EPA Honors St. Louis University for Excellence in Green Power Use, One of 12 National Awardees

September 23, 2020

Contact Information

David Bryan, APR (bryan.david@epa.gov)

913-551-7433

Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Lenexa, Kan., Sept. 23, 2020) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced St. Louis University as one of 12 top Green Power Partners in the 20th annual Green Power Leadership Awards program. Other companies across the country recognized included Aldi, Equinix, Fifth Third Bank, Lundberg Family Farms, Microsoft, QTS Realty Trust, and Target Corporation.

“The 2020 Green Power Leadership Award winners are leaders in spurring innovation and promoting growth in the U.S. renewable energy market,” said Anne L. Austin, principal deputy assistant administrator of EPA's Office of Air and Radiation. “We commend their efforts, which help protect our environment and improve our air quality.”

St. Louis University (SLU) greatly increased its green power use through a student-led initiative. The university established a student renewable energy fee for green power purchases. The students aligned the institution's electricity use with the SLU mission of "higher purpose, greater good," achieving 100% green power.

Students also showed how green power advances public health and social justice by showcasing how traditional energy sources contribute to poor air quality and increased asthma rates, a significant regional health risk disproportionately impacting low-income, minority residents.

Green Power Leaders contribute to the growth of the green power market in the United States and demonstrate leadership by implementing best market practices. Green power is electricity generated from renewable energy resources that offer the greatest environmental benefit, such as solar, wind, low-impact hydropower, and some forms of biomass. This year’s 12 recipients are using approximately 11.7 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) of green power, enough to power nearly 1.1 million average American homes for a year.

Other winners and their categories include:

Sustained Excellence in Green Power

Microsoft Corporation (Redmond, Washington)

Green Power Partner of the Year

Equinix Inc. (Redwood, California)

Direct Project Engagement

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (San Luis Obispo, California)
Fifth Third Bank (Cincinnati)
Lundberg Family Farms (Richvale, California)
Madison Area Technical College/ Main Truax Building (Madison, Wisconsin)
QTS Realty Trust (Overland Park, Kansas)
Target Corporation (Minneapolis)

Excellence in Green Power Use

ALDI Inc. (Dublin, Ohio)
General Motors LLC (Detroit)
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (Los Angeles)

EPA established the Green Power Partnership (GPP) in 2001 to protect human health and the environment by increasing organizations' voluntary green power use to advance the American market for green power and development of those resources. The GPP provides a framework that includes credible usage benchmarks, market information, technical assistance, and public recognition to companies and other organizations that use green power. As of Dec. 31, 2019, over 1,400 EPA Green Power Partners are collectively using over 61 billion kWh of green power annually, which is equivalent to the annual electricity use of nearly 5.6 million average American homes.

The Green Power Leadership Awards are announced at the Renewable Energy Markets Conference. EPA is a co-organizing sponsor of the conference.

For more information and the full list of 2020 EPA Green Power Leadership Award winners, please visit EPA’s website.

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