EPA Names Microsoft Leading Green Energy Purchaser

| Josh Henretig

6355.clip_image002_thumb_23B39C41For the second consecutive year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has named Microsoft to its Green Power Partnership Top 50 List—and this year our ranking increased to second on the Top 50 List.

According to the EPA, Microsoft is purchasing nearly 1.9 billion kWh of green power, which is enough energy to meet 80 percent of Microsoft’s electricity use in the U.S. That’s an increase of nearly 70 percent from last year, when Microsoft used 1.1 billion kWh of green energy. Our annual purchase of green power is equivalent to avoiding the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of nearly 285,000 passenger vehicles per year or the CO2 emissions from the electricity use of more than 204,000 average American homes annually. In addition to our spot on the National Top 50 list, we also appear as number 2 on the Top 20 Tech & Telecom list. Our green energy use also qualifies Microsoft for EPA’s Green Power Leadership Club, a distinction given to organizations that have significantly exceeded EPA’s minimum purchase requirements.

While Microsoft has been a consistent purchaser of renewable energy for years, last year’s commitment to carbon neutrality and the creation of an internal carbon fee were both key milestones toward increasing our purchase of renewable energy and carbon offsets. We’re honored to have made the EPA’s list for the second consecutive year and applaud other organizations that are making strides to invest in the nation’s green power market.

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