Translate[Archived] Question #80: Please provide the City's status with Green Energy.
Question:
Please provide the City's status with Green Energy.
https://www.alexandriava.gov/uploadedfiles/budget/info/budget2009/memos/memo113.pdf
Response:
The City currently offsets approximately 19% of its annual electricity use with green power through the purchase of renewable energy credits (RECs) and solar photovoltaic electricity generation at a cost of $16,000 per year. The purchase of RECs offsets annual electricity use with green power for City facilities achieving green building certification, including Charles Houston Recreation Center, DASH headquarters, Fire Station 209, and the Alexandria Police Department. Moreover, RECs also offset City Hall’s annual electricity use with green power. The City purchases RECs from Dominion Virginia Power as made available by contract through the Virginia Energy Purchasing Government Association (VEPGA). The RECs are Green-e® certified1 and reflect a national mix of approximately 66.5% wind, 28% biomass, and 5.5% solar electricity generation.
The City currently operates on-site solar photovoltaic systems at
Beatley Central Library and Witter Field. At Beatley Central Library, a 42 kW
solar photovoltaic system generates approximately 3% of electricity used by the
facility.2 At Witter Field, a 10 kW
solar photovoltaic system generates approximately 6% of electricity used by the
field’s operations.
The offset of approximately 19% of annual electricity use with green power supports the vision and guiding principles of the City’s Eco-City Charter; and supports the actions and meeting targets outlined by the City’s Environmental Action Plan 2030 and Energy and Climate Change Action Plan. Moreover, City facilities offsetting electricity use with green energy to attain green building certification accomplish the City’s Green Building Policy requirements.
The City’s green energy use results in several state and national recognition. The City’s green energy use has supported credits towards achieving its Virginia Go Green – Green Government Challenge Platinum Certification designation. Moreover, since 2010, the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Green Power Partnership program has recognized the City’s use of green energy as a Green Power Partner.3
2 http://peer1.datareadings.com/client/moduleSystem/Kiosk/site/bin/kiosk.cfm?k=9j4LjK4J
3 https://www.epa.gov/greenpower/green-power-partner-list