Community Pride Moment
Lacey Named a "Green Power Community" by EPA
Lacey has been designated as an official "Green Power Community" by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in recognition of local residential, business, and municipal green power use–making our city one of only twelve such communities in the entire nation. EPA awards the honor to cities that meet or exceed minumum green power purchasing benchmarks.
More than 5 percent of the collective electrical energy used in Lacey’s homes, businesses, and offices is now green power, representing more than 17 million kilowatt-hours. The resulting annual reduction of approximately 9,000 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is equivalent to the amount of carbon stored by 6,545 acres of native forest–or taking 1,700 vehicles off the road.
EPA’s official "Welcome to a Green Power Community" signage will soon be placed at major city entrances, and Lacey will be recognized in the agency’s green power education and marketing materials.
"Lacey is a green power leader and we’re proud to serve this environmentally-aware, energy-conscientious community," said Cal Shirley, vice president of Energy Efficiency Services for Puget Sound Energy.
Green power comes from renewable, non-polluting resources–including wind, solar energy, and biomass. All of the green electricity purchased in Lacey is produced in the Pacific Northwest and is Green-E certified, which ensures that the strict environmental standards are met.
According to the EPA, the burning of fossil fuels–including coal, oil, and natural gas–to generate electricity is the nation’s single-largest industrial source of air pollution. Nearly 45 percent of the electrical energy consumed in the Pacific Northwest is produced by power plants using these fuels. Choosing green, environmentally-sound energy sources reduces carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxide in the air, and reduces the production of acid rain.
The Lacey City Council has issued a "Green Power Challenge" to residents and businesses to support further development of renewable energy by using at least some green power in their homes and places of business. "All of us should consider making this relatively-painless yet astonishingly-effective choice", said Mayor Virgil Clarkson. "A sustainable energy supply and healthier environment truly benefits everyone."