On September 20, 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Green Power Partnership kicked off its national Green Power Community Challenge, a year-long campaign to encourage cities, towns, counties, and Native American tribes to use renewable energy and reduce climate change.
As part of the campaign, communities will compete from September 20, 2010, to September 1, 2011, to see which one can use the most green power and which one can achieve the highest green power percentage of total electricity use. The winning communities will be declared in September 2011 and will receive special attention and recognition from EPA. Throughout the Challenge, EPA will provide technical assistance to help participants increase their use of green power.
To participate in the Challenge, communities must join the Green Power Partnership as a partner and buy green power in amounts that meet EPA minimum purchase requirements, submit a signed Green Power Communities Partnership Agreement, and initiate a community-wide green power campaign to encourage local businesses and residents to buy green power.
To date, more than 30 cities and towns in Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin have partnered with EPA to become Green Power Communities.
For more information about becoming a Green Power Community, visit www.epa.gov/greenpower/communities, or contact Anthony Amato at anthony.amato@erg.com or (781) 674-7225.
For more information on the Green Power Community Challenge, visit http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/communities/gpcchallenge.htm, or contact Allison Dennis at dennis.allison@epa.gov or (202) 343-9526.