Four years later, the Green Power Partnership had grown to include more than 600 partner organizations that purchase more than 3 billion kilowatt hours (KWh) of green power annually, enough to power 300,000 American homes.
A Diverse Group of Partners
The list of partners includes Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, colleges and universities, nonprofit organizations, and many local, state, and federal agencies.
"By making the voluntary decisions to switch to green power, these companies and organizations are helping to decrease our nation's overall dependence on foreign sources of power and demonstrating outstanding environmental stewardship—defending our health, our environment, and national security," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson.
What is Green Power?
Green power is electricity that is partially or fully generated from environmentally preferable renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biomass (the combustion of organic materials such as wood or straw), biogas (the combustion of naturally produced methane), or low-impact hydro.
Green Power and Renewable Energy
Green power is sold to support the development of new renewable energy sources. The goal of the Green Power Partnership is to facilitate the growth of the green power market by lowering the cost and increasing the value of green power. A strong green power market will support new, clean technologies that will reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation.
Although green power currently accounts for only 2 percent of America's electricity supply, the EPA reports that voluntary purchasing of renewable energy is accelerating the development of new renewable energy sources. In 2005, the voluntary green power market supported more than 2,200 megawatts of new renewable generating capacity.
Green Power and Environmental Best Practices
The Green Power Partnership standardizes green power procurement as part of environmental management best practices. Partners in the program pledge to switch to green power for a specified minimum percentage of their electricity needs in return for EPA technical assistance and recognition.
The Benefits of Green Power
According to the Green Power Partnership, the benefits of green power range from “avoiding air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions” to “stimulating local economies” and “increasing domestic security through a more diverse fuel mix.”
How to Purchase Green Power
The Green Power Partnership web site provides a wealth of step-by-step information for organizations that may want to purchase green power, including a comprehensive Guide to Purchasing Green Power and a Green Power Locator, which is an interactive map that lists green power suppliers in every U.S. state.
For more information about “green power” see the Green Power Partnership web site.
