(Washington, DC) – The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) along with the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) today presented the District of Columbia government with a Green Power Leadership Award at the Renewable Energy Markets Conference, an annual clean energy meeting targeting governments, businesses and organizations that use clean, renewable electricity. The award highlights the District’s leadership in the application of green technology throughout the District.
The award recognizes Mayor Muriel Bowser for the District’s commitment to total green energy purchasing including a groundbreaking 20-year Wind Farm Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) which directly supplies 35% of the District government’s electricity through renewable wind energy. The PPA announced in July is being implemented through the DC Department of General Services (DGS).
“The District of Columbia continues to lead the nation in the fight against climate change,” said Mayor Bowser. “We are supporting greener building codes, promoting energy and water efficiency, and fostering renewable energy. This award for green power purchasing exemplifies how the District is working to boost our economy while creating a greener and healthier city.”
DGS, which manages the District’s portfolio of government buildings, purchases enough green power to cover 100 percent of its municipal use, more than 470 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) through renewable energy certificates (RECs). This is equivalent to greening the annual power supply of 44,000 average American homes. The purchase places DC government at number two on EPA’s Green Power Partnership List of Top 30 Local Government Partners, and makes it one of few large municipal governments using clean, renewable energy for all of its electricity use.
“We are just getting started,” said Mark Chambers, Sustainability and Energy Management Director at DGS. “Through strategic long-term renewable energy deals at scale and dynamic block and index purchasing of our energy, the District is actively managing our diverse power sources and remaining a leader in prioritizing renewables.”
The District’s renewable energy commitment has received international recognition for leadership on climate change. This month, the DGS Wind Power Purchase Agreement was also chosen as one of 33 finalists from 216 applications worldwide competing to receive a C40 Cities Award during the United National Conference on Climate Change this December in Paris, France.
“The C40 and EPA recognition demonstrates District government’s commitment to meeting our aggressive greenhouse gas and renewable energy goals, and DGS looks forward to maximizing future opportunities to advance this effort,” said DGS Acting Director Christopher Weaver.
More on the 2015 Green Power Leadership award winners: http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/awards/winners.htm
About The Department of General Services
The mission of the Department of General Services is to elevate the quality of life for the District with superior construction, first-rate maintenance and expert real estate management. By building and maintaining safe and green state-of-the-art facilities that foster economic growth and elevate educational environments, our trusted and skillful employees create modern and vibrant communities across the District of Columbia.