpage.

If you are having trouble viewing parts of the Project Map, you can try experimenting with your browser's zoom level.

Scrolling

Users can move about the Project Map using the Pan Arrow Buttons in the top right corner of the map, or with their mouse by left-clicking and moving the map.

Zooming

Users can adjust the zoom level on the Project Map using the Zoom Buttons on the right side of the map, or by using their mouse's wheel.

To zoom into a specific project(s), select the project(s) on the map and then click the Confirm button to the left of the map. To reset the map's zoom level to see all projects click the Show All button.

Filters

The Project Map defaults to show all Partner projects eligible for inclusion on the map. Five filters are available at the top of the viewer, which allow users to customize the map to meet their needs.

Click on any of the filters to see the list of values. Note that after selecting a filter, a search bar will appear that allows users to search for values of interest in the list box. The user can click multiple values within one filter. Current selections will be highlighted in green. The map dynamically updates as the user selects value(s) from the filter dropdown list.

Filter selection changes will be saved either by clicking away from the filter dropdown or by clicking the Confirm Selection button. If a user selects or de-selects filter options but does not want to save the changes, they can be canceled by clicking the Cancel Selection button.

Note that the Cancel Selections button does not clear filter selections. An individual filter can be cleared of all selections by clicking the Clear Selections button to the left in the filter dropdown. To clear selections from all filters, click the Show All button.

A filter's status bar (bar at bottom of filter) displays the status of the filter's selections based on the current settings. The status bar's color pattern is as follows:

  • Green: Indicates the portion of the filter's options currently selected.
  • White: Indicates the portion of the filter's options that are possible to select based on current selections.
  • Light Gray: Indicates the portion of filter's options that are an alternative for selection based on current selections.
  • Dark Gray: Indicates the portion of filter's options unavailable for selection based on current selections.

Filters available on the Project Map include:

Renewable Resource

Filter the map to show projects by the use of a particular renewable resource. EPA categorizes eligible renewable resources as:

  • Biogas
  • Biomass
  • Geothermal
  • Low Impact Hydro
  • Solar
  • Wind
  • Unspecified. A renewable resource may be listed as unspecified when the procurement is sourced from multiple projects and an exact resource mix percentage breakdown has not been determined.

For more information on renewable energy resources considered green power by EPA, visit the Green Power Partnership Requirements webpage.

Supply Option

Filter the map to show projects by a particular project-specific supply option. EPA categorizes project-specific supply options as:

  • Financial PPA = financial power purchase agreement
  • Physical PPA = physical power purchase agreement
  • Self-supply = self-supply
  • Shared = shared renewables
  • Tariff = utility green tariff

For more information on how EPA defines supply options, visit the Green Power Partnership Requirements webpage.

Project Size

Filter the map by project size. The project size refers to the kilowatt (kW) capacity of the project or Partner's share of the project's capacity.

  • >10,000 kW
  • 1,001 – 10,000 kW
  • 101 – 1,000 kW
  • 11 – 100 kW
  • <10 kW
  • Unspecified. A project's size is listed as unspecified when the project capacity data field in the Partner's Reporting Form is not populated.

Industry

Filter the Map to show green power projects associated with a specific industry or set of industries. Partners self-report their industry when they join the Green Power Partnership, and then each year when they submit an annual update.

Partner

Filter the Map to show an individual Partner's or set of Partners' green power projects.

Update Schedule and Procedures

EPA updates the Project Map on a bi-weekly basis. Updates will reflect new projects and project data elements submitted by Partners via their Partner Reporting Form. Only projects with latitude and longitude fields populated will be displayed on the Project Map. Existing Partners can update their information by requesting from EPA a Partner Reporting Form pre-populated with their last reported information. EPA may, at its discretion, make changes to the Project Map to include additional data elements already collected by EPA from Partners.

Common Questions

Please refer to the Project Map's FAQ document (pdf).

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Last updated on August 22, 2024