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EPA Honors Volkswagen Group of America Chattanooga Operations, LLC in Chattanooga, Tenn. for Green Power Leadership in the Southeast

Release Date: 09/24/2013
Contact Information: Dawn Harris Young, (404) 562-8421 (Direct), (404) 562-8400 (Main), [email protected]

ATLANTA – Volkswagen Group of America Chattanooga Operations, LLC in Chattanooga, Tenn. is among 21 Green Power Partners awarded Green Power Leadership Awards by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for their achievements in advancing the nation’s renewable electricity market. The Volkswagen Group received the award in the On-Site Generation category.

Volkswagen Group of America Chattanooga Operations, LLC is a 1,400-acre automobile assembly plant located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. With the official opening of the 33-acre Volkswagen Chattanooga Solar Park adjacent to its automotive manufacturing plant in January 2013, Volkswagen Chattanooga began generating 13.1 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of on-site green power annually. The 9.6 megawatt photovoltaic array consists of 33,600 solar modules and is the largest system of its kind in the North American automotive industry and in the state of Tennessee. The system's generation accounts for approximately 12 percent of the plant's electricity use, which is equivalent to avoiding the CO2 emissions from the electricity use of more than 1,300 average American homes per year. Prior to opening the Solar Park, the Chattanooga plant became the first auto plant in the world to receive LEED® Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council in 2012.

The 21 award-winning partners were chosen for their exemplary use of green power from more than 1,500 partner organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, small and medium sized businesses, local, state and federal governments, and colleges and universities. Utilities, renewable energy project developers, and other green power suppliers were eligible to apply for the Supplier of the Year Award, which recognizes leadership in voluntary renewable energy offerings.

EPA defines green power as electricity that is generated from renewable resources, such as solar, wind, and low-impact hydroelectric sources and produces no fossil fuel-based carbon pollution. The award winning communities and businesses have dramatically increased their green power purchases and installed large-scale solar panel arrays, among other actions.

Close to one-third of America’s carbon pollution – a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change – comes from power plants. By using green power, communities and businesses dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support a growing renewable energy industry, and improve public health.

EPA, through the Green Power Partnership, works with partner organizations to reduce the environmental impacts of conventional electricity use. Nearly two-thirds of partners use 100 percent green power. Together, the partners are using more than 28 billion kWh of green power annually, equivalent to avoiding carbon pollution created by the electricity use of more than three million American homes each year.

More on the Green Power Leadership Awards: https://www.epa.gov/greenpower/awards/winners.htm
More on the Green Power Community Challenge: www.epa.gov/greenpower/communities/gpcchallenge.htm
More on the Green Power Partnership: www.epa.gov/greenpower

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