We’re pleased to announce that MCE has recently received  noteworthy recognition from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Last week  MCE member communities topped the EPA’s 2016 national list of Green  Power Communities, accounting for an astounding thirteen out of the list’s  top fifteen jurisdictions, and marking the fourth year many of MCE’s member  communities have received this honor. The EPA’s 2016 list is based on usage  from 2015, which includes communities that were offered MCE service from  January 1 through December 31, 2015. Communities that started MCE service in  2015 or 2016 will be eligible for EPA recognition in subsequent years.           
             The EPA also rewarded the Golden Gate National Recreation  Area with the Federal  Green Challenge award for significantly reducing its carbon footprint, in  large part by choosing MCE’s Deep Green 100% renewable energy service. 
            Finally, MCE’s own environmental stewardship was recognized  last month with a  Green Power Leadership Award at the annual Renewable Energy Markets  conference, organized by the nonprofit Center for Resource Solutions and  co-sponsored by the EPA. 
     
            MCE TOPS EPA’S LIST OF GREEN POWER  COMMUNITIES 
               
              Bay Area Communities Represent 13 of 15  
              Leading Green Power Communities in United States 
            SAN RAFAEL, CA — In October, the  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized the County of Marin and cities  of Belvedere, Corte Madera, Fairfax, Larkspur, Mill Valley, Novato, Richmond,  Ross, San Anselmo, San Rafael, Sausalito, and Tiburon as Green Power  Communities in 2016 for choosing to use MCE’s renewable power. These MCE member communities  accounted for an astounding thirteen out of the top fifteen Green Power  Communities, as ranked by the percentage of green power in their total  electricity usage. This is the fourth year many of MCE’s member communities  have received this national honor.  
               
              “We’re proud that by  choosing 50—100% renewable energy, our member communities are leading the  nation by helping to solve a critical issue that affects us all,” said Dawn  Weisz, CEO of MCE. “By turning to renewable sources instead of fossil fuels,  our communities not only reduce energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, we  also help create a clean and secure energy future for California.” 
               
              The EPA’s Green Power  Partnership is a voluntary program that encourages communities to use green  power as a way to reduce the negative environmental impacts that are associated  with conventional electricity use. By giving customers the choice of 50% or  100% clean, renewable power, MCE makes it possible for our member communities  to receive this recognition. 
               
              The EPA also honored  another long time MCE Deep Green supporter this month, when they bestowed the  Golden Gate National Recreation Area with the Federal Green  Challenge award for significantly reducing its carbon footprint in 2015. Through a combination  of solar installations and strategic energy purchasing from MCE and  CleanPowerSF, nearly 100% of the park’s annual energy use comes from renewable sources. 
               
              MCE’s own  environmental stewardship was also recognized this month with a Green Power  Leadership Award at the annual Renewable Energy Markets conference, organized by the nonprofit  Center for Resource Solutions and co-sponsored by the EPA. MCE joins the  distinguished ranks of previous Green Power Market Development Award  recipients, recognized as accelerators in the development of green power  markets, including Apple Inc. and The White House Council on Environmental  Quality. 
               
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              About MCE: MCE is a not-for-profit, community-based  electricity provider offering 50% to 100% renewable electricity from sources  such as solar, wind, bioenergy, geothermal, and hydroelectricity at competitive  rates in Marin County, Napa County and the cities of Benicia, El Cerrito,  Lafayette, Richmond, San Pablo, and Walnut Creek. By choosing MCE, customers help support  new in‐state and local renewable energy generation. More at http://www.mceCleanEnergy.org 
            For more information: 
            Kalicia Pivirotto 
              MCE Marketing Manager 
              415.464.6036  
       
  kpivirotto@mcecleanenergy.org 
  mceCleanEnergy.org  |