Round Rock Independent School District announced today that it once again appears on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) new Top 20 K-12 Schools List of the largest green power purchasers among primary and secondary schools. RRISD is purchasing nearly 17 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually, which is enough green power to meet 25 percent of the school's purchased electricity use. The school district is buying utility green power from Austin Energy.
The Top 20 K-12 Schools List is one of ten Top Partner Lists that EPA releases quarterly, highlighting some of America's largest green power purchasers. Round Rock Independent School District currently ranks No. 3 on EPA’s Top 20 K-12 Schools List. All of EPA’s Top Partner Lists are available at www.epa.gov/greenpower/toplists/top20k-12schools.htm.
“This is a huge honor and we are proud to be recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,” RRISD Superintendent Dr. Jesús H. Chávez said. “Purchasing green power helps our school become more sustainable, while also sending a message to others across the U.S. that supporting clean sources of electricity is a sound business decision and an important choice in reducing climate risk.”
Green power is generated from renewable resources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, biomass, and low-impact hydropower. Purchases of green power help accelerate the nation’s voluntary green power market and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful pollutants that threaten Americans’ health from the power sector.
“EPA’s Green Power partners are tapping into America’s growing clean energy market and powering the economy of the future,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson on Tuesday. “Investments like these are smart for business, foster growth in the green energy sector and help protect our health through cleaner air.”
According to the U.S. EPA, Round Rock ISD's green power commitment represents 27 percent of its total electricity consumption and is expected to reduce energy costs by nearly $2 million over 10 years when compared to the projected energy costs if traditional sources were maintained.
About EPA’s 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 currently has more than 1,000 Partner organizations voluntarily purchasing billions of kilowatt-hours of green power annually. Partners include a wide variety of leading organizations such as Fortune 500 companies, small and medium sized businesses, local, state, and federal governments, and colleges and universities. For additional information, please visit http://www.epa.gov/greenpower.