![[logo] US EPA](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20090508182811im_/http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
EPA's Green Power Purchases & Results
In This Section
In September 2006, EPA became the first major federal agency to purchase green power equal to 100 percent of its estimated annual electricity use nationwide. In FY 2008, EPA purchased approximately 256 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of green power for its more than 200 facilities across the country.
In FY 2009, EPA will continue to purchase enough green power to offset 100 percent of its facilities' estimated electricity use.
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 2008, EPA's green power purchases avoided an estimated 402 million pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions*—roughly equal to the impact of removing 33,364 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 pie chart.
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: EPA uses the Agency's Emissions & Generation Resource Integrated Database (eGRID) to calculate greenhouse gas emission offsets from EPA's extensive green power purchases. The data presented here reflect eGRID2007 Version 1.0, which EPA released on October 16, 2008.
**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 1 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 256 million kWh of green power EPA purchased in FY 2008 reduced demand for conventional power generation and increased demand for the generation of renewable energy. If generated by conventional means, the amount of renewable energy purchased by EPA would emit 402 million pounds of CO2 and 2.1 million pounds of SO2 (figures derived by applying national average emission factors).