January 3, 2008 - New York - The American Jewish Committee has been named to the elite Energy Leadership Club by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership. This honor recognizes AJC’s purchase of Green Power to meet 100 percent of its US-based electricity usage.
"This distinguished EPA recognition underscores AJC's long-term commitment to sustainability and energy security," said Benjamin Tressler, director of AJC's Green Project.
AJC is the third largest nonprofit green power purchaser nationally among Green Power Partners, just behind the Inter-American Development Bank and The World Bank Group. Based on a national average emissions rate, AJC’s green power purchase is equivalent to avoiding the carbon dioxide emissions of more than 200 passenger cars each year.
AJC purchased 2 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of green power by obtaining wind and biogas Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) from 3 Phases Energy and Minnesota Methane LLC. RECs are derived from electricity generated from renewable resources, such as solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, biomass and low-impact hydro sources.
AJC has been a leading advocate for the development of energy policy that will reduce America's dependence on foreign energy sources and protect the environment. AJC was the first nonprofit agency to offer its staff cash incentives to buy fuel-efficient vehicles. AJC is working to green its national headquarters in New York by operating its facility in compliance with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System.
The EPA’s Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program that encourages organizations to purchase green power to reduce the environmental impact associated with conventional electricity use. Partners include Fortune 500 companies, small and medium sized businesses, local, state and federal governments, trade associations, and colleges and universities.
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