EPA, DOE And CRS Announce 2005 National Green Power Award Winners
Johnson & Johnson, HSBC North America, U.S. Air Force, WhiteWave Foods, Austin Energy receive highest honors
Austin, TX — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) honored a group of organizations committed to advancing the development of the nation's green power market. The annual Green Power Leadership Awards, recognizing leading national green power purchasers and suppliers, were presented at a banquet on Monday evening, October 24 in conjunction with the Tenth National Green Power Marketing Conference taking place in Austin, Texas.
Green power is electricity generated from environmentally preferable renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, and low-impact hydro and biomass resources. These renewable energy sources are cleaner than conventionally generated sources of electricity that emit carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas linked to global warming.
EPA and DOE presented awards for green power purchasing to 29 organizations that have demonstrated leadership through purchasing renewable energy or creating innovative supply options for consumers. CRS presented four awards to organizations and individuals that have shown outstanding leadership in building and shaping the market for renewable energy. The highest honor in purchasing, the Green Power Partner of the Year Award, was presented to HSBC North America, Johnson & Johnson, the U.S. Air Force and WhiteWave Foods Company. The highest honor in market development, Green Power Pioneer, was presented to Blair Swezey of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
"We continue to see more and more Award winners from among marquee American institutions," said Kathleen Hogan, director of EPA's Climate Protection Partnerships Division. "We applaud these organizations for their environmental leadership and for setting an outstanding example for others to follow."
Purchaser Awards
Additional purchaser Award winners included the following organizations: Alameda County, California; Aspen Skiing Company; the Atlantic Golf division of the Brick Companies; Dagoba Organic Chocolate; FedEx Express Oakland, California Hub Facility; City of Fresno, Calif.; Green Mountain Coffee Roasters; Harvard University; the Hyatt Regency Dallas and the Hyatt Regency Dallas-Fort Worth; Mohawk Fine Papers; Safeway Inc.; St. Francis Winery and Vineyard; Starbucks Coffee; The University of Minnesota, Morris; the City of Vallejo, Calif.; Western Washington University; Whole Foods Market – Rocky Mountain Region; and the World Bank Group.
Supplier Awards
Seven awards were also presented to organizations demonstrating notable success in marketing and encouraging green power program participation. The highest honor, Green Power Program of the Year, was presented to Austin Energy's GreenChoice Program for the second consecutive year. Further supplier Award winners included 3 Phases Energy, Enel North America, Inc., Florida Power & Light, PacifiCorp's Blue Sky Program, PECO WIND and Community Energy, and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District.
"We're delighted to see these utilities and municipalities demonstrating leadership in renewable energy markets with innovative marketing and dedicated green power program development," said Douglas L. Faulkner, the acting assistant secretary for energy efficiency and renewable energy at the U.S. Department of Energy. "These organizations are leading by example and providing significant support towards new renewable energy power plants across the country."
Market Development Awards
The Center for Resource Solutions presented Green Power Market Development Awards to organizations and individuals showing leadership in building and shaping the market for renewable energy. Recipients included 3 Phases Energy, Gainesville Regional Utilities, Sacramento Municipal Utility District and Blair Swezey of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
"Exceptional contributions by renewable energy marketers, purchasers and organizations have made this an unprecedented year in the development of the renewable energy market," said Jan Hamrin, the president of CRS. "Innovative marketing, outreach and education efforts led to increased awareness of renewable energy options and resulted in green power transactions that stimulate renewable energy generation, grow the economy, and help clean our air."
According to a new report released this week by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, at the end of 2004, more than 2,200 megawatts (MW) of new renewables capacity was being used to supply green power customers, with another 455 MW either under construction or formally announced.
EPA also released data this week showing that its Green Power Partnership, a voluntary program which encourages large organizations to purchase green power, now has over 600 Partners, including Fortune 500 companies, universities and local, state, and federal agencies. These 600 Partners are collectively purchasing over 3 billion kilowatt hours (kwh) of green power annually, a figure which has doubled in the past 15 months.
In addition, many product manufacturers are communicating renewable energy commitments through on-package messaging. This week, CRS announced that over 115 everyday consumer products now feature the Green-e Logo and claims of "Made with Certified Renewable Energy."
Additional information regarding 2005 Green Power Leadership Award winners is available at http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/winners/index.htm
SOURCE: U.S. EPA Green Power Partnership