On Tuesday the MVCC decided to partner with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to become an EPA Green Power Community.
The EPA’s Green Power Communities program recognizes cities, towns and villages in which the local government, businesses, and residents collectively buy green power in amounts that meet or exceed EPA's Green Power Community purchase requirements. The EPA has invited Mar Vista to launch a pilot version of the program that will specifically address green power purchasing in urban neighborhoods.
Pending EPA acceptance of Mar Vista into the program, the neighborhood will join a short list of two other California communities, Santa Clara and Palo Alto, who have met EPA green power purchasing guidelines.
Learn more about the EPA program and how Mar Vista can switch to 100% clean electricity through energy conservation and clean, renewable power. Mark your calendar for the Wise Power Use Expo on September 28th from 6 to 9 pm. at the solar-powered Windward School in Mar Vista.
Thank you to James Brennan for researching the program and doing an incredible job of making this possible!
All green power purchasing is completely voluntary under the EPA program, and the EPA recognizes three kinds of green power purchases:
1) Onsite Generation – federal, state, and local funding is available for installing on-site solar panels, wind turbines, and fuel cells.
2) Utility-Provided Green Power – renewable electricity consisting of 25% small hydro-electric and 75% wind power may be purchased via LADWP Green Power for a premium of $0.03/kWh. Signup as residential and small non-residential or medium and large non-residential.
3) Renewable Energy Credits - can be purchased for your home or business from certified retailers at rates ranging from $0.005/kWh to $0.03/kWh or more.
Benefits of participating in the EPA program include national recognition, expert resources and media/communications support to assist us in reaching our goal of 100% clean electricity by 2018.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) and the EPA have provided assistance in determining Mar Vista’s electricity usage and current green power purchasing commitment. Based on EPA guidelines for a community the size of Mar Vista, three percent (3%) of neighborhood electricity must be purchased through clean, renewable sources within six months in order to qualify for the EPA Green Power Community program. According to data provided by LADWP and other sources, Mar Vista is already purchasing green power for 4.7% of neighborhood electricity – well above the 3% EPA qualifying requirement.
We look forward to joining the other forward thinking communities in this program!
