EPA recognizes Quinnipiac with Green Power Leadership Award

Quinnipiac University announced Monday that it has received a 2012 Green Power Leadership Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The annual awards recognize the country’s leading green power purchasers for their commitment and contribution to helping advance the development of the nation’s green power market.

The EPA presented Quinnipiac with the award at an event held in conjunction with the 2012 Renewable Energy Markets Conference in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 24. 

Quinnipiac was one of only 12 organizations nationwide to receive a Leadership Award for its green power purchase. The award recognizes EPA Green Power 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. 

Quinnipiac is currently purchasing nearly 38 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually, which is enough green power to meet 100 percent of the organization’s purchased electricity use. Quinnipiac is buying renewable energy certificates (RECs) from Renewable Choice Energy. 

“We are proud to receive this prestigious award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,” said Keith Woodward, associate vice president for facilities administration at Quinnipiac. “Purchasing green power helps Quinnipiac to be more sustainable, while also sending a message to others across the U.S. that supporting clean sources of electricity is a sound business decision and an important choice to fight climate change.”

Quinnipiac currently ranks number 19 on EPA’s Top 20 College & University List.  Each list highlights EPA Green Power Partners that have completed the largest annual voluntary purchases through July 5, 2012.  EPA updates its Top Partner Lists quarterly athttp://www.epa.gov/greenpower/toplists/. 

Green power is electricity that is generated from environmentally preferable renewable resources, such as wind, solar, geothermal, biogas, biomass and low-impact hydro.  These resources generate electricity with a net zero increase in carbon dioxide emissions, while offering a superior environmental profile compared to traditional power generation sources.  Green power purchases also support the development of new renewable energy generation sources nationwide.

According to the EPA, Quinnipiac’s current green power purchase of nearly 38 million kWh is equivalent to avoiding the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of more than 5,000 passenger vehicles per year, or is the equivalent amount of electricity needed to power more than 3,000 average American homes annually.