EPA: Intel largest purchaser of green power in US
The chip giant says its vows to drive for greater efficiency while spurring growth in the renewable energy market.
By Ann Steffora Mutschler, Senior Editor -- EDN, January 28, 2008
As part of what it said is a multi-faceted approach to reduce its impact on the environment, Santa Clara, Calif.-based microprocessor giant Intel Corp reported today it will purchase more than 1.3 billion kilowatt hours a year of renewable energy certificates making it the single-largest corporate purchaser of green power in the US, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Intel noted that it hoped the purchase would help stimulate the market for green power, which should lead to additional generating capacity and ultimately, lower costs.
The EPA said this purchase placed Intel at the top of its latest green power partners top 25 list, and also at the top spot on EPA’s Fortune 500 green power partners list; the EPA said its Green Power Partnership program encourages and recognizes voluntary green power purchases as a way to reduce the impact of conventional electricity use.
Intel president and CEO Paul Otellini, who is also a member of the Copenhagen Climate Council, a global group of leaders working to achieve an effective global climate treaty at next year’s UN Environmental Summit in Copenhagen said in a statement, “We have a long history of commitment to the environment and energy efficiency is an important consideration in everything we do, from building transistors to designing microprocessors and running our factories. Our renewable purchase is just one part of a multi-faceted approach to protect the environment, and one that we hope spurs additional development and demand for renewable energy.”
According to the EPA, renewable energy certificates (RECs) are the “currency” of the renewable energy market and are widely recognized as a having credible and tangible environmental benefits. The EPA said it estimates that Intel's REC purchase has the equivalent environmental impact of taking more than 185,000 passenger cars off the road each year, or avoiding the amount of electricity needed to power more than 130,000 average American homes annually.
Intel’s REC purchase includes wind, solar, small hydro-electric and biomass sources and will be handled by renewable energy supplier Sterling Planet and will be certified by the Center for Resource Solutions’ Green-e program which certifies and verifies green power products.
Intel said it has worked with the EPA for several years on a variety of activities from Energy Star to Climate Leader and Performance Track programs, as well as industry efforts such as the Climate Savers Computing Initiative.
Also, Intel reminded that it has specified high-energy-efficiency equipment in its manufacturing facilities for energy efficiency and environmental benefits and that over the last 7 years, the company invested more than $20 million in more than 250 energy conservation projects that saved in excess of 500 million kilowatt hours, enough energy to power about 50,000 U.S. homes.
Intel isn't the only Silicon Valley-based company committed to greening up its operations. Last March, to complement the moves it has already made to be an enabler for solar power generation, Santa Clara, Calif.-based semiconductor and thin film manufacturing equipment giant Applied Materials Inc detailed its plans to install more than 1.9 megawatts of solar power generation capability at its research campus in nearby Sunnyvale.
