Green Power Partnership Program Updates Issue 32
Issue 32, June 16, 2015
- Early Bird Registration is Open for Renewable Energy Markets 2015—Register Today!
- Renewable Energy Markets 2015 Call for Abstracts – Deadline Extended
- Upcoming GPP Webinar "Project Matching: Shovel-ready Renewable Energy Projects"
- Congratulations to Partners Celebrating Their Ten-Year Anniversary with GPP!
- On Twitter? Follow GPP Developments and Share Your Experience with #EPAGreenPower
- Partner Spotlight – Jackson Family Wines
- Reminder: Top Partner Rankings and On-Site Renewables Challenge Data Deadlines—July 6, 2015
- Announcing New "Top 30 Green Power Communities" List
- EPA Launches Renewable Heating and Cooling Website
- EPA's State Climate and Energy Program Releases the 2015 Energy and Environmental Guide to Action
- EPA's Climate Leadership Awards Application Period Opening June 24th
- Upcoming NREL Webinar "Shared Solar Continues to Trend: Market Update and Implementation Questions"
- U.S. Department of Energy Publishes Report Evaluating Potential for Wind Power in All 50 States
- Past Issues
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Early Bird Registration is Open for Renewable Energy Markets 2015—Register Today!
Register now for Renewable Energy Markets (REM) 2015, the leading forum for the clean energy marketplace. REM is the clean energy industry's most important annual event focused on the states, businesses, organizations, and households that choose clean, renewable electricity.
REM is organized by the nonprofit Center for Resource Solutions and supported by GPP. REM 2015 will be held October 18-20 in Washington, D.C. Join leaders from federal and state governments, large corporate purchasers, leading utilities and electricity generators, and marketers from around the world to talk about clean energy!
For more information, visit: http://www.renewableenergymarkets.com
Tweet this: #RenewableEnergy Markets Conference in DC Oct 18-20! Register Now! www.renewableenergymarkets.com #REM2015 @REMconf #EPAGreenPower
Renewable Energy Markets 2015 Call for Abstracts – Deadline Extended
The deadline to submit proposals for presentations and panels has been extended through Friday, June 19, 2015. REM is looking for dynamic, engaging speakers with a compelling story to tell, and ideas for panels and presentations that are timely, unique, and informative. Some sessions are discussion-oriented, while others feature presentations. To review submission guidelines and submit, visit the Call for Abstracts page on the conference website. Don't miss this opportunity to help shape the agenda and present on a topic important to your organization!
Upcoming GPP Webinar "Project Matching: Shovel-ready Renewable Energy Projects"
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
1:00 PM-2:30 PM EDT
GPP, in collaboration with the EPA's RE-Powering America's Land Initiative, will host an informational webinar for attendees to learn about new, yet-to-be-built renewable energy projects that may align with their organization's energy, environmental, and financial objectives, as well as how EPA Partner organizations can engage in the development of these projects.
The webinar will feature five to eight short project presentations from renewable energy developers and a Q&A session. Developers will discuss project details, business models, and project engagement opportunities for Green Power Partners and other organizations that include power purchase agreements, renewable energy certificate (REC) procurements, financial investment, and equity ownership opportunities. Following the webinar, attendees can indicate if they wish to "be matched" and receive additional information on selected developer presentations. All projects to be presented on the webinar meet EPA's definition of eligible green power resources.
Find more information on past Project Alignment webinars, along with previous project proposals received.
Congratulations to Partners Celebrating Their Ten-Year Anniversary with GPP!
Thirteen organizations are celebrating ten years of partnering with GPP in the second quarter of 2015.
- Architecture Services: Boulder Associates / Sacramento, CA and Boulder, CO Offices
- Education (Higher): Emerson College (Mass.), Santa Clara University (Calif.), Syracuse University (N.Y.), University of Utah
- Food & Beverage: Dagoba Organic Chocolate (Ore.)
- Government (Federal): U.S. NPS / Lewis & Clark National Historic Park (Ore.)
- Government (Local, Municipal): City of Santa Barbara (Calif.), City of Santa Clara (Calif.)
- Health Care: GE Healthcare / Headquarters (Wisc.)
- Media & Publishing: Zackin Publications (Conn.)
- Recreation: Buck Hill Ski Area (Minn.)
On Twitter? Follow GPP Developments and Share Your Experience with #EPAGreenPower
Did you know that Green Power Partners, EPA staff, suppliers, and stakeholders are all using #EPAGreenPower to share their stories about green power? Take a look and join the conversation:
@sustainILLINOIS (iSEE at U of I): The Big Ten beat out 38 other conferences nationwide to win the @EPA's #EPAGreenPower 2014-15 College & Univ http://Challenge.1.usa.gov/1uQHerh
@PHLYINS (PHLY Insurance Co.): PHLY's in the Club - what about your company? Find out how you can qualify for the #EPAGreenPower Leadership Club: http://1.usa.gov/1GwE6I9
@3Degrees_Inc (3Degrees): As of Jan. '15, #EPAGreenPower Partners are using more than 1 billion kWh of onsite renewable energy. More: http://1.usa.gov/1teK5fQ
@CityofHillsboro (City of Hillsboro OR): Great news! Hillsboro has been designated by @EPA as an #EPAGreenPower community! http://hillsboro-oregon.gov/index.aspx?page=71
@Justmeans (Justmeans): H&M among the leading green power users in the U.S. || Read: bit.ly/1GLXUsd via @hm @EPA #EPAgreenpower
Partner Spotlight – Jackson Family Wines
The Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate and Gardens in Santa Rosa, CA.Jackson Family Wines (JFW) is a family-owned company that crafts award-winning wines of distinct character and quality. With a focus on sustainable viticulture practices, responsible vineyard, and natural resource management and unparalleled winemaking, the family's portfolio comprises more than 40 renowned wineries. Jackson Family Wines has been an EPA Green Power Partner since 2008.
Q. Why did your organization decide to use green power? What do you see as the benefits of using green power and what role does it play in your company's broader business and environmental strategy?
A. JFW has taken a two-fold approach to energy management: increasing our consumption of clean power (through REC purchases and onsite solar PV systems at our wineries) while simultaneously improving operational and energy efficiency at all levels of the organization. After taking stock of our total energy footprint—and associated costs—in 2008, we began to measure energy as a key performance indicator directly tied to the bottom line. Since that time, JFW has reduced our energy consumption by 5.3 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually, equivalent to the electricity use of 500 average American homes. In total, we have reduced our energy consumption by 64 percent at our wineries and reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 51 percent organization-wide per gallon of wine produced.
At JFW, innovation is core to the success of our business. From technology to business practices, innovation comes in many forms and we have taken a three-fold approach to energy management at our wineries:
- Improve operational and energy efficiency across all levels of our organization
- Reinvest those savings in onsite renewable energy systems
- Pilot innovative technologies that reduce our natural resource consumption
Q. Is your organization currently striving to achieve a green power goal and is there a timeframe? What steps are being taken to reach it?
A. We are aiming to source 50 percent of our companywide electricity usage from on-site renewable generation by 2020. We are currently installing 6.5 megawatts (MW) of on-site PV at 8 wineries in California by the end of 2015 as a first step. This will make us the U.S. wine industry's largest solar power generator.
Q. Describe any innovative green power strategies your organization has implemented or is planning. Do you have any upcoming projects or strategies that relate to your company's green power usage?
A. In addition to the above, on Thursday, April 30, we announced an innovative collaboration with Tesla Energy to pilot stationary energy storage batteries at six of our wineries in California. Read more about JFW's collaboration with Tesla.
Q. What are two or three lessons you've learned in making the switch to green power or in increasing your green power use?
A. We've run into barriers getting a few of our larger solar systems interconnected to the local power grid. It is important to be proactive as early as possible with all stakeholders involved in the interconnection process to ensure that the local grid has adequate capacity to accommodate the new generation you're adding. This means working with your solar vendors and your local electric utility to identify any work that needs to be done before you can interconnect.
Q. What advice would you give to other organizations interested in using green power, and is there anything you would do differently? What barriers did you encounter when switching to green power?
A. Plan ahead and make sure you undertake all the necessary measures to reduce your energy usage under the roof before investing in on-site renewables. Don't solarize your inefficiencies! Pacific Gas & Electric, our local electric utility company, has a number of rebates available for energy efficiency upgrades so check first and see if your utility is offering anything similar. This helps soften the financial costs associated with equipment upgrades.
Also always take into account when installing an on-site renewable generation system that you have a proactive maintenance plan to keep it running as efficiently as possible.
For more about Jackson Family Wines' sustainability initiatives, visit: http://www.jacksonfamilywines.com/en/sustainability.
Reminder: Top Partner Rankings and On-Site Renewables Challenge Data Deadlines—July 6, 2015
The Green Power Partnership will release updated Top Partner and On-Site Renewables Challenge rankings on July 27. If your organization's green power use has recently changed, please submit any updates to your account manager no later than Monday, July 6 (note: since the 6th is the Monday after the July 4th holiday weekend, submitting early would be welcome) for the updated data to be reflected in the Top Partner Rankings and On-site Renewables Challenge updates. If your organization's green power use has not changed, there is no need to submit an update. Review the most current Top Partner and On-site Renewables Challenge rankings.
Announcing New "Top 30 Green Power Communities" List
Beginning with the July 2015 Top Partner Rankings updates, GPP will transition the Green Power Community Challenge into a "Top 30 Green Power Communities" list. First launched in 2010, the Green Power Community Challenge has successfully encouraged Green Power Communities (GPCs) to purchase renewable energy and combat climate change. At the conclusion of the most recent Challenge, GPP's 57 Green Power Communities were collectively using more than five billion kWh of green power annually.
Since GPP tracks and reports the GPC's collective green power use and green power percentage of total electricity use, this new Top List will rank GPCs according the same two categories: total green power usage and percentage of green power used. Look for the Top 30 Green Power Communities list as GPP conducts its next round of Top List updates on July 27.
EPA Launches Renewable Heating and Cooling Website
Check out EPA's new website on renewable heating and cooling (RHC), featuring heating and cooling solutions across the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. Generating energy from renewable resources and technologies for water heating, space heating, space cooling, and process heat offers a safe, clean, efficient, and cost-competitive option for reducing energy use. Learn all about RHC, including available RHC financing and incentives, how to take action by using RHC for your home or business, and more.
EPA's State Climate and Energy Program Releases the 2015 Energy and Environmental Guide to Action
EPA's State Climate and Energy Program has released the 2015 Energy and Environment Guide to Action: State Policies and Best Practices for Advancing Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, and Combined Heat and Power. The Guide to Action, which EPA first released in 2006, is a cornerstone resource of EPA's State Climate and Energy Program, a voluntary program that helps states develop policies and programs that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower energy costs, improve air quality and public health, and achieve economic development goals.
EPA's Climate Leadership Awards Application Period Opening June 24th. Save the Date!
EPA's Climate Leadership Awards team invites you to participate in its fifth year of showcasing individual and organizational leadership in response to climate change. There are exciting changes to the awards program. Award winners will be recognized during next year's Climate Leadership Conference!
Mark Your Calendar!
- Webinar: Learn What's New for the 2016 Climate Leadership Awards
- June 23, 2015 (2:00 PM EST)
- Apply for a 2016 Climate Leadership Award
- June 24 – September 25, 2015
- 2016 Climate Leadership Conference - Save the Date!
- March 8 – 10, 2016 in Seattle, WA
Please direct any questions to: questions@climateleadershipawards.org
EPA's Center for Corporate Climate Leadership co-sponsors the Climate Leadership Awards with NGO partners: the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) and The Climate Registry. EPA is also the headline sponsor for the Climate Leadership Conference.
Upcoming NREL Webinar "Shared Solar Continues to Trend: Market Update and Implementation Questions"
Thursday, June 18, 2015
2:00-3:00 PM EDT
Regulated utilities across the country are assessing program design options for voluntary community solar programs. In this webinar, Adam Capage, will discuss answers to some of the most frequently asked questions, such as how to mitigate supply risks, how to set pricing, and best practices for marketing. David Feldman will present his recent forecast of community solar market potential through 2020.
U.S. Department of Energy Publishes Report Evaluating Potential for Wind Power in All 50 States
The U.S. Department of Energy has released a new report entitled Enabling Wind Power Nationwide, showing how the United States can unlock the vast potential for wind energy deployment in all 50 states. The report highlights the potential for technical advancements to unlock wind resources in regions with limited wind deployment today, such as the Southeast, which would bring the total area of technical wind potential in the U.S. to 1.8 million square miles.
