Partner Profile

University of Pennsylvania
Location	Philadelphia, PA
Organization Type	Education (Higher)
Percentage Green Power	46%
Organization-wide Purchase	Yes
Awards/Recognition	Green Power Leadership Award 2002, Partner of the Year 2003, Partner of the Year 2008
Environmental Web Page
Partner Profile The University of Pennsylvania is a member of the Green Power Leadership Club, a 2002 Green Power Leadership Award winner, and a 2003 Green Power Partner of the Year. The University became the nation's largest nongovernmental purchaser of wind power on Earth Day 2003 when it announced that it would double its wind power purchase, the highest nationally at that time, to 40 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually. Penn also extended the contract length to 10 years from 3, thus becoming the wind energy industry's first customer with a 10-year renewable energy certificate contract. In 2008, Penn increased its renewable energy certificate purchase to over 190 million kWh. The University is funding its historic wind power purchases with savings achieved through aggressive energy conservation. Over the past few years, the University reduced peak electric demand by 18 percent. Penn's long-term commitment will help make possible the construction of a new 12-turbine, 20-MW Pennsylvania wind farm.