EPA Recognizes DFW International Airport Among Nation's Leading Green Power Purchasers
October 26 2009 - 2:27PM
PR Newswire (US)
First airport in Texas to achieve recognition; purchases support
development of new clean renewable resources DFW INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT, Texas, Oct. 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- DFW
International Airport announced today it is among the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Top 20 Local Government
List of the largest green power purchasers. DFW, the first airport
in Texas to achieve the recognition, is purchasing nearly 53
million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually -- enough
green power to meet 18 percent of the organization's purchased
electricity use. The Airport is buying renewable energy
certificates (RECs) from Reliant Energy. Earlier this week, the EPA
updated each of its National Top Partner lists, highlighting some
of America's largest green power purchasers. The Airport currently
ranks No. 11 on EPA's Top 20 Local Government List.
(http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/toplists/) "This is a huge honor and
we are proud to be recognized by the Environmental Protection
Agency," said Jim Crites, DFW's executive vice president of
operations. "Purchasing green power helps the Airport 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. DFW has
demonstrated its commitment to the highest standards of
environmental stewardship, and because of this, the Airport and the
entire North Texas region is benefiting from lower emissions."
Green power is electricity that is generated from environmentally
preferable renewable resources, such as wind, solar, and
geothermal. These resources generate electricity with little or no
increase in carbon dioxide emissions, while offering a superior
environmental profile compared to traditional power generation
sources. Green power purchases also support the development of new
renewable energy generation sources nationwide. DFW's key to
success with its green initiatives has been the implementation of
its Environmental Management System, which serves as a platform to
manage regulated aspects of the Airport's air transportation
operations and commercial enterprise. "EPA commends our leading
Partners for their continued commitment to protecting the
environment by using green power," said Ann Bailey, Acting Director
of the Climate Protection Partnerships Division at EPA. "By
supporting green power, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is
reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, supporting clean energy
technologies, and contributing to a clean energy future." According
to the EPA, DFW's green power purchase of nearly 53 million kWh is
equivalent to avoiding the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of nearly
7,000 passenger vehicles per year, or is the equivalent amount of
electricity needed to power more than 5,000 average American homes
annually. About DFW International Airport Located halfway between
the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, DFW International
Airport is the world's third busiest, offering nearly 1,750 flights
per day and serving 57 million passengers a year. DFW has been
named "Best Airport for Customer Service in North America" by an
Airports Council International survey of passengers in 2006 and
2007. DFW International Airport provides non-stop service to 134
domestic and 37 international destinations worldwide. For the
latest news, real-time flight information, parking availability or
further details regarding the many services provided at DFW
International Airport, log on to http://www.dfwairport.com/. About
Reliant Energy Reliant Energy provides electricity and energy
services to more than 1.6 million retail customers -- including
homes, small and large businesses, manufacturing facilities,
government entities and institutions across Texas. As part of NRG
Energy (NYSE:NRG), Reliant Energy is backed by one of the nation's
largest power producers. NRG owns and operates more than 24,000
megawatts of generation capacity, including more than 11,000
megawatts of capacity in Texas. For more information about Reliant
Energy products and services, visit http://www.reliant.com/. 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
1,100 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.
DATASOURCE: DFW International Airport CONTACT: DFW International
Airport Public Affairs, +1-972-973-5555 Web Site:
http://www.epa.gov/greenpower http://www.dfwairport.com/
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