HOUSTON - The City of Houston announced Wednesday that it continues to rank as No. 1 on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) National Top 30 Local Government List of the largest municipal green power users from the Green Power Partnership (GPP). Houston has maintained its leadership role in renewables for many years, first receiving this recognition in 2014.
Since July 1, 2020, all City of Houston municipal facilities use are powered by 100% renewable energy. Houston's annual green-power usage tops 1 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh), more than any other local government in the United States. This was accomplished in partnership with NRG, the City's retail electric provider. The City could realize $65 million in savings over the seven year contract. Altogether, the City has reduced its effective direct carbon emissions by 85% since 2005.
Houston is also No. 19 on EPA’s Top 100 List of the largest green power users. Houston’s choice to use green power helps advance the voluntary market for green power, as well as the development of those sources.
"This is a great news for the city of Houston and, by extension, for the rest of the world," said Mayor Sylvester Turner, who also serves as chair of U.S. Climate Mayors. "We are going big to set the example for cities around the world. If 100% renewable energy can happen in Houston, it can happen in any other city."
By moving the needle in the voluntary green power market, Houston and other Green Power Partners are helping to reduce the negative health impacts of air emissions including those related to ozone, fine particles, acid rain, and regional haze.
"This list of the largest users of green power across the nation is proof that good business practices can also benefit the environment,” said James Critchfield, Program Manager of EPA's Green Power Partnership. “EPA applauds the leading organizations in the Green Power Partnership’s Top Partner Rankings for their notable commitment to expanding their use of green power and protecting the environment.”
According to the U.S. EPA, Houston’s green power use of more than 1 billion kWh is equivalent to the annual electricity use of more than 94,000 average American homes.
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