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About The Awards
Electricity generated from renewable sources is becoming increasingly available nationwide. By choosing green power instead of conventional electricity, consumers, businesses, and organizations can support increased deployment of renewable energy technologies that will reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation and increase energy independence.
To recognize the actions of individuals, companies and organizations that are significantly advancing the development of renewable electricity sources through green power markets, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) are sponsoring the seventh annual Green Power Leadership Awards. The Leadership Awards banquet was held on October 22, 2007, in conjunction with the Twelfth National Green Power Marketing Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The Green Power Leadership Awards are competitive awards that recognize outstanding commitments and achievements in the green power marketplace in the following three categories:
- Purchasers — Awarded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Suppliers — Awarded by the Department of Energy (DOE)
- Market Development — Awarded by the Center of Resource Solutions (CRS)
For the official list of all the winners, please download the 2007 Awards Ceremony Booklet (PDF 1.6 MB) Download Adobe Reader.
Green Power! The seventh annual Green Power Leadership Awards were featured on the Federal News Radio show, Daily Debrief with Amy Morris, on October 30, 2007. Pam Mendelson, Senior Program Specialist with Navarro Research & Engineering working for the Department of Energy's Golden Field Office, discussed the six organizations that were recognized by the Department of Energy for helping the U.S. "go green."
EPA's Green Power Purchasers Awards
On-Site Generation
City of Chico, CA
Macy's, Inc. West Division
The Timberland Company
Green Power Purchasing
Kohl's Department Stores
PepsiAmericas, Inc.
The Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc.
Pepsi Bottling Ventures, LLC
New York University
Sloan Valve Company, IL Manufacturing Facility
Starbucks
Partners of the Year
City of Bellingham, WA
Johnson & Johnson
Mohawk Fine Papers, Inc.
PepsiCo
Staples
Wells Fargo & Company
Whole Foods Market
DOE's Green Power Supplier Awards
New Green Power Program or Product
Constellation NewEnergy
Renewable Energy Marketers
3Degrees
Sterling Planet
SunEdison
Programs of the Year
Pacific Power and Rocky Mountain Power
Silicon Valley Power
CRS Market Development Awards
Green Power Beacon Award
Western Washington Green Power Campaign
Green Power Pilot Award
Clif Bar - SkiGreen
Green Power Pioneer Awards
John Schaeffer
William Sprately
On-Site Generation
City of Chico, CA
The city of Chico has demonstrated its commitment to green power by installing two separate solar systems on city facilities. The first installation was a 91 kilowatt solar photovoltaic system installed at the city of Chico's downtown parking structure, which also provides shade to parked vehicles. The second installation was a 1.1 megawatt solar system at the city's water pollution control plant, which at the time of its installation was recognized as the world's largest solar tracker system at a sewage treatment facility as well as the state of California's largest municipal solar array. Together the two municipally owned systems produce over 2 million kilowatt-hours annually. The waste water treatment plant solar array provides approximately 40 percent of the facility's electricity needs, resulting in a 55 percent utility cost savings compared with the previous year of operation. City officials have said that the total cost savings of these systems would be enough to hire three full-time police officers.
The city dedicated both installations by organizing events hosted by the mayor and attended by local officials, state representatives and regional media. These events generated publicity and raised the awareness of renewable energy within the community. The city government also conducted targeted outreach to the broader community through newsletters, which was further supported by the installation of an educational kiosk in the foyer of the Municipal Center to educate visitors. The city of Chico has implemented a task force, with representation from community stakeholders, to assist in future sustainability endeavors.
On-Site Generation
Macy's, Inc. West Division
Macy's is a major U.S. retailer with over 900 locations throughout the U.S. In 2007, the company signed contracts to install solar power systems totaling 8 megawatts at 28 stores in California. Macy's initiative represents one of the largest commitments to solar power of any major U.S. retailer in EPA's Green Power Partnership. By combining energy efficiency measures with solar power, Macy's looks to recognize a 40 percent reduction in utility-provided electricity, while locking into a fixed electricity price over the life of the solar systems.
There were several interesting challenges involved in Macy's purchasing process, including a race against a California solar rebate funding deadline and the requirement to evaluate over 50 store rooftops, and complete 39 in-person surveys to ensure rooftop suitability for the solar photovoltaic systems. Real estate hurdles were numerous, particularly for stores where Macy's leases rather than owns the property.
Macy's promoted its green power purchase through a globally-launched press release. The company also educated its employees on the benefits of green power through an employee web cast and newsletter, and plans to promote the program to Macy's customers through a "Macy's Goes Green" in-store event this fall.
On-Site Generation
The Timberland Company
Timberland is an outdoor retail company located in Statham, New Hampshire, with
78 stores across the U.S. At their California distribution center, a 400 kilowatt onsite solar array produces approximately 60 percent of the facility's electricity needs. In addition, Timberland also purchases wind-based renewable energy certificates (RECs), representing approximately 3 percent of the entire company's purchased electricity use. The company's commitment is part of a larger ongoing company strategy to become carbon neutral by 2010. A five point strategy to achieve this goal includes investments in green power, energy efficiency improvements and REC purchases.
Timberland creatively communicates their green power commitment to customers through several innovative methods. At every retail location Timberland provides brochures describing the benefits of wind power with discounts available to customers, with a web link for customers to take action. Every store displays a window sticker communicating their carbon-neutral commitment, and footwear packaging has a "nutrition label" detailing the company's commitment to green power.
Green Power Purchasing
Kohl's Department Stores
Based in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, Kohl's has 916 stores across 47 states. Kohl's voluntary purchase of more than 201 million kilowatt-hours of green power annually represents nearly 20 percent of the company's total purchased electricity load, and was large enough to place Kohl's on EPA's National Top
25 and Top 10 Retail lists of green power purchasers.
Kohl's has communicated its commitment to green power internally by publishing the information on their purchase on the company "intranet" website and by writing an article about the company's involvement with EPA's Green Power Partnership. Further internal communication to Kohl's associates is achieved with a video that highlights Kohl's green power commitment.
Kohl's is also a leading participant in EPA's Fortune 500 Green Power Challenge, a campaign to double the green power purchases among Fortune 500 Partners to total more than five billion kilowatt-hours annually.
Green Power Purchasing
New York University (NYU)
With a renewable energy certificate (REC) purchase of nearly
119 million kilowatt-hours, New York University (NYU) established itself as one of the largest green power purchasers among colleges and universities. The commitment represents 100 percent of the school's purchased electricity use and is met with RECs generated from New York and national wind resources. The NY-based purchase demonstrates NYU's commitment to further the development of green power resources within New York State.
NYU has also taken action to spread the success of the university's green power purchase and environmental responsibility actions to a broader audience. The university has developed a Green Action Plan, which involves extensive outreach and joined the Environmental Consortium composed of higher education institutions in the Hudson Valley and New York region so the university could share best practices and expand communication among the higher education community. NYU also joined the American College and University President's Climate Commitment, which involves a pledge to create and implement a plan to reduce carbon emissions.
Green Power Purchasing
PepsiAmericas, Inc.
PepsiAmericas is the second largest Pepsi-Cola bottler in the world, with $4 billion in revenue and operations in the U.S. and 11 countries. Its 100 percent renewable energy certificate (REC) purchase of just over 157 million kilowatt-hours ranked the company among the Top 100 percent green power purchasers.
PepsiAmericas plans to use the consumer brand recognition of the Pepsi name to increase the visibility of retail green power products around the world. PepsiAmericas is coordinating with the leadership teams from other independent bottlers to maximize ongoing environmental promotion activities that impact the Pepsi brand. The group is planning to develop a consumer labeling program to promote the impact of their respective green power purchases to stakeholders.
Green Power Purchasing
The Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc.
The Pepsi Bottling Group is the largest manufacturer, seller and distributor of Pepsi-Cola beverages such as Aquafina, SoBe Life Water, Lipton and Sierra Mist. With 70,000 employees and more that $12 billion in annual sales, The Pepsi Bottling Group has operations in the U.S., Canada, Greece, Mexico, Russia, Spain and Turkey. The Pepsi Bottling Group's own purchase of nearly 458 million kilowatt-hours in renewable energy certificates (REC), represents 100 percent of the company's total purchased electricity load, and places the bottler as the one of the largest green power purchasers in the packaging and bottling industry, earning the company high rankings on EPA's National Top 25 and 100% Green Power Purchaser lists.
The Pepsi Bottling Group also is working with the leadership teams of PepsiCo, from which The Pepsi Bottling Group spun off as an independent public company in 1999, and Pepsi's other independent bottlers to develop a consumer labeling program that would expose nearly 200 million consumers to its green power message every day.
Green Power Purchasing
Pepsi Bottling Ventures, LLC
Pepsi Bottling Ventures is one of the largest Pepsi Cola bottlers in the United States. The company operates 18 bottling and distribution facilities in North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, and Long Island, New York, serving over seven million customers. Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, the company has demonstrated leadership in the U.S. Southeastern and Mid Atlantic regions with its 100 percent, nearly 15 million kilowatt-hour renewable energy certificate (REC) purchase.
In an effort to maximize the ongoing promotion of green power and green power initiatives, PepsiCo is working with Pepsi Bottling Ventures and other Pepsi Bottlers to develop a consumer labeling program that highlights the use of renewable energy in the manufacturing of beverages. For Pepsi Bottling Ventures, the effect of labeling all packaging with their green power commitment extends to more than the Pepsi soft-drink brands and includes Aquafina bottled water, Starbucks Frappuccino coffee drink, Tropicana and Dole products, and Lipton tea.
Green Power Purchasing
Sloan Valve Company, IL Manufacturing Facility
Sloan Valve Company's purchase of 20 million kilowatt-hours of green power is a unique commitment coming from a family-owned plumbing equipment manufacturer. The company is one of the leading manufacturers of water-conserving plumbing systems, driven by a mission of conservation that has been in place since the company's birth over one hundred years ago. The firm has a long standing commitment to green building and is an industry leader in new environmental products and technologies, such as water-free urinals and solar-powered faucets.
Sloan Valve Company has helped advance the overall market for green power by showing other manufacturers how they can be an integral part of green building efforts. The company recently supplied the Chicago Center for Green Technology with water-efficient plumbing fixtures to support the center's goal of helping professionals and home-owners learn about the cost savings and environmental benefits of green technologies. Sloan Valve Company labels its products with a visible "made with renewable energy" seal.
Green Power Purchasing
Starbucks
In 2005, Starbucks purchased 185 million kilowatt-hours of wind-based renewable energy certificates (RECs), matching 20 percent of the company's purchased electricity use for its U.S. retail locations.
The company increased its annual purchase to match its aggressive business growth, and in 2006, actually quadrupled its purchase of green power. Starbucks is among the largest purchasers on EPA's National Top 25 and Top 10 Retail purchaser lists.
Starbucks also leverages its size and reach to engage its partners, suppliers and customers in opportunities to address their own greenhouse gas emissions. By way of its website, launch of Plant Green Game — a free online game, seasonal promotions, press releases, and six full-page ads in The New York Times, Starbucks is drawing widespread attention to the benefits of green power. The company is also using its influence to spur new renewable energy development by encouraging its supply chain to purchase green power. The company is leveraging its purchasing power with its green power provider to obtain favorable rates. The company has plans to extend those "Starbucks preferred pricing rates" to 388 major supply chain partners.
Green Power Partner of the Year
City of Bellingham, WA
The city of Bellingham has demonstrated strong leadership in the purchase and support of green power. In early 2007, by way of a unanimous City Council vote, the Bellingham local government chose to lead by example by purchasing 100 percent green power for all city owned facilities. This purchase amounted to 25 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually. Later the same year, the City partnered with the local utility's green power program and a local non-profit organization to launch the Bellingham Green Power Community Challenge. The goal of the challenge was to increase green power purchasing among the city's citizens and businesses in route to meeting more than 2 percent of the city-wide electric load.
The citizens and businesses of Bellingham took note and followed the city government's leadership by more than tripling the city's commitment of 25 million kWh over the six month community challenge. The city's leadership also led other neighboring cities and counties to organize their own green power purchases. Bellingham's purchase ranks among the largest on EPA's Top 10 Local Government list of green power purchasers.
Green Power Partner of the Year
Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson is the only green power purchaser to earn a Green Power Leadership Award for six consecutive years. In 2007, the company increased its annual green power commitment by more than 94 million kilowatt-hours (kWh). Johnson & Johnson's green power purchase of over 400 million kWh represents 39 percent of the company's total U.S. purchased electricity use and includes the direct purchases of low-impact hydro, wind power, on-site solar PV, and the purchase of renewable energy certificates from wind power and biomass facilities. From 2005 through 2008, Johnson & Johnson plans to provide funding for 47 clean energy projects, resulting in an investment of more than $96 million.
Johnson & Johnson is participating in EPA's Fortune 500 Green Power Challenge and ranks among the largest of the campaign's Fortune 500 purchasers. The size of the company's green power purchase, along with its willingness to share its experiences, makes Johnson & Johnson a leader in green power procurement.
Green Power Partner of the Year
Mohawk Fine Papers, Inc.
Mohawk Fine Papers, headquartered in Cohoes, New York, is one of the largest
premium paper manufacturers in North America. In 2003, Mohawk became one the first large-scale paper production facilities in the United States to support its operations with wind energy, with a renewable energy certificate purchase of 4 million kilowatt-hours. Since then, Mohawk Fine Papers has progressively increased its level of purchase to more than 100 million kilowatt-hours annually. This represents 100 percent of the purchased electric use for all of Mohawk's manufacturing, converting and distribution operations in New York and Ohio. The company's most recent purchase was enough to place Mohawk Fine Papers among EPA's National Top 25 list of green power purchasers.
Mohawk is also known in the industry for its environmental standards and sustainable stewardship practices. The company has worked to meet various environmental standards and works to further the impact of their green power commitment through public education.
Green Power Partner of the Year
PepsiCo
PepsiCo is one of the world's largest food and beverage companies with more than
$35 billion in 2006 revenues. Its principal businesses include Frito-Lay snacks, Pepsi- Cola beverages, Gatorade sports drinks, Tropicana juices and Quaker foods. In 2007, PepsiCo purchased enough renewable energy certificates (REC) to match 100 percent of the company's purchased electricity load in the U.S. This purchase equates to more than 1 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually, and represents the largest U.S. REC purchase in the EPA's Green Power Partnership.
For more than eight years, PepsiCo has been improving energy and water efficiency across its operations by focusing on resource conservation and investment in new technologies. This effort has led to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions as well as energy and water costs. In 2007, PepsiCo was recognized as an Energy Star Partner of the Year by the EPA. Other sustainability actions include engaging the company's strategic supply chain partners as well as focusing on the communication of these environmental efforts. To date, PepsiCo's leadership has influenced three independent bottlers in buying an additional 681 million kWh of green power annually. PepsiCo is being recognized for the company's leadership in encouraging its business partners to procure green power to further reduce the environmental impacts associated with purchased electricity use.
With this purchase, PepsiCo is also ranked as one of the largest purchasers in EPA's Fortune 500 Green Power Challenge.
Green Power Partner of the Year
Staples
Staples is the world's largest office products company with over 1,900 retail locations around the world and annual sales of over $18 billion. The company demonstrates its leadership and commitment to conservation and green power initiatives by reducing energy consumption and supporting renewable energy technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Staples purchased nearly 122 million kilowatt-hours of green power, which represents more than 20 percent of the company's purchased electricity use within the United States. This purchase was large enough to place the company on both EPA's National Top 25 list and Top 10 Retail list of green power purchasers. The majority of Staples' green power consists of renewable energy certificates, but the company also purchases direct green power through various utility programs. In addition, Staples has aggressively pursued on-site roof-top solar installations and now has nine active solar power systems on distribution centers and retail stores across the nation. The company is currently investigating other on-site projects including wind power and fuel cells.
Staples also provides customers with thousands of environmentally preferable products and in-store recycling options throughout its North American stores. The company continues to lead through its green power initiatives and serves as an example to businesses interested in learning more about green power. Staples is also an active participant in EPA's Fortune 500 Green Power Challenge and ranks as one of the largest purchasers in the challenge.
Green Power Partner of the Year
Wells Fargo & Company
Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified financial services company with $540 billion in assets, providing banking, insurance, investments, mortgage and consumer finance to more than 23 million customers.
The company purchased 550 million kilowatt-hours of wind energy each year for the next three years, a purchase that represents 42 percent of the company's total purchased electricity use on an annual basis. To date, the company's purchase also represents the second largest U.S. renewable energy certificate (REC) purchase in the EPA's Green Power Partnership.
Wells Fargo & Company is also a participant in EPA's Fortune 500 Green Power Challenge and is one of the largest buyers of green power among participating Fortune 500 corporations.
The company's REC purchase supplements its energy conservation efforts and serves as a basis from which the company promotes green power. Wells Fargo & Company became the first financial services company in the U.S. to make green power available to customers through its credit card Rewards Program. Wells Fargo & Company also established an Environmental Finance unit to aggressively pursue sustainable financing opportunities such as green power projects. The company has invested more than $250 million in wind and solar energy projects, and plans to expand this part of their business in the future.
Green Power Partner of the Year
Whole Foods Market
Whole Foods Market, one of the leading natural and organic foods supermarkets, was the first Fortune 500 Company to purchase wind power for 100 percent of its purchased electricity use across its U.S. operations. This year the company increased its purchase to over 509 million kilowatt-hours of wind-based renewable energy certificates, keeping pace with the company's continued growth. Whole Foods' purchase ranks among the largest in the Green Power Partnership, placing the company on EPA's National Top 25 list, Top 10 Retail list and 100% Green Power Purchaser list.
This year Whole Foods Market expanded upon its purchase to reach out to customers in new and innovative ways. The Wind Power Card is a first-of-its kind retail product that makes point-of-purchase green power sales easier than ever before both for the retailer and the customer. Currently the company is selling the Wind Power Cards at over 100 locations nationwide.
Showcasing wind power and its benefits has become standard operating procedure at this grocery chain. Whole Foods Market is also a participant in EPA's Fortune 500 Green Power Challenge and the company's purchase ranks among the largest of participating Fortune 500 corporations.
New Green Power Program or Product
Constellation NewEnergy
Constellation NewEnergy is one of the largest competitive retail electricity suppliers in North America, and a leading advocate for integrating energy solutions to meet future energy infrastructure needs.
In a project with the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, Constellation NewEnergy serves both as systems integrator and energy supplier, first facilitating the development of a new 30 megawatt wind plant in Somerset County, PA, then providing a long-term wind power purchase agreement to help the agency meet future demand.
Beginning in 2008, the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission will receive 85 percent of the wind project's power (and renewable energy certificate) output, representing a 70 million kilowatt-hour annual wind purchase. The agreement is a model of the way in which consumers can both drive the development of new wind, and in turn receive the benefit of the long-term stable price.
It also adds to the growing list of renewable projects in states with competitive energy markets, and validates that the power of competition is driving innovations in green energy.
Renewable Energy Marketer
3Degrees
3Degrees is one of the leading U.S. providers of certified renewable energy certificates (RECs). The company serves over 300 corporate customers, including 28 Fortune 500 companies, with total sales at 3 billion kilowatt-hours of Green-e Certified RECs. Its average participation rate in its green pricing programs is 8.6 percent, or 4.5 times the national average.
3Degrees establishes long-term relationships with utilities to invest in and build their voluntary renewable energy programs. It has contracts with more than 70 renewable energy projects worldwide. Projects are located in the United States, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Mexico, and New Zealand.
Renewable Energy Marketer
Sterling Planet
Sterling Planet is a leader in green power sales to nonresidential customers. Its current client list includes 622 corporations, 74 government agencies, 33 universities, 49 utilities and thousands of households from coast to coast.
The company's multi-year contract with the Pepsi supply chain is the largest corporate purchase in U.S. history, at nearly 2 billion kilowatt-hours annually.
Sterling Planet provides organizations access to the full range of renewable energy certificates options in every U.S. region, including solar, wind, small or low impact hydro, geothermal and organic bioenergy. The company's commitment to the sustainable, green power market includes development of new supply sources. Current projects include wind, solar and organic bioenergy generators under development in California, New York and other locations across the nation.
Renewable Energy Marketer
SunEdison
SunEdison is one of North America's largest solar energy services providers. By the end of 2007, the company will have sold nearly 10 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of renewable solar energy from existing plants in both voluntary and compliance markets. New projects in which customers retain renewable energy certificates include sites at Wal-Mart, Kohl's and several other customers.
SunEdison was one of the first to offer Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) exclusively based on solar energy services. The company simplified the solar power proposition by financing, installing, owning, operating, and maintaining the power plant at customer's facilities, providing its customers relief from up-front capital expenditures, thus enabling more widespread adoption. There is no premium under the company's PPA, and price is set for the length of the agreement, ensuring energy budget predictability.
Green Power Program of the Year
Pacific Power and Rocky Mountain Power
Pacific Power and Rocky Mountain Power's Blue Sky Program is comprised entirely of new, renewable energy resources. The organization placed a purchase preference on new facilities, located near the communities they serve. Over the last year total sales were over 336 million kilowatt-hours, with a customer participation rate of 3.4 percent. Today, more than 57,000 customers participate in the Blue Sky program.
Through the Blue Sky Block program the company helps make community-based projects economically viable while further developing the renewable energy industry. In 2006, Pacific Power and Rocky Mountain Power decided to invest surplus funds from customer purchases in new, community-based renewable energy projects through the Blue Sky Funds awards; bringing strong environmental, educational and economic benefits to local communities the company serves. The company distributed $1.2 million in 2006, supporting the development of 419.4 kilowatts of new solar generation and 5.4 kilowatts of new small wind generation.
The company is also distributing approximately $1 million in 2007, supporting the development of 406.9 kilowatts of new solar, 20 kilowatts of new small wind, and up to 20 kilowatts of new wave generation.
The Blue Sky program was the first utility green power program to initiate community challenges that create a community network of support and effort. Locations of community challenges in Utah, Washington and Oregon include Castle Valley, Moab, Salt Lake City, Park City, Ogden City, Walla Walla, Corvallis, Lincoln City and Hood River. In addition, the company supports residential community challenges among the Sundance and Kennecott Daybreak communities in Utah.
Green Power Program of the Year
Silicon Valley Power
November 2007 will mark the three year anniversary of the Santa Clara Green Power program launch. The program continues to grow rapidly, with at least 35 million kilowatt-hours sales in 2007, a 50 percent increase over the previous year. The company's customer participation rate is an impressive 8.1 percent and still growing.
Silicon Valley Power, the City of Santa Clara's municipal electric utility, estimates participation rates to reach 10 percent by year's end, thanks to a challenge issued by the Mayor and City Council. The challenge proved to be an effective method to increase enrollments and build additional support across the city government.
In 2006, the Santa Clara Green Power program also began offering a volume discount for large purchases. Customers found this successful tactic of offering tiered volume pricing for large purchases very appealing, so plans are in place to develop other supply pricing options.
Silicon Valley Power's impressive results are also being driven by outreach efforts, including direct mail campaigns, utility bills envelope messages, newsletters, radio ads and outreach at local events.
Green Power Beacon Award
The Western Washington Green Power Campaign
The Western Washington Green Power Campaign is outstanding for its unique collaboration among diverse parties and multitiered marketing approach. The campaign combined the efforts of four regional utilities: Puget Sound Energy, Snohomish County Public Utility District, Seattle City Light, and Tacoma Power, with renewable energy provider Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF), Belo Marketing Solutions (sister company to KING 5, the region's largest broadcast television network), and two long-standing BEF customers, Batdorf & Bronson Coffee Roasters and Dagoba Organic Chocolate. The participants collaborated on a multi-tiered marketing campaign to promote awareness of green power in the region and to encourage new customers to enroll in their green power programs. The heart of the program was the television and internet-based campaign which included the following elements, all specially created for the campaign: television spots which aired over 335 times between April and June 2007, advertising on KING 5's web site, e-mails to over 110,000 registered users of KING 5's web site; and development of unique web landing pages by each of the participating entities, to create a common "look and feel" that tied together the campaign. In addition, the campaign distributed over 2 million utility bill inserts and provided special training for utility customer-service representatives. Another key element of the campaign was the voluntary contribution by BEF customers Batdorf & Bronson and Dagoba Organic Chocolate of gift packs for new customers, containing a bag of Dancing Goats blend coffee, which features a Green-e logo on each package, with a 10% discount offer and a Dagoba Organic Chocolate bar. To date, the partner utilities have reported great success, with increases of 12% - 29% in the number of enrollments, and the Western Washington Green Power campaign continues to generate new customers.
Green Power Pilot Award
Clif Bar
Clif Bar has fostered a unique national partnership program through its sponsorship of the Bonneville Environmental Foundation's SkiGreen™ program. SkiGreen, the first point-of-purchase Green Tag, contributes to the viability of the green power market by making it simple to offset carbon emissions. While purchasing their lift tickets, ski resort guests can also purchase SkiGreen tags to offset their travel to and from the ski hill. Each tag represents 100 kWh of Green-e certified wind energy and offsets about 150 miles of driving. SkiGreen tags, represented as a sticker, are an easy way for skiers to display their commitment to the future of not only the sport, but also the Earth.
Clif Bar's corporate values shine through in their partnerships with ski resorts. The company underwrites to green lifts at many of its partner ski resorts such as Alta Ski Area in Utah, Telluride Resort in Colorado, and Stevens Pass in Washington. Clif Bar's field representatives perform outreach to their ski resort partners and the snow-sports public, matching promotion of their food products with renewable energy and other efforts toward environmental stewardship.
Additional SkiGreen outreach efforts have included educational presentations for National Ski Area Association (NSAA) members, public relations to outdoor sports media, and an event held in conjunction with the 2007 Sundance Film Festival promoted the SkiGreen program to the public and the entertainment industry.
The SkiGreen program launched during the 2003/2004 winter season with only one participating ski resort. Currently, the program has grown to include over 21 ski resorts nationally.
With Clif Bar's support, SkiGreen has shown that even small incremental contributions, like purchasing a SkiGreen tag, can ultimately make a great difference.
Clif Bar & Co. is a leading maker of all-natural and organic energy and nutrition foods and drinks, including the CLIF® BAR energy bar and LUNA®, The Whole Nutrition Bar for Women. Focused on great food and sustainability, Clif Bar & Co. works diligently to reduce its footprint on the planet from the field to the final product.
Green Power Pioneer Award
John Schaeffer
For the past thirty years, John Schaeffer has helped to bring renewable energy products to a much wider mainstream market. He sold the very first PV solar panel in the world at retail in 1978 from the first Real Goods store in Willits, California and continued to sell solar and renewable energy supplies for the next 30 years. Throughout this time, his company has solarized over 60,000 homes. Gaiam Real Goods has grown into one of the foremost global sources for tools and information on renewable energy and sustainable living. John is also the editor of the Real Goods Solar Living Source Book, now in its thirteenth edition.
The Source Book offers information on everything from passive solar design, to photovoltaics, solar thermal, wind power, hydro, green building, permaculture, relocalization and even green burial. It features maps, wiring diagrams, formulae, charts, and solar sizing worksheets to bring consumers a greater understanding of renewable energy. In 1995, John created the Solar Living Center in Hopland, California, a 12-acre educational demonstration site powered by solar and wind which hosts nearly 250,000 visitors annually.
The Center is also home of the Solar Living Institute and the annual energy festival, SolFest, now in its 13th year. He founded and remains Board Chair of the educational non-profit Solar Living Institute, dedicated to promoting renewable energy through inspirational environmental education with workshops such as "Planning and Building Your Solar Electric System" and Solar Boot Camps for beginners and professionals alike. John has been instrumental in helping people bring renewable energy into their homes and everyday lives.
Green Power Pioneer Award
Bill Spratley
For the past three decades, Bill Spratley has shown tremendous commitment in encouraging the growth of the renewable energy market while ensuring consumer protection. Since 2001, Bill has served as Executive Director of Green Energy Ohio (GEO), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting environmentally sustainable energy policies and practices in Ohio. Under his leadership, GEO developed and distributed "Ohio Renewable Energy Magazine," (2007) a statewide, full-color renewable energy resource featuring installation case studies, showcasing by region the state-of-the-art solar, wind and biomass technologies. Other educational programs have included regional community energy workshops and GEO's RenewOhio campaign, which provided outreach to eighty-eight counties through presentations and projects. With Bill as the conference chair, GEO was the host planner, organizer and developer of the American Solar Energy Society SOLAR 2007 National Conference in Cleveland. The conference theme, "Sustainable Energy Puts America To Work" explored the state's enormous potential for job creation in manufacturing, distributing and installing clean energy; the conference had the largest attendance to date in the 36-year history of the event.
Bill's consumer protection efforts in renewable energy policy have shown great vision in public service. As the State of Ohio's first Consumers' Counsel, 1977-1993, Bill was founding President of the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA). He headed the PhotoVoltaics4You National Consumer Project to assist state utility consumer advocates in understanding solar electric issues. Bill served on U.S. Department of Energy advisory boards under Presidents Carter, Bush and Clinton. He also served on the Green Power Board of the Green-e Renewable Energy Certification Program for 6 years. Bill's continuous contributions have been outstanding in instilling consumer confidence in the green power market that he has worked tirelessly to promote.
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