(SEATTLE) – The U.S. EPA today praised Northwest companies that are switching to green power at a recognition ceremony held in conjunction with the "Better Business Through Green Power" workshop, held at the Qwest Field and Events Center in Seattle, Washington.

"Conventional electricity generation is the nation’s single largest industrial source of air pollution," said EPA’s Julie Hagensen. "Installing or buying green power is one way businesses can help keep the Pacific Northwest beautiful"

Green power is electricity generated by renewable energy sources including solar, wind, water (hydro), geothermal, biomass (combustion of organic materials) and biogas (combustion of naturally-produced methane). EPA encourages organizations to buy green power through a voluntary program, the Green Power Partnership, which is working to standardize green power procurement as part of best-practice environmental management. Partners in the Green Power Partnership pledge to switch to green power for a portion of their electricity needs in return for EPA technical assistance and public recognition.

At today’s ceremony, EPA honored the following Northwest organizations for their commitment to green power: Bainbridge Graduate Institute, Cascadia Green Building Council, Choice Organic Teas, Climate Solutions, David Evans and Associates, Inc., Energy Trust of Oregon, Epson, Hewlett-Packard’s Boise, ID facility, Hewlett-Packard’s Vancouver, WA facility, Office Depot, Port of Portland, Renewable Northwest Project, Samish Indian Nation, Shuksan Energy Consulting, Starbucks Corporation, Stoel Rives, U.S. Air Force Fairchild Base, U.S. Dept. of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and Xantrex Technology.

"Nationwide, the Green Power Partnership now includes over 500 organizations – including leading companies in the Northwest. Nationwide, Partners in the Green Power Partnership – including Fortune 500 companies, states, federal agencies, trade associations and universities – have made a combined total commitment to over two billion kilowatt hours of green power annually. The green power purchases by companies here in the Northwest equate to removing over 33,500 cars from the road," Hagensen added.

The workshop was organized by the Renewable Northwest Project, Northwest Public Power Association, NW Energy Coalition, Climate Solutions, EPA Green Power Partnership, Bonneville Environmental Foundation and Shuksan Energy Consulting.

Additional information about the Green Power Partnership is available at
http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/.

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