Irving, Texas, has big plans for the future.
The city plans to transition all its owned buildings and facilities to 100% renewable energy by 2023 — double what it was one year ago. And it plans to do so through the leadership of the city council, mayor and TXU Energy.
As a result, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) raised Irving’s standing in the EPA-established Green Power Partnership to organizational level. The city announced the change in January of 2021.
The city now holds a spot on the Top 30 Local Government list. The 30 organizations on the list have a combined yearly green power use that “amounts to nearly 5 billion kilowatt-hours of green power, which is equivalent to the annual electricity use of more than 464,000 average American homes,” according to the EPA.
What Is the Green Power Partnership?
The EPA partners with a variety of organizations, from Fortune 500 companies to local, state and federal governments to colleges and universities. The EPA forms such a partnership when an organization commits to reducing or eliminating its conventional electricity sourcing through renewable energy.
The Green Power Partnership recognizes these efforts and applauds any and all reduction in harsh environmental effects. As an incentive to go green, the Green Power Partnership program provides organizations with market information, technical assistance, credible usage benchmarks and public recognition for their efforts to reduce annual electricity consumption.
Rebecca Taylor, an EPA programs manager, explained in a statement, “The City of Irving is doing amazing work and shows true leadership for green power initiatives. This progression is proof that Irving always looks forward and ahead toward innovations that protect human health and the environment.”
Irving has been part of the Green Power Partnership since 2016, when it introduced innovative technology that creates renewable energy on-site at the West Irving Library. By 2019, the city was able to replace half of its energy use with wind power.
“The City of Irving is proud to be recognized by the EPA and is committed to reducing the city’s carbon footprint in order for future generations to enjoy the beauty of our great city,” said Irving Mayor Rick Stopfer.
City of Irving Wins Awards for Renewable Energy Initiatives
Irving has already won a couple of awards for its green power efforts. The first is the national government’s Green Fleet Award, which recognizes the city’s 1,200-unit fleet of fuel-conservative vehicles.
The city’s fleet contains 451 diesel-fueled vehicles, 69 using compressed natural gas, four owned hybrids and 16 to-be-purchased hybrids. The remaining 577 units are all ultra-low or low-emission gasoline-powered vehicles.
Irving’s second award is a silver-level LEED certification. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) gave it to the Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas (ICCLC).
LEED is the nation’s premier program that certifies high-performance buildings for their sustainable achievements in construction, design and operation. The ICCLC is one of only five convention centers in the country to earn a LEED silver rating.
Irving is an outstanding example of what it means to take initiative in renewable energy alternatives. Moving fully away from traditional energy sourcing might seem daunting, but it’s possible — and becoming increasingly vital.
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Featured image via Unsplash