America’s Top 25 Green Energy Leaders

Every quarter, the EPA publishes a list of America’s top users of green power, and some of the companies on the list may take you by surprise. These organizations generate their own renewable energy, buy it from suppliers or purchase offset credits to compensate for their traditional energy use.

While no one would bat an eye at Whole Foods clocking in at #5, many of the other high rankers are names you wouldn’t expect. In fact, two Texas cities rank at #10 and #11.

Here’s a snippet from Scientific American:

1. Intel
Santa Clara, CA | Information Technology
1,301 million green kWh, 46% of total power used
Buying the most renewable energy in the country is actually an honor Intel could do without, according to Will Swope, vice president of Intel’s corporate sustainability group. The company’s massive purchase is not just to stay ahead of the curve, he says, but “to give confidence to people who are creating sustainable energy.” Meaning that with increased green power supply, costs will go down for everyone—Intel included. The computer chipmaker buys the eco-sound electricity through offset credits, which pay for greener energy to enter the grid even though Intel can’t isolate it for use directly. The credits can be expensive, but Swope notes that shareholders have been behind the program. “Economics have shown,” he says, “that companies that maintain a more sustainable footprint have done better—even in economic meltdown—than those that don’t.”

2. PepsiCo
Purchase, NY | Food & Beverage
1,145 million green kWh, 100% of total power used
The conglomerate, which is separate from the Pepsi bottling groups, made a splash when its headquarters went all green with its power buys in early 2007. PepsiCo drinks in $39 billion in net revenues through brands from Aquafina to Quaker Oats; it has turned to renewable power brokers to purchase offset credits.

3. Kohl’s Department Stores
Menomonee Falls, WI | Retail
601 million green kWh, 50% of total power used
This chain is already the biggest solar electricity host in the U.S. To soak up rays on 60 (and counting) store and corporate rooftops, the retailer has partnered with Sun-
Edison, which owns and maintains the solar panels and sells the electricity to Kohl’s. The largest setup is the roof of a distribution center in San Bernardino, Calif., where 6,208 panels can crank out a full megawatt of power.

Check out the rest of the list at Scientific American.

Link [Scientific American]
Photo credit: aesrenew

Related Posts:

Who’s Who in Green: Quayle Hodek
High-Flying Kites Could Produce Enough Energy for a City
Money-Hungry Industries Fight to Expand Meaning of ‘Renewable Energy’
The 25 Most Promising Green Businesses
Clean Energy Economy Poised for Explosive Growth