The Inspired Economist

We tend to think that if a company is big, it is automatically bad and doesn’t care about it’s environmental footprint.  This couldn’t be farther from the truth.  Just take a look at the Top 10 Green Energy Users according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  Surprising, isn’t it?  Now, I’m not saying that all large corporations are doing their part.  Some aren’t.  But we should applaud and recognize the ones who are.

Every year the EPA co-sponsors the Green Power Leadership Awards in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS).  The Green Power Leadership Awards recognize the leading actions of organizations, programs, and individuals that significantly advance the development of green power sources. While the DOE recognizes green power providers and the CRS recognizes advancements in the green power market, the EPA specifically focuses on outstanding green power purchasers.  So let’s take a closer look at the EPA’s 2009 Green Power Purchaser Award winners.

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According to the EPA,

The Purchaser Awards honor EPA Green Power Partners that have helped build a market for green power by making significant purchases of renewable energy.  Award winners were selected based upon criteria including the quantity and type of renewable energy purchased, the impact of their green power purchases, the extent to which their actions have helped to establish a precedent that may catalyze similar actions by others, and the extent to which they demonstrated innovative purchasing strategies.”

The Awards are broken down into three categories - Green Power Partner of the Year, Green Power Purchasing and On-site Generation.  The 2009 winners are…

Green Power Partner of the Year

Recognizing Partners who distinguish themselves through their purchase, leadership, overall strategy, and impact on the green power market:

Deutsche Bank AG
Intel Corporation
Kohl’s Department Stores
Mohawk Fine Papers, Inc.

Green Power Purchasing

Recognizing Partners who distinguish themselves using on-site renewable energy applications, including, but not limited to, solar photovoltaic (PV) or wind energy projects:

Beaulieu Commercial
Bloomberg LP
EarthColor, Inc.
Foulger-Pratt Management, Inc.
Motorola, Inc.
Neenah Paper, Inc.
Shaklee Corporation
Steelcase USA
The Joinery
Western Pennsylvania Energy Consortium

On-site Generation

Recognizing Partners who distinguish themselves through purchases of green power from a utility green-pricing program, a competitive green marketer, or a renewable energy certificate (REC) supplier:

Applied Materials, Inc.
Butte College
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. / California and Texas Facilities

If you are interesting in learning more about why the above companies and organizations where chosen, feel free to visit the EPA website.

The Green Power Leadership Awards will be presented during the Renewable Energy Markets Conference which takes place on September 13-16 in Atlanta this year.

Photo: Caveman 92223 - On the Road Again! on Flickr under a Creative Commons license.

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