NYSE Euronext announced today that for the first time it appears as No. 15 on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA's) Fortune 500® list of the largest green power purchasers. NYSE Euronext is purchasing more than 127 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually in the United States alone, which is enough green power to meet 100 percent of the organization's electricity use for its U.S. operations. NYSE Euronext is buying a combination of renewable energy certificates (RECs) and carbon offsets from 3Degrees and Constellation NewEnergy. This demonstrates a proactive choice to support cleaner, renewable energy alternatives.
Yesterday, the EPA updated each of its National Top Partner lists, highlighting some of America's largest green power purchasers. In addition to its listing on the Fortune 500® list, NYSE Euronext also ranks No. 34 on the National Top 50 list. Each list highlights EPA Green Power Partners that have completed the largest annual voluntary purchases through Oct. 5, 2011. EPA updates its Top Partner Lists quarterly at http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/toplists/.
"We are honored to be recognized by the EPA for our commitment to balancing out our environmental impact,” said Chief Executive Officer Duncan L. Niederauer. “We aim to both mitigate our carbon footprint and help to advance the low-carbon, renewable-energy economy. We are proud to be taking this leadership position among global exchange groups and we will continue to seek out responsible and effective ways to contribute to a sustainable environment.”
Green power is electricity that is generated from environmentally preferable renewable resources, such as wind, solar, geothermal, biogas, biomass, and low-impact hydro. Purchases of green power help accelerate the development of new renewable energy capacity nationwide and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector. According to EPA, NYSE Euronext's green power purchase of more than 127 million kWh is equivalent to avoiding the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of more than 17,000 passenger vehicles per year, or the CO2 emissions from the electricity use of nearly 11,000 average American homes annually.
“EPA’s Green Power Partners consistently raise the bar for using clean, renewable electricity,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation, Gina McCarthy. “NYSE Euronext’s commitment to using green power serves as an example of leadership for others to follow.”
This purchase also qualifies NYSE Euronext for EPA’s Green Power Leadership Club, a distinction given to organizations that have significantly exceeded EPA’s minimum purchase requirements. Green Power Leadership Club members must purchase 10 times the partnership’s minimum requirement organization-wide.
