Bellingham celebrated again as the City’s receives a 2007 Green Power Leadership award from the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This award recognizes leading national green power purchasers for their commitment and contribution to helping advance the development of the nation’s green power market every year.
Bellingham was chosen a Green Power Partner of the Year, the most prestigious of the purchaser awards. The Mayor and other officialscelebrated this latest national green power award during a dedication ceremony held for a new solar power demonstration project recently installed at the City’s Environmental Learning Center.
Bellingham was one of only two cities to received recognition along with 15 other organizations that have demonstrated leadership by voluntarily purchasing green power.
Bellingham is also currently ranked No. 1 on EPA’s National Top 25 Green Power Communities List. “Green power” is electricity that is generated from environmentally preferable renewable resources, such as solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, biomass, and low-impact hydro. This type of power generation has zero anthropogenic (caused by humans) carbon dioxide emissions and offer a better environmental profile compares with conventional power generation,as well as helping support the development of new renewable energy capacity nationwide.
Bellingham joined the Cities for Climate Protection Campaign in 2005. In 2006, the Bellingham City Council approved the purchase of 100% of the city’s electricity from renewable sources, through Puget Sound Energy’s Green Power program. Research shows that buying 100 percent green power is the most significant step the City of Bellingham can take to protect our environment and climate by eliminating more than 65 percent of the global warming pollution caused by municipal operations.
Picture By blmurch Flickr