TVA names Oak Ridge a Green Power Switch leader of the year

TVA honors Green Power Switch leaders for renewable energy commitments

The Tennessee Valley Authority is recognizing local power companies and regional businesses that are driving the success of TVA’s Green Power Switch renewable energy program, a press release said. Oak Ridge is among the cities that have been honored.

TVA presented its annual Green Power Switch Leadership Awards to leading power companies in 14 categories at an event in Oak Ridge on Tuesday, May 6.

“Green Power Switch is about consumers stepping forward to support the generation of cleaner energy in the Tennessee Valley,” said Patty West, TVA director of Renewable Energy Solutions. “This program is successful because of the efforts of TVA’s local power company partners, and people and businesses who commit to supporting renewable energy generated in the valley. We are proud to honor those who continue to make our Green Power Switch program a success.”

Here are the winners of this year’s Green Power Switch Leadership Awards to local power companies:

• Leader of the Year—Awarded for highest total volume of Green Power Switch megawatt-hours sold in 2013: City of Oak Ridge Electric Department.
• Leader of the Year—Awarded for highest percentage of Green Power Switch megawatt-hours, based on total energy sales in 2013: Knoxville Utilities Board.
• Top Recruiter of the Year—Awarded for most new Green Power Switch enrollments in 2013: Memphis Light, Gas and Water.
• Top Recruiter of the Year—Awarded for highest percentage increase in GPS customers and most increase in participation rate for 2013: Warren RECC.
• Catalyst Award—Awarded for the largest single new block purchase: CDE Lightband.
• Catalyst Award—Awarded for the largest single new purchase through a GPS pilot: Lenoir City Utilities Board.
• Local Power Company Innovator of the Year—Awarded for the most innovative and holistic approach to increasing local participation: Sevier County Electric System.

Here are the winners of this year’s Green Power Switch Leadership Awards to recognize customers nominated by local power companies:

• Commitment of the Year—Awarded to the customer with the highest percentage of their electricity usage matched with Green Power Switch: Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church.
• Business of the Year—Awarded for small business sustainability efforts, including Green Power Switch purchases: Kele Inc.
• Community of the Year—Awarded for demonstrating community leadership in sustainability: Town of Jonesborough.
• Innovator of the Year—Awarded to a customer who combines their GPS purchase with energy efficiency investments: University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
• Innovator of the Year—Awarded to a customer who combines their GPS purchase with on-site generation: Tennsco Corp.
• Workplace Champion of the Year—Awarded to a GPS business customer that demonstrates their commitment to the environment by encouraging employee engagement: Pellissippi State Technical Community College.
• Sustainable Pioneer—Awarded to the customer that made the largest megawatt hour GPS product purchase: University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

TVA, local power companies, and members of the environmental community launched Green Power Switch in 2000 as the first program of its kind in the Southeast, the press release said. It allows consumers to help ensure that renewable energy from wind, solar and landfill gas is added to TVA’s power supply.

Consumers and businesses can buy Green Power Switch blocks of 150 kilowatt-hours (about 12 percent of a typical Tennessee Valley home’s monthly consumption) from their local power distributor. Each block costs an additional $4 on the consumer’s monthly power bill, and consumers can buy as many blocks as they like. Additional information on TVA’s Green Power Switch program is available at www.greenpowerswitch.com.