Green Power Partnership

2015 Past Award Winners

EPA Green Power Purchaser Awards

EPA Green Power Supplier Awards

Green Power Supplier of the Year

3Degrees
Renewable Choice Energy
Silicon Valley Power

CRS Market Development Awards

For more information on the 2015 Market Development Award winners, please visit the Center for Resource Solutions website. Exit

EPA Green Power Partner Awards

Green Power Purchasing

This award category recognizes Partners who distinguished themselves through innovative green power purchases from a utility green-pricing program, a competitive green power marketer, or a renewable energy certificate (REC) supplier.

Ahold USA

Ahold USA operates approximately 770 grocery stores in the United States under the Stop & Shop, Giant Food, GIANT Food Stores, and MARTIN'S Food Markets brands, as well as Peapod, an e-commerce grocery shopping and delivery service.

Renewable energy procurement is a significant part of Ahold's global environmental strategy. Ahold USA has installed 37 on-site solar systems, with 8.9 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year. They have also purchased nearly 149 million kWh of Green-e certified renewable energy certificates in 2014, equivalent to 7 percent of Ahold stores' energy usage.

The company's commitment to renewable energy is part of its "Responsible Retailing" vision towards sustainability—outlined in an annual report—that encompasses initiatives focused on five priority areas: people, products, communities, partners, and the environment. As part of this vision, Ahold USA has made a commitment to reduce its carbon footprint 20 percent by 2015 from its 2008 baseline. Ahold USA's Joint Committee on Sustainability, which includes major suppliers for the company, meets quarterly to share best practices in sustainability, renewable energy procurement, and energy conservation.

Later this year, Ahold USA will complete construction of an anaerobic digester in Massachusetts. The digester will take unsold, non-consumable organic waste from more than 200 stores and convert it to biogas to generate electricity and create a byproduct that will be used as a fertilizer. When completed, the facility will process 40,000 tons of organic product annually.

In addition to using green power, the company has implemented a variety of other carbon footprint reduction efforts, including energy conservation such as lighting retrofits, building retro-commissioning, and HVAC and refrigeration upgrades.

Ahold USA has been an EPA Green Power Partner since 2011.

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Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences

Located in Santa Monica, California, the Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences is an independent, progressive K-12 school with nearly 1,200 students. The school joined EPA's Green Power Partnership in June 2014.

Crossroads School is a founding member of the Renewable Energy Consortium for Schools, an initiative of the Green Schools Alliance and EPA's Green Power Partnership. Launched in 2014, the Consortium aims to enable schools to purchase green power efficiently and at competitive prices through demand aggregation and the collective procurement of Green-e certified renewable energy certificates (RECs).

In 2014, Crossroads purchased more than 1.6 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power sourced from wind, biomass, and biogas resources through the Consortium. This procurement represents 100 percent of the school's electricity use. Crossroads furthers its support for renewable energy by integrating discussions about the green power market and RECs into its academic curriculum.

In September 2015, Crossroads opened a 25,000-square-foot science education and research facility on its middle and upper school campus. Aiming for LEED® certification, the new building includes a number of environmentally responsible features, including energy-saving photovoltaic glass panels, LED lighting, and smart energy monitoring systems.

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Government of the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.)

Fittingly for the nation's capital, the District of Columbia is a national leader in clean energy and sustainable development.

The District of Columbia is setting a strong example of national leadership in the effort to transform the nation's electricity sources to clean renewable energy. In 2014, the District government purchased green power for 100 percent of its municipal use. The municipal government's purchase of more than 470 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of wind-sourced renewable energy certificates (RECs), equivalent to the annual power needs of 44,000 average American homes. At the time, the purchase placed the District government at number two on the Green Power Partnership's list of Top 30 Local Government Partners, making it one of the few large municipal governments using enough clean, renewable energy to meet 100 percent of its electricity use. Moving forward, the District government's procurement strategy will integrate electricity from power purchase agreements (PPAs) with renewable energy generation facilities, both off-site and on-site. The District recently finalized the largest municipal (non-utility) PPA in U.S. history, a 46-megawatt (MW) wind farm, and is actively negotiating up to 12 MW of rooftop and carport solar projects, which are expected to cover more than 35 percent of municipal electricity consumption.

In addition to its green power leadership, the District government has made other efforts to address climate change. The District leads the nation in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) certified projects (per capita) and total ENERGY STAR® certified buildings, spurred on by progressive green building codes, benchmarking requirements, strong renewable requirements, and the nearly-decade-old Green Building Act. The Sustainable DC Plan established science-based targets to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by 2032. The District's Department of General Services publishes next-day, 15-minute interval data on close to 400 public buildings in the portfolio, through BuildSmartDC.com, and uses the data to run the most advanced municipal retro-commissioning program in the nation.

Washington, D.C., won a Green Power Community of the Year Award in 2011.

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H&M

H&M is a multinational fashion retail-clothing company for men, women, youth, and children. As part of its commitment to sustainability, H&M purchased nearly 172 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of U.S.-based, Green-e certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) in December 2014.

H&M sees renewable energy as a key component to meet its sustainability goals. The company has committed to sourcing renewable energy wherever possible in order to reduce indirect emissions stemming from the company's purchased electricity use. H&M has focused on decreasing the energy intensity in its stores and set a goal to decrease energy intensity by 20 percent per square foot by 2020 (2007 baseline).

As part of its renewable energy commitment, H&M is collaborating with The Climate Group's RE100. The company's RECs purchase for its U.S. operations is a component of its commitment to sourcing 100 percent renewable energy for its global operations, which it also hopes will contribute to creating more demand for renewable electricity both in the United States and in international markets where it is currently unavailable.

H&M is currently conducting an assessment of its value chain, in order to set science-based targets for prioritized areas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The company communicates its renewable energy and other sustainability goals to customers and stakeholders through its annual financial and sustainability reports, as well as its Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) report.

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Hypertherm Inc.

New Hampshire-based Hypertherm is a manufacturer of plasma, laser, and waterjet cutting equipment. The company joined EPA's Green Power Partnership in May 2013.

In 2014, Hypertherm used green power for 100 percent of its U.S.-based energy needs by purchasing more than 18 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of Green-e certified renewable energy certificates (RECs). Given the energy intensity of the industrial goods and services sector, Hypertherm is one of the industry's only 100-percent green power users, with 2014 domestic usage equivalent to the annual electricity use of nearly 2,000 average American homes.

Hypertherm staff are active participants on regional conservation committees, environmental councils, and similar organizations pursuing clean energy activities. This engagement motivated others, such as Hanover, the town where Hypertherm is headquartered, to become New Hampshire's first EPA Green Power Community.

Hypertherm plans to meet an array of environmental sustainability goals by 2020. These goals include producing zero landfill waste, improving the energy efficiency of its global operations by 30 percent, and reducing the carbon impact of its products by 20 percent. The company also employs an internal environmental strategy with a measurement and rating system to advance its sustainability aims.

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Kaiser Permanente/California, Colorado, Northwest, and Mid-Atlantic Regions

Recognizing that environmental health is critical to human health, Kaiser Permanente has taken a mission-driven stance towards environmental sustainability and is a leader in green power use in the healthcare sector. In 2012, Kaiser Permanente adopted a national sustainable energy policy and a greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal of 30 percent by 2020 from 2008 levels.

In February 2015, Kaiser Permanente concluded a renewable energy purchase program that will increase its on-site solar generation by as much as 70 megawatts (MW) and will enable delivery of more than 150 MW of off-site solar and wind generation in coming years. As a result, half of all electricity used by Kaiser Permanente in California will come from renewables by 2017, enabling the company to meet its greenhouse emissions goals three years ahead of the target date.

Prior to this green power purchase, Kaiser Permanente installed solar panels at 16 locations across California and other western states, generating nearly 18 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually. Its Mid-Atlantic region facilities are also purchasing Green-e certified wind-sourced renewable energy certificates (RECs).

Kaiser Permanente is primarily focusing on renewable energy sourcing to prevent disease, injury, and illness related to climate change and environmental factors. The organization has existing and planned installations for Colorado, Hawaii, and the Mid-Atlantic states.

Kaiser Permanente received a Green Power Leadership Award for on-site generation in 2013.

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Northwestern University

Founded in 1851, Northwestern University is a private higher educational institution located in Evanston, Illinois. Through its continued and increased investment in green power, support for student-led initiatives, and exploration and adoption of on-site renewables and efficiency efforts, Northwestern is a proven leader in helping to develop the green power market.

Northwestern University is being recognized for its long-term commitment to using green power. In 2006, Northwestern began its commitment to green power by purchasing 40 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of renewable energy certificates (RECs)—the equivalent of 20 percent of its electricity use. Since then, the school has continually expanded its green power leadership and in 2014 purchased 122 million kWh of Green-e certified, wind-sourced RECs, which is equal to 50 percent of its electricity use.

Complementing Northwestern's green power purchase is an on-site 16-kW solar array, sitting atop the Ford Motor Company Engineering and Design Center. The solar project was the result of a project envisioned and led by student members of Engineers for a Sustainable World in collaboration with Northwestern's operations team. The university is currently working with students to install a "solar tree" charging station at the student center, which serves as a great educational tool.

Northwestern also focuses on increasing energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in other ways. The university is investing more than $32 million in energy efficiency programs, including a new approach to producing chilled water at the Central Utility Plant. As a result, natural gas usage has decreased by almost 70,000 MMBtu a year, causing a reduction of more than 600 tons of carbon dioxide. Northwestern is also installing a cogeneration project at its Central Utility Plant and two closed-loop geothermal systems that will reduce emissions by more than 1,300 metric tons. The 7-megawatt turbine with heat recovery will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by almost 18,000 metric tons and has the added benefit of providing backup generation to the school's critical research facilities.

Northwestern has consistently ranked in the top 10 on the Green Power Partnership's Top 30 College & University Partner list and helps represent the Big Ten Conference in the Partnership's College & University Green Power Challenge. Northwestern joined the Green Power Partnership in 2006.

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Saunders Hotel Group

Saunders Hotel Group (SHG) is a Boston-based hotel management company dedicated to social and economic responsibility. The company joined the Green Power Partnership in 2012.

SHG established its environmental program more than 20 years ago; the program has been a driving force in the hotel's decision-making and purchasing policies. One of the program's main pillars is renewable energy use. After learning that its locations were not well-suited for on-site green power applications, SHG started purchasing green power in the form of renewable energy certificates (RECs) in 2006. In 2014, SHG increased its green power purchase to more than 6 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of Green-e certified, wind-sourced RECs for 100 percent of its electricity usage.

In addition to reducing the hotel's energy usage, SHG empowers guests and corporate clients to understand and minimize their own carbon footprints. In 2013, SHG unveiled the "Travel Lightly" package, which is an opt-in option for guests to offset their travel, food, and water emissions for the duration of their stay. SHG educates hotel guests about its green power use and other sustainability efforts via slide shows on guest room television channels and elevators.

Along with purchasing policies and green power offerings, SHG strives for more energy-efficient operations. For example, the group's Comfort Inn & Suites Boston Logan International Airport hotel installed a cogeneration unit that offers efficient on-site fuel use efficiency in serving the facility's electricity and thermal loads.

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State Street Corporation

State Street Corporation provides institutional investors with investment servicing, investment management, investment research, and trading services. State Street's Corporate Sustainability Program includes a goal to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions 20 percent per employee by 2020.

In 2014, State Street Corporation increased its commitment to using renewable energy by acquiring more than 211 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of Green-e certified renewable energy certificates (RECs). This purchase represents 100 percent of State Street's purchased electricity use for its U.S. real estate portfolio based on the previous year's consumption. State Street's green power purchase has helped establish the corporation as a leader among financial services companies in the United States, and further demonstrates its commitment to sustainability to stakeholders.

By purchasing green power, State Street Corporation sends a direct signal to the market to generate more renewables. State Street continues to help lead market development with its seventh consecutive year of renewable energy purchases and fourth consecutive year of increasing purchases of RECs. State Street has been a Green Power Partner since 2007.

State Street received a Green Power Purchasing Award in 2011.

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Traditional Medicinals

Traditional Medicinals, Inc. (TM), is a producer of botanically based wellness products, with an emphasis on organic and Fair Trade Certified® teas sold in the United States and Canada. Since its founding in 1974, the company has invested in sustainable operations, including clean energy and electricity use. TM joined the Green Power Partnership in 2014.

Through a combination of on-site generation, utility products, and renewable energy certificate (REC) purchases, Traditional Medicinals currently uses more than 1 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power for 100 percent of the electricity used for its manufacturing, sales and marketing, and leased storage warehouse facilities. In 2008, TM installed 1,450 solar panels at its headquarters and manufacturing facility in Sebastopol, California. Over the last five years, the solar project has averaged 450,000 kWh of green electricity per year. In 2014, TM joined a local renewable energy initiative, Sonoma Clean Power (SCP), which allowed the company to transition to a 100 percent locally produced renewable energy resource for both its Sebastopol manufacturing and Petaluma Sales/Marketing facilities. TM also collaborated with SCP on promotional efforts to spread awareness in Sonoma County about the local renewable energy option and increase renewable energy generation and use.

TM asks its suppliers to participate in annual sustainability reporting, which allows the company to choose suppliers that use renewable energy. As a result, TM has implemented two, ingredient-level carbon footprint projects with its largest supplier towards an informed projection of energy intensity and carbon footprint throughout its supply chain, allowing the company to strategically investigate and target renewable energy initiatives.

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Ulster County, New York

Ulster County, New York, sits in the heart of the fertile Hudson River Valley with the Hudson River on its eastern edge. Within the county's 1,161 square miles lies the Catskill Park and Forest Preserve where there are more than a quarter million acres of forever-wild woodlands.

With a commitment to lead by example on sustainability issues, Ulster County's Executive signed an order in June 2014 requiring the county to purchase 100 percent of its electricity from renewable energy sources. This was the first such executive order in New York State and, at nearly 19 million kilowatt-hours (kWh), resulted in the largest renewable energy certificate purchase by a county in the State of New York. Ulster County has also installed a 30-kilowatt (kW) solar system at the New Paltz Material Storage Facility at the Ulster County Fairgrounds. The solar photovoltaic system includes American-made inverters and solar panels, which will generate enough power to supply more than 75 percent of the building's anticipated demand, saving county taxpayers an estimated $4,000 a year in utility bills.

Ulster County continues to work on additional green power development in the future. The County Executive also announced plans to develop a 4-megawatt (MW) solar installation from which Ulster would purchase all the renewable energy generated.

Ulster County's actions go beyond using green power. The County Executive has committed to creating a more sustainable Ulster County government fleet, including hybrid plug-in electric vehicles. Electric car charging stations have been installed at nine locations throughout the county, which are available free of charge to the public (for non-commercial vehicles only). Likewise, the entire Ulster County Area Transit bus fleet is converting to biodiesel. All emissions associated with the county fleet are offset through the purchase of carbon credits. Ulster County joined the Green Power Partnership in 2014.

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Green Power Partner of the Year

This award category recognizes Partners who distinguished themselves through their green power use, leadership, overall strategy, and impact on the green power market.

Apple Inc.

Apple's renewable energy program is one of the nation's most robust programs in terms of its level of implementation—Apple achieved 100 percent renewable energy use company-wide in the United States as of 2014 for an energy load more than 1 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh)—and in terms of its strength in impacting new renewable energy supply. The company's renewable energy program principles focused on Apple-created generation and project-specific bundled renewable energy deliveries as preferred methods of renewables acquisition. Between 2012 and 2014, these types of renewable energy procurements have dramatically increased—by more than 460 million kWh. This includes two 20-megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays and a 10-MW biogas fuel cell project. Apple is also nearing completion on another 20-MW and a 17-MW solar PV array, and a 3-MW micro-hydro project, plus the company has contracted for a new 130-MW solar PV array to be built by the end of next year.

In addition, Apple is leading the charge to expand and strengthen the green power market. For example, commercial scale solar PV projects were not very common in North Carolina until Apple demonstrated their viability with its first two 20-MW arrays. In 2013, Apple partnered with NV Energy (the utility serving their Reno data center) to create a new green energy tariff that has two tiers: 1) a generic option from existing utility-owned renewable projects and 2) a customizable option to build a project. This new green tariff is available to all NV Energy commercial customers. In 2014, Apple also worked closely with the Center for Resource Solutions to develop the new innovative Green-e "Direct" program, which offers independent, third-party oversight over the renewable electricity's chain of custody, from generation to retirement, and is designed for organizations that build generation themselves or contract for renewable energy directly from clean generation facilities.

Apple received a Partner of the Year Award in 2014 and an On-Site Generation Award in 2013.

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Microsoft Corporation

Microsoft is one of the world's largest technology and software companies, employing approximately 117,300 people globally. Microsoft's commitment to environmental sustainability spans the company's products and practices.

Since 2013, the company's corporate culture has focused on achieving its public commitment to carbon neutrality for all of its global operations, including data centers, offices, laboratories, manufacturing plants, and business air travel. Microsoft achieves this through a combination of investing in operational energy efficiencies, procuring renewable energy through long-term power purchase agreements and renewable energy certificates equal to 100 percent of its global electricity consumption, and supporting community carbon offset projects.

To meet its commitment on renewable energy, Microsoft purchased more than 2.4 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of renewable energy in fiscal year 2014 for its U.S. operations. This includes the output from the new 110-megawatt (MW) Keechi Wind project funded through a 20-year agreement. Microsoft also announced a larger power purchase agreement for all of the new 175-MW Pilot Hill Wind Project's output. The company's green power use also includes the generation of solar power from a 480-kW on-site system at its Mountain View, California, campus. Access to renewable energy is among the criteria that the company considers in siting data centers. In total, the company is purchasing U.S. green power equivalent to 100 percent of its U.S. electricity needs.

In addition, Microsoft is achieving its carbon neutrality strategy through an internal carbon fee model, which puts a price on carbon and makes the business divisions responsible for the cost of reducing and compensating for the carbon emissions associated with their electricity use and business air travel. In the three years since the program began, Microsoft purchased more than 10 million megawatt-hours (MWh) of green power, claimed a reduction in emissions by 7.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, and had an impact on more than 3.2 million people in emerging nations through carbon offset community projects.

Microsoft received Partner of the Year Awards in 2012 and 2013.

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National Hockey League

The National Hockey League (NHL), founded in 1917, consists of 30 Member Clubs, with ice hockey players from more than 20 countries represented across team rosters.

In 2014, the NHL purchased more than 271 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of Green-e certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) sourced from wind and biomass resources. This green power procurement represents 100 percent of energy use at League offices; premiere events, including the Stanley Cup Playoffs; and all hockey-related energy consumption at NHL arenas. In its decision to use 100 percent green power, the NHL boosted its annual green power purchase by more than 2,000 percent between 2013 and 2014 and now ranks as the 17th largest user of green power in the United States. To further mitigate its carbon footprint, the NHL also purchases carbon offsets and water restoration certificates.

The NHL released a formal sustainability report in 2014, the first of its kind from a professional sports league. The NHL also disseminates information related to its environmental initiatives through its sustainability blog, NHL Green Slapshots. NHL Green, a comprehensive environmental sustainability initiative, addresses the effects of climate change and freshwater scarcity on the game of hockey. The NHL became an EPA Green Power Partner in April 2012 and is the only league-wide professional sports Partner organization.

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Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

At Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, a public garden in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, green power usage is integral to an organization-wide dedication to sustainable leadership. As an institution attracting more than 350,000 visitors annually, Phipps is uniquely positioned to introduce guests to its environmental stewardship principles.

At Phipps, 100 percent of electricity used is sourced from renewable resources. In 2014, Phipps purchased nearly 1.4 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of Green-e certified renewable energy certificates and generated an additional 134,000 kWh of electricity on-site with a solar array and demonstration-scale wind turbine. A visit to Phipps affords an in-depth look at photovoltaic arrays, a wind turbine, geothermal wells, a rooftop energy recovery unit, green roofs, desiccant dehumidification, digital building controls, solar-powered water distillation, phase-change materials, mechanical windows, a lagoon, constructed wetlands, rain gardens, and permeable paving—all within a single accessible site. Presentations and tours highlight these components and encourage their replication. At the Sustainable Education Every Day Classroom and elsewhere on campus, children's science education programs foster the growth of tomorrow's green leaders.

Constructed in 1893 and originally operated by the City of Pittsburgh, Phipps transferred to nonprofit management in 1993. Phipps has since completed a multi-phase expansion, including the first LEED®-certified visitor center in a public garden, LEED® Platinum greenhouses, and the 12,000-square-foot Tropical Forest Conservatory, which was the world's most energy-efficient conservatory upon opening and featured the first solid-oxide fuel cell prototype to be used in a public garden. Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens has been a Green Power Partner since 2009.

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Tucson Unified School District

Established in 1867, the Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) is among the oldest and largest school districts in the state of Arizona. TUSD encompasses more than 90 individual schools with a collective enrollment of more than 50,000 students.

In 2014, TUSD installed one of the largest on-site solar generation projects at a K-12 school system in the nation. The project placed solar arrays at 43 sites across the district, with a total installed capacity of more than 11 megawatts. Collectively, the solar arrays produce nearly 20 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power per year, which represents about 20 percent of the district's annual electricity use. The project was financed via a solar services agreement, through which TUSD receives electricity at a fixed, discounted rate for 20 years, along with the renewable energy certificates (RECs) associated with the generation from the on-site solar arrays. In this model, TUSD does not directly own the solar arrays, but rather serves as the host of the systems and the purchaser of their green power.

Since embarking upon this renewable energy project, TUSD has strived to share the lessons it learned far and wide. TUSD representatives presented at numerous conferences and schools in 2014, and worked closely with a local Native American tribe on developing its own solar project. The district is currently working to build a single Web portal to monitor and showcase the output of the 43 solar generators. TUSD is also working to incorporate the on-site solar arrays into the district's science, technology, engineering, and math curriculum.

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On-site Generation

This award category recognizes Partners who distinguished themselves using on-site renewable energy applications, including but not limited to solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind energy projects.

City of Hayward, California/Water Pollution Control Facility

Located in Alameda County in the San Francisco metropolitan area, the City of Hayward has been leading the way on green power use for years.

In 1981, the city installed its first 700-kilowatt cogeneration facility designed to use biofuel produced in the digestion process to generate energy for its water pollution control facility (WPCF). Decades later, in 2010, the city added to its on-site green power portfolio with a 1-megawatt (MW) solar installation. Together the installations met an average of 20 percent of the total energy demand at the WPCF.

In 2013, the WPCF decided to explore options for increasing its on-site green power production. The facility commissioned a fats, oils, and grease receiving station that accepts organic waste that is discharged directly into the city's digesters, boosting biogas production. In 2014, the city replaced its aging cogeneration units with a new 1.1-MW cogeneration facility that uses the methane produced from the digesters as fuel. Waste heat from the new cogeneration system is captured and used to heat the city's anaerobic digesters, further reducing reliance on natural gas formerly used to heat the sludge during colder months of the year. The new cogeneration facility, along with the solar array, produces more eligible green power than the WPCF needs, which means it can export excess electric energy to other city facilities. The city estimates that the WPCF will export 1,192 megawatt-hours of green power annually.

In 2009, the City of Hayward was among a handful of cities in the state to adopt a Climate Action Plan. Hayward's WPCF is the first publicly owned treatment works and largest generating account in the California Renewable Self-Generating Bill Credit Transfer Program.

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General Motors/GMVM Ft. Wayne

Headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, General Motors (GM) produces vehicles in 30 countries under 10 different brands. The company has made a public commitment to use 125 megawatts of renewable energy across its global operations by 2020 and is on track to exceed that goal next year.

The GM Fort Wayne Assembly Plant, which has more than 3,600 employees, installed an on-site landfill gas system in 2014 that produces more than 53 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year. This on-site biogas generation supplies over 40 percent of the facility's total electricity usage.

The Fort Wayne facility has furthered its environmental commitment by operating landfill-free since 2011, meaning no waste from daily operations is sent to landfills.

GM—a founding Green Power Partner—is an active proponent in accelerating green power procurement and improving its access to corporations. Last year, GM signed on to the Corporate Renewable Energy Buyers' Principles and is also a founding member of the Business Renewables Center.

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New Belgium Brewing Company

New Belgium Brewing Company is a craft brewery located in Fort Collins, Colorado. A founding EPA Green Power Partner, New Belgium Brewing Company joined the Partnership in July 2001.

New Belgium uses on-site solar and biogas systems to generate more than 1.6 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year of green power, equal to nearly 13 percent of the organization's electricity use. New Belgium's on-site process water treatment facility captures the byproduct methane and uses the biogas to fuel its combined heat and power (CHP) system. In 2014, the brewery increased its on-site solar capacity to 300 kilowatts. New Belgium conducts dozens of private tours for student and professional groups each year to provide a closer look into its clean energy operations.

Since January 2013, New Belgium has implemented an internal tax on its electricity and natural gas purchases to advance its commitment to clean energy. The tax revenue is reserved for energy efficiency, on-site renewable energy, and water efficiency projects. In 2014, this internal tax program funded the expansion of the company's solar capacity, as well as an insulation and lighting upgrade.

New Belgium Brewing Company is a Certified B Corporation and is an active participant in several industry environmental groups, including the American Sustainable Business Council, Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable, and Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy coalition. Locally, New Belgium actively engages with ClimateWise, an initiative to promote utility rebates and incentives for clean energy measures; it is also a founding participant of FortZED, which is working to create a net-zero energy district in Fort Collins.

New Belgium Brewing Company received a Green Power Purchasing Award in 2001.

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Sustained Excellence in Green Power

This award category recognizes continued leadership in advancing green power development.

Intel Corporation

Intel Corporation, the world's largest semiconductor manufacturer, develops computing technologies, products, and initiatives with a goal to continually advance the way people work and live. Since 2008, the company has been the largest U.S. voluntary purchaser of green power and since 2013, it has purchased 100 percent green power for its U.S. operations. Intel is currently using more than 3.1 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually, which is equivalent to the annual power needs of nearly 295,000 average American homes. The majority of Intel's green power is procured as Green-e certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) sourced from a spectrum of available resources (i.e., wind, solar, small hydroelectric, geothermal, and biomass sources).

In addition, Intel has on-site solar facilities at a number of its U.S. campuses, which collectively generate 12 million kWh of electricity annually—a portion of which counts toward Intel's green power usage through the retention of RECs. Intel is also piloting micro wind turbines and recently installed 58 on the roof of its Santa Clara headquarters.

Intel is committed to a portfolio-approach to energy management and utilizes a variety of technologies and processes in addition to green power purchasing to reduce its energy consumption and address climate change. For example, since 2008, Intel has invested more than $118 million in energy efficiency and completed over 2,300 projects, saving more than 2.4 billion kWh of energy.

Intel received Sustained Excellence in Green Power Awards in 2012, 2013, and 2014; Partner of the Year Awards in 2008, 2009, and 2011; and a Green Power Purchasing Award in 2010.

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Kohl's Department Stores

Kohl's is a U.S.-based, family-focused, value-oriented specialty department store. Kohl's has embarked on a committed, integrated approach to environmental stewardship in all facets of its business endeavors with a common goal of long-term resource sustainability. Green power is a significant component of Kohl's commitment to sustainability, which includes three strategies: sustainable operations, supply chain, and stakeholder engagement. Green power supports Kohl's sustainable operations goal, and Kohl's continues to focus on improving its use of green power.

In 2014, Kohl's used 1.4 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of Green-e certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) and produced 28.5 million kWh of electricity through its on-site solar installations. Kohl's has entered into 20-year power purchase agreements (PPAs) to use the electricity and retain the RECs associated with the solar installations located on its stores, a direct testament to its long-term strategy and dedication to using solar power. Currently, Kohl's on-site solar systems provide 20 to 50 percent of the store's electricity needs. Kohl's activated five new solar arrays in 2014, bringing the total to more than 160 locations nationwide.

Kohl's also continues to pilot on-site wind power, with turbines at its Corpus Christi, Texas, store and Findlay, Ohio, distribution center. In addition, Kohl's installed six Solar Trees® at its Dallas call center last year, which provide energy to the building.

Kohl's marked five years of carbon neutrality in 2014, which was also the fifth year that Kohl's ranked first on the Green Power Partnership's Top 30 Retail list. Additionally, the company underscored its commitment to sustainability by receiving ENERGY STAR® certification for 122 of its stores, which represents more than 80 percent of the company's stores.

Kohl's has been a Green Power Partner since 2006. Kohl's received Sustained Excellence Awards in 2012, 2013, and 2014; Partner of the Year Awards in 2009, 2010, and 2011; an On-site Generation Award in 2008; and a Green Power Purchasing Award in 2007.

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TD Bank

In 2010, TD Bank (TD), one of the 10 largest banks in the United States, announced the company as the first North American‐based financial institution to become carbon neutral. A cornerstone of TD's ongoing commitment to carbon neutrality is its investment in green power. TD's entire U.S. operation, including its ATM network and more than 1,300 stores, are completely green-powered. Since 2010, TD has invested nearly $1.2 million into renewable energy projects in the United States. In 2014, TD continued its commitment to green power by purchasing more than 253 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of Green-e certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) and generating nearly 1.5 million kWh of on-site solar power.

TD Bank's green power strategy informs every facet of its business. In 2011, TD opened its first net‐zero store in the United States in Cypress Creek, Florida. The bank's first green LEED®‐designed prototype store opened April 2010 in Queens Village, New York, with many green features, including solar panels and solar drive‐thru canopies that produce 15 to 20 percent of the store's energy on-site.

TD's initiatives demonstrate that it is possible to create a sustainable building that offers an elevated customer and employee experience. All new U.S. retail locations pursue LEED® certification. TD has opened more than 140 LEED®‐certified green stores in the United States, with nearly 90 percent certified at a gold or platinum level. TD's solar initiative continues to grow and now includes more than 100 solar installations at U.S. stores with more than 1.5 megawatts of total capacity, increasing green power generation while reducing TD's environmental footprint.

TD Bank received Partner of the Year Awards in 2010 and 2012.

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EPA Green Power Supplier Awards

Green Power Supplier of the Year

This award category recognizes green power suppliers (utilities, retail suppliers, renewable energy certificate marketers, renewable energy project developers) that demonstrated leadership in offering voluntary renewable energy to their customers.

3Degrees

To help increase utility customer enrollment in green power programs, 3Degrees introduced its "Courtesy Calling" program last year. This dedicated call center team proactively contacts targeted customers, allowing the company to have one-on-one conversations with customers in rural communities where going door-to-door is impractical. A 10-week test led to 900 enrollments, exceeding expectations. 3Degrees also focused on enrolling commercial customers and successfully completed its first commercial "fly team," where it brought concentrated resources to downtown Alameda, California. In a single afternoon, 3Degrees more than doubled commercial participation and increased participation almost sevenfold by the end of 2014.

In addition, 3Degrees retails renewable energy certificates (RECs) and carbon offset products to Fortune 500® companies, green building firms, and other organizations. In 2014, 3Degrees delivered more than 9 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) via Green-e certified RECs—an increase of 30 percent over 2013. In the last reporting year, almost half of 3Degrees' supply—48 percent—supported small projects of 3 megawatts (MW) of capacity or less. Most projects are new, with more than half coming online in 2010 or later.

3Degrees has recently been instrumental in bringing several new projects online in Oregon, including entering into a long-term REC purchase agreement for a 1-MW project in Klamath Falls that uses single axis tracking solar. For the Steelbridge project, a 3-MW capacity solar project in Polk County, 3Degrees contracted to purchase 100 percent of the output for the first five years. In both cases, 3Degrees' commitments to long-term purchases were key to funding construction.

Over the past year, 3Degrees has devoted increased attention to power purchase agreements (PPAs) and community solar, educating the industry and clients on these two new opportunities to expand renewable energy. On PPAs, 3Degrees has been working with individual clients and is educating the industry at large. Regarding community solar, 3Degrees has published best practices in trade media, worked with industry groups to develop guidance related to the proper treatment of community solar RECs, and is helping two large investor-owned utilities launch community solar programs.

3Degrees received Green Power Leadership Awards in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2014.

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Renewable Choice Energy

Renewable Choice Energy is a global supplier of products and services that advance clean energy development and the adoption of carbon reduction technologies. The company works with Fortune 500® companies, educational institutions, municipalities, green buildings, and small-to-medium enterprises.

In 2014, Renewable Choice Energy supplied more than 6 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) in green power to its customers—an increase of 25 percent over 2013. The company provided more than 4 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) in renewable energy certificates (RECs) to 291 EPA Green Power Partners in 2014, ranking first in number of partners supplied. The company's "American Wind" RECs support wind farms across the country, and its "Clean Source" RECs are generated from a portfolio of projects, including wind farms, biomass facilities, small hydro-electric installations, solar arrays, and geothermal plants.

In addition, Renewable Choice created more than 300 unique products containing various blends of renewable resources and sourced from various geographic locations for its clients' custom needs.

Renewable Choice also assists commercial and institutional buyers with long-term renewable options, such as 10- to 20-year power purchase agreements (PPAs), which help renewable energy projects get built while also supporting large-scale adoption at a substantial cost discount. For example, the company advised Amazon on its first PPA with a 150-megawatt wind farm in Indiana.

Renewable Choice's mission is to create a more sustainable future by engaging organizations to support the generation of renewable energy and the development of carbon reduction projects. The company also provides all of its customers with educational and communications support in the form of an environmental impact statement, access to its online Client Resource Center, and customized marketing efforts.

Renewable Choice Energy received Green Power Leadership Awards in 2006, 2011, and 2014.

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Silicon Valley Power

Silicon Valley Power (SVP) is the municipal electric utility for the City of Santa Clara, California, serving residents and businesses for more than 100 years.

All SVP residential, commercial, and industrial customers can participate in its Santa Clara Green Power program, a voluntary program that supplies up to 100 percent of customers' electricity usage with power from eligible renewable sources. Launched 10 years ago, Santa Clara Green Power continues to meet its initial objectives: promote clean energy, steward the environment, educate the community, and provide its customers with a choice.

In 2014, the Santa Clara Green Power program changed its product mix in response, increasing support for solar energy to include 85 percent solar power from California and 15 percent wind power from the western United States. The program distributed more than 160 megawatt-hours (MWh) of green power to its customers in 2014, its all-time record, which was a 5 percent increase from 2013 and a 10 percent increase since 2012. SVP's overall customer participation rate in its Santa Clara Green Power program also exceeded 8 percent in 2014.

Silicon Valley Power actively supports the development of solar arrays at local educational institutions. In fact, about 50 percent of the Santa Clara Green Power program's standard power mix was generated by solar power projects across 60 different California schools, including parking lot canopies and shade structures. While SVP sells the renewable energy certificates (RECs) associated with these arrays through its Santa Clara Green Power program, the host schools, though not using solar power, enjoy a fixed electricity rate and the educational value of having renewable energy technology on campus.

Silicon Valley Power is also focused on bringing solar arrays to local nonprofit facilities. Its Neighborhood Solar program is funded with proceeds from its Santa Clara Green Power program, enabling Neighborhood Solar to support new solar projects at retirement homes, elementary schools, and community centers in Santa Clara.

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