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U.S. EPA: City and County of San Francisco, Intel Corporation Among Prestigious National Award Winners Advancing Emerging Green Power Markets

Release Date: 10/20/2010
Contact Information: (News Media Only) Mary Simms, (415) 947-4270, simms.mary@epa.gov

Bay Area recipients honored for leading green power purchases, projects
SAN FRANCISCO — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership will tonight award 18 National Green Power Partners for their achievements in using green power, helping to grow the nation’s voluntary green power market and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Two California partners, the city of San Francisco and Santa Clara-based Intel Corporation, will be recognized at this year’s Renewable Energy Markets Conference, an annual event in the renewable energy industry.

“We applaud the leadership shown by San Francisco and Intel by ditching polluting power sources and switching to green power,” said Jared Blumenfeld, the EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “Their responsible energy should be a model for all cities and corporations in the fight to solve climate change.”

The City of San Francisco is one of only two organizations nationwide to receive a Leadership Award for the on-site generation of green power. The award recognizes EPA Green Power Partners who distinguish themselves using on-site renewable energy applications, such as solar photovoltaic and wind energy projects. San Francisco is currently generating more than 25 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of solar and biogas power annually, which augments the 1.7 billion kilowatt hours of clean, greenhouse-gas free energy the city generates each year through the Hetch Hetchy Water and Power System.

“San Francisco’s commitment to clean energy is producing green jobs and real benefits for our City today,” said San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. “The economic advantages of a green economy are very tangible and we can feel the effects of clean energy in the air we breath; with each solar panel, day-by-day, we’re fueling San Francisco’s transformation into a green economy powered by increasingly clean, renewable energy.”

Intel Corporation is one of only ten organizations nationwide to receive a Leadership Award for its green power purchase. The award recognizes EPA Green Power Partners who distinguish themselves through purchases of green power from a utility green-pricing program, a competitive green marketer, or a renewable energy certificate (REC) supplier. Intel Corporation is currently purchasing more than 1.4 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually, which is enough green power to meet more than 50 percent of the organization’s purchased electricity use. Intel Corporation is buying a utility green power product and RECs from Austin Energy, PNM, and Sterling Planet as well as producing energy through an on-site solar system.

“This is just one part of Intel’s energy management strategy to demonstrate leadership and support for renewable technologies. A portfolio of actions, including solar installations and conservation programs, drive our focus on reducing energy costs, increasing environmental awareness, and reducing our carbon footprint. It’s good for our shareholders, customers, employees and the environment,” said Marty Sedler, Director of Global Utilities and Infrastructure for Intel Corporation.

According to EPA, Intel Corporation’s current green power purchase of more than 1.4 billion kWh is equivalent to avoiding the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of nearly 197,000 passenger vehicles per year, or is the equivalent amount of electricity needed to power nearly 125,000 average American homes annually.

The City of San Francisco’s current green power usage of more than 25 million kWh is equivalent to avoiding the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of more than 3,000 passenger vehicles per year, or is the equivalent amount of electricity needed to power more than 2,000 average American homes annually.

EPA will recognize 18 national winners during the annual Green Power Leadership Awards Banquet in Portland, Ore, tonight. Awards are given in four categories: Partner of the Year; Green Power Purchasing; On-site Generation; and, new this year, Green Power Community of the Year.

The Green Power Partners of the Year are Kohl’s Department Stores, Motorola, TD Bank and Whole Foods Market.

The awards will be presented at the Renewable Energy Markets Conference, paramount annual gathering attended by leading renewable energy and green power stakeholders. EPA co-sponsors the Green Power Leadership Awards in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy and the non-profit Center for Resource Solutions.

EPA, through the Green Power Partnership, works with nearly 1,300 partner organizations to voluntarily purchase green power to reduce the environmental impacts of conventional electricity use. Green power is electricity generated from renewable resources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, and low-impact hydro. Green power produces no net increase of greenhouse gas emissions.

More information on EPA’s Green Power Leadership Award Winners and a video of each of the winning green power programs: https://www.epa.gov/greenpower/awards/winners.htm

More information about the nation's voluntary green power market: page:https://www.epa.gov/greenpower/gpmarket/markets.htm