A List
10/6/08

St. Lawrence University Enters 'Green Power Partnership' With EPA

CANTON - St. Lawrence University has become part of the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Green Power Partnership.

The Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program that encourages organizations to buy green power as a way to reduce the environmental impacts associated with purchased electricity use. The partnership includes hundreds of organizations voluntarily purchasing billions of kilowatt-hours of green power annually. Fortune 500 companies; small- and medium-sized businesses; local, state, and federal governments; and colleges and universities are among the partners.

Upon signing the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, St. Lawrence University has agreed to operate on a minimum of 15 percent renewable electricity. The University will meet this commitment for the first time during the 2008-2009 academic year by increasing its purchase of renewable energy from last year's purchase of 10 percent.

"The purchase of 15 percent renewable electricity is simply another example of St. Lawrence strengthening its long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship," said President Daniel F. Sullivan.

Green power is electricity generated from environmentally preferable renewable resources, such as solar, wind, geothermal, low-impact biomass and low-impact hydro resources. Green power purchases help reduce the environmental impacts of electricity use and support the development of new renewable generation capacity nationwide. Purchase amounts reflect U.S. operations only and are sourced from U.S.-based green power resources. Organizations can meet EPA purchase requirements using any combination of three different product options, Renewable Energy Certificates; on-site generation; and utility green power products.

Purchase figures are based on annualized partner contract amounts (kilowatt-hours), not calendar-year totals.

-30-

More: The University's 'Green' Press Kit

SLU Green Pages