Press

National awards honor leading green power purchasers

MADISON, WI (September 23, 2013) — UW Credit Union announced today that they have received a 2013 Green Power Leadership Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for Green Power Purchasing, making them one of only eight organizations nationwide to receive the honor. The annual awards recognize the country’s leading green power purchasers for their commitment and contribution to helping advance the development of the nation’s voluntary green power market.

“We are proud to receive this prestigious award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,” said Brad McClain, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer. “Purchasing green power helps our organization become more sustainable, while also sending a message to others across the U.S. that supporting clean sources of electricity is a sound business decision and an important choice in addressing climate change.”

EPA presented UW Credit Union with the award at an event held in conjunction with the 2013 Renewable Energy Markets Conference in Austin, Texas, on September 23, 2013. The award recognizes EPA Green Power Partners who distinguish themselves through purchases of green power from a utility green-pricing program, a competitive green marketer, or a renewable energy certificate (REC) supplier.

“EPA is pleased to recognize UW Credit Union 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, UW Credit Union has demonstrated leadership in innovation, sustainability, and taking action on climate change.”

UW Credit Union currently purchases nearly 3 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually, which is enough green power to meet 100 percent of the organization’s purchased electricity use. According to the EPA, this is the equivalent to avoiding the carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions of more than 400 passenger vehicles per year, or is the equivalent amount of electricity needed to power nearly nearly 300 average American homes annually.

Green power is electricity that is generated from environmentally preferable renewable resources, such as wind, solar, geothermal, biogas, eligible biomass, and low-impact hydro. Using green power accelerates the development of new renewable energy capacity nationwide and helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector.

The credit union purchases their renewable energy certificates (RECs) from Renewable Choice Energy.

UW Credit Union has been an EPA Green Power Partner since 2011. Earlier this year, they received the EPA’s Green Power Leadership Club designation for their dedication to purchasing green power, making them the first credit union in the nation to earn the distinction. In addition to this commitment, UW Credit Union has taken additional steps to positively impact the environment. All new branch buildings follow LEED guidelines. Since 2008, UW Credit Union has reduced its carbon dioxide emissions by 78 percent and water usage by 18 percent since 2007.

About UW Credit Union
UW Credit Union is a growing, federally insured financial institution and a leading provider of a full range of financial services to University of Wisconsin communities. UW Credit Union’s 426 employees serve the financial needs of more than 185,000 members through world-class technology systems, and through a convenient network of 22 branch locations and over 100 ATMs. With assets totaling more than $1.6 billion, UW Credit Union is ranked nationally among the leading credit unions. Founded 80 years ago by members of the University of Wisconsin community, UW Credit

Union continues to operate as a not-for-profit, member-owned financial cooperative with locations in the Madison, Milwaukee, Stevens Point, Green Bay, Oshkosh and Whitewater areas. Visit UW Credit Union at uwcu.org to learn more.

About EPA’s Green Power Partnership
The Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program that encourages organizations to buy green power as a way to reduce the environmental impacts associated with purchased electricity use. The Partnership currently has more than

1,500 Partner organizations collectively purchasing billions of kilowatt-hours of green power annually. Partners include a wide variety of leading organizations such as Fortune 500® companies, small and medium sized businesses, local, state, and federal governments, and colleges and universities. For additional information, please visit http://www.epa.gov/greenpower.