EPA recognizes Penn State as top green power purchaser

EPA releases its first Top 10 list highlighting higher education

University Park, Pa. -- Penn State has made the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) list of the top 10 college and university Green Power Partners. The University is being recognized for its voluntary purchase of 17,600 megawatt-hours (MWh) of green power.

Penn State purchases this green power in the form of wind-generated electricity from Community Energy, Inc.

This top 10 list highlights institutions of higher education within the Green Power Partnership that have completed the largest annual voluntary green power purchases through Jan. 18, 2006. "Green power" is defined by the Partnership as electricity products that are partially or entirely generated from environmentally preferable resources, such as solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, and low-impact biomass and hydro resources.

"Our wind power purchase supports the University's environmental strategy to move toward sustainable practices and enables Penn State to play a role in helping the emerging renewable energy market," said Steve Maruszewski, deputy associate vice president for physical plant and manager of the finance and business environmental strategy. "We are proud to be on the EPA's top 10 list of college and university purchasers."

Penn State's source for wind-generated electricity is located in Somerset County where 220 foot tall, state of the art, wind turbines produce the 17,600 megawatts purchased by the University. Wind energy is 100 percent emission and pollution-free, while conventional electricity generation is the leading contributor to smog, global warming and poor air quality.

It also is a homegrown source of electricity generation that has the potential to lead the way to United States' energy independence.

"Penn State is providing an excellent example for its students, faculty, employees and community by purchasing green power," said Blaine Collison, program director of the EPA's Green Power Partnership. "The University's actions are helping drive the development of new renewable energy sources. As more renewable energy power plants are developed, the overall air emissions associated with electricity generation will be reduced."

The Green Power Partnership is a voluntary EPA program that seeks to increase the use of green power among leading U.S. organizations. Partners in the program switch to green power for a portion of their electricity needs in return for EPA technical assistance and recognition. The Green Power Partnership currently has more than 600 partners, including Fortune 500 companies, states, federal agencies, trade associations and universities.

For more information on EPA's Top 10 college and university Partners list, visit http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/partners/top10ed.htm. For a full listing of the more than 600 EPA Green Power Partners and information about buying green power, see the Partnership's Web site at http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/.

Penn State energy information is available at http://energy.opp.psu.edu/