EPA is purchasing certificates for three years beginning Nov. 1 that are equivalent to more than 17 million kilowatt hours annually-the amount of electricity used by these facilities each year:

Lakewood, Colo.-The U. S. Environmental Protection agency announced that it has agreed to buy renewable energy certificates, or green tags, for its facilities in Kansas City, Kan., Denver and San Francisco.

EPA is purchasing certificates for three years beginning Nov. 1 that are equivalent to more than 17 million kilowatt hours annually-the amount of electricity used by these facilities each year:

Denver Regional Office-4.7 million kWh
Kansas City Regional Office-4.45 million kWh San Francisco Regional Office-2.275 million kWh Science and Technology Lab, Golden, Colo.-2.1 million kWh Science and Technology Lab, Kansas City, Kan.-3.85 million kWh

The Colorado facilities will receive the green power attributes from energy generated at the Colorado Green Wind Project in Prowers County, Colo., and provided by Aquila, Inc. Aquila will also supply certificates for EPA's Kansas City facilities from the Gray County Wind Project near Montezuma, Kan. EPA's San Francisco Regional Office will receive green tags from geothermal energy provided by 3 Phases Energy Services and generated at The Geysers No. 11 in Middletown, Calif.

These renewable power purchases encourage the growth of local renewable energy, support the development of green power markets and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, noted Justin Spenillo, of EPA's Sustainable Facilities Practices Branch. The certificates represent the environmental attributes of power generated from renewable electric plants. They don't require the energy to be physically delivered to the buyer, but instead offset the difference between cost of the renewable power and other electricity sources.

Western Area Power Administration managed the solicitation and provided contracting services for this procurement, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory provided technical support.

Each year, EPA purchases more than 229 million kWh of green power for 23 laboratories and offices across the nation. This energy provides about 79 percent of the agency's annual electrical needs.

For more information on green tags and renewable energy, visit 'EPAs Green Power Web site .

For more about Western's renewable resources program, log on to Western's Green Tags Web site .