Following release of the 2017 Green Power Leadership Awards, EPA released its 2018 Green Power Partner rankings.

April 2018

ICT companies improved their representation in the EPA Green Power Partnership, now occupying six of the ten top spots. They are Microsoft (#1), Intel (#2), Google (#3), Apple (#4), Equinox (5) and Cisco (#7). Apple (#1) and Intel (#17) were in the EPA Top 30 On-site Generation rankings.

The number of CT companies recognized as 100% Green Power Users - "using green power to meet 100 percent of their U.S. organization-wide electricity use" - are now to many to list. Microsoft, Intel, Apple, Cisco now each generate over 1 billion kWh annually, but there are many much smaller ICT companies that have acheived 100% commitment.

Some companies exceed 100%. For example, Netflix is listed as meeting 336% of its organizational needs. " Our renewable energy purchase is in excess of our direct energy use...because we make additional renewable purchases to match the estimated energy used for our cloud services and our servers that are embedded within partner networks."

January 2018

ICT companies continue to be well-represented in the EPA Green Power Partnership, occupying five of the ten top spots. They are Microsoft (#1), Intel (#2), Google (#3), Apple (#6) and Cisco (#7). Apple (#1) and Intel (#18) were in the Top 30 On-site Generation rankings.

These are the same ICT companies we have seen in past ratings. There is little sign of other ICT companies seeking top recognition - no Amazon or Facebook, no Verizon or AT&T, no Hewlett Packard.

Looking farther down the list finds two data center operators - Digital Realty (#15) and Equinix (#18). One has to go way down the list to find another ICT company - Dell (#42).

More gratifying was to see the number of ICT companies recognized as 100% Green Power Users - "using green power to meet 100 percent of their U.S. organization-wide electricity use." Intel, Microsoft, Apple, Cisco, Netflix, IBM Bluemix, SAP America, Workday, 1&1 Internet, Greenhouse Data, Autodesk, Acer America, and Advantest America all earned that distinction.

October 2017

Google and Microsoft were among the eight organizations awarded Excellence in Green Power Use.

"Google procures more than 1.7 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power for its operations, the majority of which is sourced through long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with wind projects. In 2016, the company signed five additional long-term PPAs, bringing its total to 20 long-term PPAs amounting to 2.6 gigawatts (GW) of wind and solar energy around the world. The company is on track to achieve its commitment to power all of its operations with green power in 2017. "

"Microsoft procured more than 3.3 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power last year for its domestic operations, including the output from a 20 megawatt (MW) solar project in Virginia and wind projects across the United States. In 2016, Microsoft announced its largest wind energy purchase to date with the signing of power purchase agreements representing 237 MW to power a datacenter in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Those agreements brought Microsoft's total direct purchase of wind energy in the U.S. to more than 500 MW."

(The company also announced that "Microsoft and Black Hills Energy established a new tariff, available to all eligible customers, that lets the utility use our datacenter’s backup generators as a secondary resource for the entire grid. Unlike traditional backup generators that run on diesel fuel, these natural gas turbines offer a more efficient solution and, more importantly, ensure the utility avoids building a new power plant." This first data center, of which we are aware, using its generation capacity to service the local grid. )

Apple and Intel were among the eight organizations recognized for Direct Project Engagement.

"Apple first achieved 100 percent green power use for its entire U.S. operations in 2014 and has maintained that goal since. Apple uses nearly 1.2 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power for its domestic operations, which includes five operational data centers, 269 retail stores, and more than 140 corporate offices. The company is the largest user of on-site renewables in the Green Power Partnership generating more than 228 million kWh at its facilities..."

"Since 2008, [Intel] has been the largest purchaser of green power within the Green Power Partnership, and since 2013, has purchased 100 percent green power for its U.S. operations. In total, Intel has purchased more than 18 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power since 2008. Intel uses more than 3.8 billion kWh of green power annually in the U.S. supplied by a portfolio of sources including on-site projects, utility programs, and Green-e® certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) sourced from a spectrum of technologies..."

July 2017

ICT companies continue to be well-represented in the EPA Green Power Partnership, occupying five of the ten top spots as of July 2017. They are Intel (#1), Microsoft (#2), Google (#3), Apple (#6) and Cisco (#7). Google and Apple both improved their rankings. Apple was in the top ten for On-site Generation. Intel, Microsoft, Apple and Cisco were also tops for 100% Green Power Users - "using green power to meet 100 percent of their U.S. organization-wide electricity use."

Again, these are the same ICT companies we have seen in past ratings. Still no sign of the others!

July 2014

ICT company sites continue to be well-represented among the Fortune 500 locations participating in the EPA Green Power Partnership as of July 2014. They are Intel (#1), Microsoft (#3), Google (#5), Apple (#8), Cisco (#11), EMC (#18), Applied Materials (#26), AMD (#28), Motorola Solutions (#29), Xerox (#33), Oracle (#50), IBM (#52, #70, #77), Time Warner Cable (#57), AT&T (#60), Agilent (#66), and Verizon (#67). Intel is #1 among all organizations, public and private. Verizon is the latest to join the partnership. Dell appears to be no longer participating.

Sites of Intel, SAP America, DataPipe, Motorola Mobility, Nokia USA, I & I Internet, CA Technologies, Workday, Advantest America, CA Technologies, Endurance International are the largest 100% Green Power ICT company locations. Apple and Adobe are at 90%+.

The EPA defines the Green Power Partnership: "Organizations can meet EPA purchase requirements using any combination of three different product options (1) Renewable Energy Certificates, (2) On-site generation, and (3) Utility green power products." The rankings are based on gross, not relative, green power purchasing, so larger companies are at an advantage. We largely drew from companies classified as "Technology & Telecom".

April 2014

ICT companies continue to be well represented among the Fortune 500 locations participating in the EPA Green Power Partnership as of April 2014. They are Intel (#1), Microsoft (#3), Google (#5), Apple (#8), Cisco (#11), Dell (#15), Sprint (#18), EMC (#19), Motorola Mobility (#26), AMD (#30), Motorola Solutions (#35), Applied Materials (#37), Xerox (#38), Pitney Bowes (#44), AT&T (#53), CA Technologies (#54), Oracle (#57), IBM (#59, #74, #81), Time Warner Cable (#62), and Agilent (#70). Intel is #1 among all organizations, public and private. EMC and CA are the latest to join the partnership. Ingram Micro and Yahoo appear to be no longer participating.

Twenty-seven ICT company sites are listed as 100% Green Power. Intel and Datapipe were among the 25 largest users.

Compare to January 2013

ICT companies are again well represented among the Fortune 500 locations participating in the EPA Green Power Partnership. They are Intel (#1), Microsoft (#3), Cisco (#8), Sprint (#13), Dell (#17), Motorola Mobility (#20), AMD (#25), Motorola Solutions (#29), Xerox (#30), Applied Material (#31), Pitney Bowes (#40), Apple (#36), IBM (#53,#71,#76), AT&T (#49), Oracle (#51), Time Warner Cable (#56), Ingram Micro (#57), Yahoo (#65,#70), and Agilent (#66). Intel is #1 among all organizations, public and private.

There are many more ICT companies that now have locations classified as 100% Green Power users. Intel, Adobe, Datapipe, Nokia USA, SAP America, Ricoh Production Print Solutions (previously InfoPrint), Advantest, XMission Internet, Green House Data, EasyStreet, Workday, Green House Data, Dotster, Other World Computing, VerticalResponse, Avectra, Canvas Dreams, Green Geeks, GrayHair Software, VoteNet Solutions, Altova, Madison Computer Works, and many other small users.

Compare to July 2012

ICT companies have 22 of the 79 Fortune 500 locations participating in the EPA Green Power Partnership. They are Intel (#1), Microsoft (#3), Cisco (#11), Sprint (#13), Dell (#17), Google (#19), Motorola Mobility (#21), AMD (#24), Motorola Solutions (#30), Xerox (#32), Applied Material (#35), Pitney Bowes (#41), Apple (#43), IBM (#46,#73,#78), AT&T (#52), Oracle (#55), Ingram Micro (#60), Yahoo (#66,#72), and Agilent (#67). Intel is #1 among all organizations, public and private.

There are many more ICT companies that are now 100% Green Power users: Adobe, Datapipe, Nokia USA, Ricoh Production Print Solutions (previously InfoPrint), Codero, DreamHost, EasyStreet, Workday, XMission, Green House Data, Dotster, Other World Computing, VerticalResponse, ReCellular, Avectra, Decisive Analytics, Canvas Dreams, iCIMS, Green Geeks, GrayHair Software, VoteNet Solutions, 3 Tier, Altova, Community IT Innovators, Madison Computer Works, and dozens of smaller users.

March 2012

Nineteen ICT companies have 23 of the 78 positions in the Fortune 500 participating in the EPA Green Power Partnership. They are Intel (#1), Cisco (#9), Sprint (#13), Dell (#20), Google (#21), Motorola Mobility (#24), AMD (#25), Applied Material (#35), Pitney Bowes (#41), Apple (#43), IBM (#47,#70,#71), AT&T (#53), Oracle (#55),Ingram Micro (#61), Yahoo (#63, #70), and Agilent (#64). Intel is #1 among all organizations, public and private.

ICT companies in the top 100 of 100% Green Power Purchasers are Datapipe, Nokia USA, InfoPrint, Codero, DreamHost, EasyStreet, Workday and XMission.

2009-10

Intel, Dell*, and Cisco were the only ICT companies among the top 20 Fortune 500 companies participating in the 2009 EPA Green Power Partnership program. (Compare this with Newsweek's Green Rankings 2009, in which tech dominated all of the Fortune 500 by capturing 11 of the top 20 positions.) In the 2010 Green Power Partnership, these three are still tops but are joined by by Motorola, Sprint, and AMD. Fortune 500 participation in the program was 64, up from 60 last year.

When all entities, including education and government ones, were ranked to created the EPA's National Top 50 list, these six ICT companies made the cut along with media services operation Sony DADC. Bloomberg was the only media content company to make the Top 50. A smaller media entity of note in the Partnership is NBC Universal's KNTV.

Once again, we learn there are many ways to measure green. No external ranking is perfect, but organizations do have to commit to some external benchmarks for credible evidence-based greening.

* Dell is the only ICT company in the top 10 of the program's ~130 100% Green Power Purchasers.

Image courtesy US EPA