EPA recognizes the U.S. Air Force among nation’s leading green power purchasers

  • Published
  • By Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs Office
  • AIR FORCE Pentagon, Washington D.C.
PENTAGON, WASHINGTON D.C. --  Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. -The U.S. Air Force has increased its ranking to No. 3 on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Top 25 List of green power purchasers. This increased purchase further demonstrates the Air Force's commitment to protecting the environment and builds upon its existing partnership with EPA's Green Power Partnership. The Air Force purchases more than 899 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually, which is enough green power to meet approximately nine percent of the organization's purchased electricity use.

The EPA updated each of its National Top Partner lists, highlighting some of America's largest green power purchasers. The Air Force also ranks No. 1 on EPA's Top 10 Federal Government List. Each list highlights EPA Green Power Partners that have completed the largest annual voluntary purchases through January 8, 2008. EPA's updates its Top Partner Lists quarterly at http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/toplists/.

"This is a huge honor and we are proud to be recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency," said Lt. Col. Navnit Singh, director, Air Force Facility Energy Center, Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency, Tyndall AFB, Florida. "Purchasing green power helps our organization become more sustainable, while also sending a message to others across the U.S. that supporting clean sources of electricity is a sound business decision and an important choice in reducing climate risk. The Air Force's commitment to green power helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions while also supporting the development of new renewable generation capacity nationwide."

Fifty-four Air Force bases as well as numerous Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard bases participated in the renewable power purchase program in fiscal year 2007, including two, Minot AFB, N.D. and Dyess AFB, Tex., that purchased 100 percent of their electricity from renewable sources.

These initiatives are complemented by on-base wind farm and photovoltaic system at Ascension Island, landfill gas power generation at Hill AFB in Utah, wind generation at F.E. Warren in Wyoming and photovoltaic system at March AFRB in California, as well as installation of smaller renewable projects at other bases.

Green power is electricity that is generated from environmentally preferable renewable resources, such as wind, solar, geothermal, landfill gas, biomass and low-impact hydro. These resources generate electricity with a net zero increase in carbon dioxide emissions, while offering a superior environmental profile compared to traditional power generation sources. Green power purchases also support the development of new renewable energy generation sources nationwide.

According to the EPA, the Air Force's green power purchase of more than 899 million (kWh) is equivalent to avoiding the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of more than 128,000 passenger vehicles per year, or is the equivalent amount of electricity needed to power nearly 90,000 average American homes annually.

The Air Force Facility Energy Center provides engineering, management, and legal expert services to support facility energy reduction and water conservation initiatives, and renewable energy development to Air Force bases to meet Air Force and federal policies and directives.

The Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency (AFCESA), headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. is the field operating agency of the Air Force Civil Engineer. The agency and its staff provide the best tools, practices and professional Air Force civil engineer worldwide. The Agency supports 82 major and 10 minor active -duty installations, plus the 83 Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard installations. For more information on AFCESA visit our website at www.afcesa.af.mil.