Ahold USA earns 2015 Green Power Leadership Award
CARLISLE, Pa. – Ahold USA announced Monday that it has received a 2015 Green Power Leadership Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which recognizes the country’s leading green power users for their commitment and contribution to helping advance the development of the nation’s voluntary green power market.
“Ahold USA and our retail divisions are committed to energy efficiency and environmental stewardship, with the goals to reduce our carbon footprint 20% by the end of this year and to achieve zero waste companywide by 2020,” stated Marissa Nelson, SVP responsible retailing, Ahold USA. “Thank you to the EPA for recognizing our efforts to build more efficient stores and implement resources that enable us to generate renewable energy. This is an important component of our commitment to being a better and greener neighbor to the communities where we operate.”
EPA presented Ahold USA with a Green Power Purchasing Award at the 2015 Renewable Energy Markets Conference in Arlington, Va. Combined, Ahold USA and its four regional Divisions – Stop & Shop New England, Stop & Shop New York Metro, Giant Landover and Giant Carlisle – are using enough green power to meet 8% of its electricity use.
Ahold USA was one of only 11 organizations nationwide to receive a Leadership Award for its green power purchase. The award recognizes EPA Green Power Partners who distinguish themselves through purchases of green power from a utility green power product, a power purchase agreement, or a renewable energy certificate product. Ahold USA businesses are currently purchasing nearly 149 million kilowatt-hours of green power annually, and is buying renewable energy certificates from 3Degrees. In addition, Ahold USA is generating nearly nine million kWh annually from an on-site solar energy system.
“EPA is pleased to recognize Ahold USA with a Green Power Purchasing Award for its exceptional commitment to buying green power and reducing carbon pollution associated with its electricity use,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. "In doing so, Ahold USA is taking action to address climate change, and we encourage other organizations to do the same.”
According to the EPA, Ahold USA’s current green power use of nearly 158 million kWh is equivalent to the electricity use of nearly 15,000 average American homes annually.