University Park, Pa. -- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized Penn State as a national leader in the purchase and development of green power. The University ranks 24th nationally and is one of only three universities cited in the agency's top-25 ranking.
EPA's top-25 list includes companies and organizations that have voluntarily bought the most renewable energy and are part of EPA's Green Power Partnership, a voluntary program working to standardize green power procurement as part of best practice environmental management.
Together, these top 25 companies and organizations are purchasing more than 1.6 million megawatt hours of green power annually. Green power is electricity from environmentally-preferable, renewable resources such as solar, wind or geothermal power.
In an effort to rely less on fossil fuel and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, Penn State is relying on wind power for 5 percent of its power. The University is an early leader in the adoption of a renewable wind energy source, which, unlike its conventional electricity-generating counterparts, does not have a negative impact on the environment.
Penn State made its first commitment to wind energy in October 2001 with a five-year contract for the purchase of wind power at the University Park campus. The University strengthened its leadership role in July 2002 through another five-year contract to purchase wind power at other Penn State locations throughout the commonwealth.
For more information on green power, visit http://www.epa.gov/greenpower online. The complete EPA top-25 list is available at http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/partners/top25.htm online. To read more about Penn State's commitment to the environment, visit http://www.psu.edu/ur/psugreen/