Intel gets EPA nod for green power

Intel Corporation took the top spot on the Environmental Protection Agency's national list of the top 50 green power purchasers.

Intel, which employs 15,000 people at facilities in Oregon, works with Portland General Electric to purchase green energy from sources including wind, solar, biomass and geothermal energy to power its operations across Washington County. Intel is based in Santa Clara, Calif.

Intel is purchasing more than 1.4 billion kilowatt-hours of green power annually, which is enough green power to meet 51 percent of the organization's purchased electricity use. Earlier this week, Intel took the wraps off plans for a massive solar installation at its facilities.

Intel’s green power purchase is equivalent to avoiding the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of nearly 197,000 passenger vehicles per year, or is the equivalent amount of electricity needed to power nearly 134,000 average American homes annually.