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Green Power Partnership - Bellingham's global warming pollution reduction through use of green power

An Effective Practice

Description

The Environmental Protection Agency has created a partnership opportunity where cities, large companies and smaller organizations can obtain the knowledge, technical support, tools and resources needed to purchase green power.

Green power is defined as electricity that is generated from environmentally preferable renewable resources, such as solar or wind power. These resources generate electricity with zero anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions. In addition, buying green power helps support the development of new renewable energy capacity nationwide.

Goal / Mission

The goal is for cities or companies to reduce their carbon footprint. For example, research shows that buying 100 percent green power is the most significant step the City of Bellingham can take to protect the climate; it would eliminating more than 65 percent of the global warming pollution caused by municipal operations.

Results / Accomplishments

In its first year, the City of Bellingham achieved 11 percent green power as a percentage of total purchased electricity use, making it #1 on the EPA's National Top 25 Green Power Communities list. They were chosen Green Power Partner of the Year in 2007. Bellingham's Annual Green Power Usage 81,000,000kWh.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
City of Bellingham, Washington
Primary Contact
Bellingham Mayor Tim Douglas
(360) 676-6979
http://www.cob.org/index.aspx
Topics
Environmental Health / Air
Environmental Health / Energy & Sustainability
Organization(s)
City of Bellingham, Washington
Source
Environmental Protection Agency
Date of publication
Apr 2007
Date of implementation
Apr 2007
Location
Bellingham
For more details
Additional Audience
Policy makers
Submitted By
Environmental Protection Agency
Santa Cruz