PepsiCo announced on April 30 a landmark 3-year purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs) which is comprised of more than 1 billion kilowatt-hours annually. Based on national average emissions rates, the U.S. EPA estimates PepsiCo's purchase is the same amount of electricity needed to power nearly 90,000 average American homes annually. This is the largest REC purchase to da; the purchase matches the purchased electricity used by all PepsiCo US-based manufacturing facilities, headquarters, distribution centers and regional offices.
"Energy is a key focus for PepsiCo within its environmental sustainability agenda," said John Compton, CEO, PepsiCo North America. "The purchase of these RECs is not only in line with our progress to date, but further advances our commitment to sustainability and helps make a positive impact in the communities we serve across the country."
With this purchase PepsiCo tops EPA's list of top-25 green power purchasers, as well as becoming the top Fortune 500 purchaser. PepsiCo also becomes a member of the EPA's Green Power Partnership, which is comprised of organizations that voluntarily purchase green power as a way to reduce the environmental impacts associated with conventional electricity use.
Green power is produced from renewable resources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, biomass and low-impact hydro. These energy sources are considered cleaner and have a superior environmental profile than conventional sources of electricity. Purchasing RECs helps drive the development of additional renewable energy capacity nationwide.
PepsiCo, which formed its Environmental Task Force in 2001, and its divisions are actively involved in a variety of environmental initiatives and have been recognized for their efforts. For example, Frito-Lay and Gatorade operate two LEED GOLD certified facilities. The U.S. Green Buildings Council LEED Rating System is the nationally accepted benchmark for evaluating sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere efficiency, material and resource selection and indoor environmental quality. Tropicana's Ft. Pierce facility has partnered with St. Lucie County to burn landfill gas, a renewable energy source that displaces the use of natural gas, in its boiler.
Earlier this year PepsiCo was recognized as ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year for outstanding energy management and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. PepsiCo's Frito-Lay North America division received the award in 2006.
According to Greenbiz.com, the EPA's top 10 Green Power Partners include:
- PepsiCo
- Wells Fargo & Co.
- Whole Foods Market
- U.S. Air Force
- Johnson & Johnson
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts
- Starbucks
- DuPont Co.
- U.S. Department of Energy
For more information visit http://www.epa.gov/greenpower
