EPA announced plans last week to power three research facilities with energy provided from renewable sources.
By early 2002, 9 percent of EPA''s total energy use will be drawn from renewable sources powering various agency facilities around the United States.
The first to use the renewable energy sources will be three of EPA''s research facilities in Cincinnati, Ohio. EPA said it will power the Cincinnati facilities with 100 percent renewable energy through an agreement with Community Energy Inc., a renewable energy marketing company.
EPA Administrator Christie Whitman said tapping renewable sources demonstrates government initiative to seek solutions to U.S. energy problems, at the same time that it helps reduce emissions and provide support for an emerging market in "green" power.
The EPA Cincinnati facilities have committed to purchasing a total of 15,560,000 kWh of premium renewable energy annually for three years, with a three-year option to renew.
Community Energy Inc. will supply 778,000 kWh of New Wind Energy each year from the Exelon Power Team at Mill Run, Pa., which will make up five percent of EPA Cincinnati''s estimated usage.
ComEd, a subsidiary of Exelon Corp. that serves customers in Northern Illinois, in partnership with Environmental Resources Trust, will supply the remainder of the renewable energy contract with landfill gas energy from ComEd''s territory in Illinois.
By purchasing wind and biomass energy, EPA can claim large reductions in emissions associated with the purchase of conventional energy.
The emission benefits associated with this purchase are approximately 16,000 tons carbon dioxide, 112,000 pound of nitrous oxides and 246,000 pounds of sulfur dioxide each year.
Brent Alderfer, president of Community Energy Inc. said, "With this purchase of New Wind Energy, EPA is leading the way to a cleaner and more sustainable energy future. EPA''s decision to buy locally generated wind energy shows others that there are sensible clean energy choices that can help to create a clear future. This is the kind of real environmental leadership that will make a difference."
by Virginia Foran