EPA's Green Power Purchases & Results

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EPA is the first major federal agency to purchase green power equal to 100 percent of its estimated annual electricity use nationwide. In FY 2007, EPA is purchasing approximately 330 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of green power annually for its nearly 200 facilities across the country.

EPA has been increasing its green power purchases over the past five years, as shown in the EPA Green Power Purchases by Facility chart. By purchasing green power, EPA reduces emissions associated with its conventional electricity use. In FY 2007, EPA's green power purchases will avoid an estimated 673 million pounds of CO₂ emissions—roughly equal to the impact of removing 58,802 cars from the road for an entire year*. The types of renewable energy supported by EPA are shown in EPA's Green Power Purchases by Energy Source (FY 2006).

EPA's green power purchases represent approximately 100 percent of its estimated annual electricity use. The Green Power as a Share of EPA's Total Electricity Use line chart illustrates EPA's increasing percentage of its total electricity use that is offset by the purchase of green power. Increases in EPA's green power purchases are directly correlated to reductions in emissions associated with its electricity purchases. EPA's Green Power vs. Emissions chart provides an estimated comparison of EPA's green power purchases to the emissions associated with its electricity purchases.

Individual EPA facilities are using different mixes of green power and on-site renewable energy. Click anywhere on the map for a complete list of EPA's major facilities and links to more information.

*NOTE: Federal “cap and trade” programs in the United States set a maximum level, or “cap,” for total power plant emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) in states approximately east of the Mississippi, and sulfur dioxide (SO₂) nationwide. These programs distribute a fixed number, or the capped level, of tradable emission allowances—the right to emit one ton of the pollutant—to electric generating plants. Renewable energy generating plants typically do not receive allowances, though there are some exceptions. Only by receiving and retiring allowances do such facilities reduce capped pollutants.

Nevertheless, the approximately 330 million kWh of green power EPA is purchasing in FY 2007 reduces demand for conventional power generation and increases demand for the generation of renewable energy. If generated by conventional means, the amount of renewable energy purchased by EPA would emit 1.25 million pounds of NOx and 1.51 million pounds of SO₂ (these figures derived by applying national average emission factors).

EPA's Green Power Purchases & Results

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