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EPA Recognizes City of Houston for Reduction in Energy Consumption

Release Date: 11/19/2014
Contact Information: Joe Hubbard or Jennah Durant at 214-665-2200 or r6press@epa.gov

DALLAS – (Nov. 19, 2014) Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is recognizing the City of Houston for its use of green power practices and technologies. Houston signed a two-year agreement to purchase more than 620 million kilowatt-hours of certified renewable energy certificates from wind projects. This purchase will account for half of the city's municipal power needs and make Houston the largest municipal purchaser of renewable power in the Green Power Partnership.

“Houston has advanced the nation’s renewable energy market and reduced greenhouse gas emissions with its endeavors in sustainability management,” said EPA Regional Administrator Ron Curry. “We are pleased to honor them as they consistently support our mission to protect the future of our nation’s energy usage.”

Green power is electricity that is generated from renewable sources, including solar, wind, geothermal, biogas and low-impact hydroelectric sources. Green power does not produce fossil fuel-based greenhouse gas emissions.

The 2014 Green Power Leadership Awards will be presented on Dec. 3 at the annual Renewable Energy Markets Conference in Sacramento, Calif., to City of Houston and 18 other winners.

The award winners are recognized for their efforts in expanding the domestic renewable energy market—from using enough green power to meet more than 100 percent of electricity needs to installing solar arrays on-site or entering long-term power purchase agreements—these organizations are demonstrating that green power is both accessible and affordable.

EPA, through the Green Power Partnership, works with partner organizations to use green power as a way to reduce the environmental impacts associated with conventional electricity use. The Partnership currently has more than 1,300 partner organizations voluntarily using billions of kilowatt-hours of green power annually. Partners include a wide variety of leading organizations such as Fortune 500 companies, small and medium sized businesses, local, state, and federal governments, and colleges and universities.

More on the 2014 Green Power Leadership award winners: https://www.epa.gov/greenpower/awards/winners.htm

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