EPA Recognizes University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as Green Power Partner
CHAMPAIGN, IL (April 30, 2015)
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Green Power Partnership has recognized the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as a Green Power Partner for its purchase of electricity from clean, renewable sources.
To meet the university’s Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP) FY15 target of using renewable energy for five percent of campus electricity, Facilities & Services purchased 20 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of wind Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) through Prairieland Energy Inc.
In 2008, the chancellor signed the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), pledging to become carbon neutral as soon as possible and no later than 2050. The iCAP outlines several strategies and initiatives for meeting the climate commitment.
This fall, a new 5.87 megawatt Solar Farm will be the fifth completed solar energy project on campus property. The Solar Farm will produce 7.86 million kWh per year, or approximately two percent of the electrical demand for campus. Solar installations at the Business Instructional Facility, Allerton Park & Retreat Center, Activities and Recreation Center, and the Business Research Council Laboratory are already providing renewable energy for campus.
As a Green Power Partner, Illinois joined five other Big Ten universities in winning the EPA’s Collective Conference Champion Award. This award recognizes the collegiate athletic conference, and its member schools, with the highest combined green power use in the nation. The Big Ten’s collective green power use of more than 375 million kWh is equivalent to the electricity use of nearly 36,000 homes.
About EPA’s Green Power Partnership The EPA Green Power Partnership encourages organizations to purchase green power as a way to reduce environmental impacts associated with conventional electricity use. Information on the Green Power Partnership can be found at http://epa.gov/greenpower/index.htm.
About Facilities & Services Facilities & Services (F&S) provides all physical plant, operational, and essential services for sustaining an environment that fosters research, teaching, and public engagement activities. F&S supports the university’s education, research, and outreach missions by improving the physical condition of the facilities and grounds, implementing energy conservation initiatives, and increasing customer satisfaction through quality services provided in a responsive, reliable, and customer-focused manner. Follow F&S on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
Media Contact:
Steve Breitwieser
Customer Relations & Communications
sbreit@illinois.edu
217-300-2155
Department Contact:
Morgan Johnston
Sustainability
mbjohnst@illinois.edu
217-333-2668