Greenest Cities

Take a look at some of the nation’s greenest communities!

Greenest Cities - Last September, the Environmental Protection Agency kicked off its national year-long Green Power Community Challenge in an effort to urge communities across the country to use renewable energy. To be eligible, the community must use green power in amounts that meet the program’s purchase requirements and the local government must also encourage citizens and local businesses to buy or produce green power. In this challenge, Green Power Communities across the nation are going head-to-head to see who can be the greenest of them all. This is measured two ways: one list ranks the communities that use the most kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power and the other ranks the communities that have the highest green power percentage. The winners, who will be announced in September 2011, will receive special recognition from the EPA. Here’s a list of who’s ahead based on amou...

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Greenest Cities - Last September, the Environmental Protection Agency kicked off its national year-long Green Power Community Challenge in an effort to urge communities across the country to use renewable energy. To be eligible, the community must use green power in amounts that meet the program’s purchase requirements and the local government must also encourage citizens and local businesses to buy or produce green power. In this challenge, Green Power Communities across the nation are going head-to-head to see who can be the greenest of them all. This is measured two ways: one list ranks the communities that use the most kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power and the other ranks the communities that have the highest green power percentage. The winners, who will be announced in September 2011, will receive special recognition from the EPA. Here’s a list of who’s ahead based on amou...

Washington, D.C. - The nation’s capital came out on top in last month’s ranking using a 745,598,550 kWh of green energy annually. They get their green energy from various sources including, Washington Gas Energy Services, Constellation New Energy (a holding company for energy businesses) and Clean Currents (an independent green energy company). The city just became a Green Power Community in March 2011. (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

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Washington, D.C. - The nation’s capital came out on top in last month’s ranking using a 745,598,550 kWh of green energy annually. They get their green energy from various sources including, Washington Gas Energy Services, Constellation New Energy (a holding company for energy businesses) and Clean Currents (an independent green energy company). The city just became a Green Power Community in March 2011. (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Portland, Oregon - This western city was ranked No. 2 on the list with 675,638,189 kWh of annual green energy. Their providers include Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, Next Era Energy Resources, On-site Generation, Bonneville Environmental Foundation, 3Degrees, Renewable Choice Energy and One Energy Renewables. Portland has been a Green Power Community since October of last year. (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

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Portland, Oregon - This western city was ranked No. 2 on the list with 675,638,189 kWh of annual green energy. Their providers include Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, Next Era Energy Resources, On-site Generation, Bonneville Environmental Foundation, 3Degrees, Renewable Choice Energy and One Energy Renewables. Portland has been a Green Power Community since October of last year. (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

State With Most Representation - Athletes from 45 U.S. states make up the 2012 U.S. Olympic team, with the state of California leading the way in representation (128 athletes). States not represented are New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Carolina and West Virginia. (Photo: Wikicommons)

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Santa Clara, Calif. - This California city located in the center of Silicon Valley came in at No. 3 in last month’s rankings using 225,613,900 kWh annually. Green energy providers included Sterling Planet, Silicon Valley Power/3Degrees. They’ve been a Green Power Community since March 2008. (Photo: www.californiaflag.org)

Gresham, Oregon - Another Oregon city, Gresham, made the list – this time at No. 4 using 125,843,124 kWh of green energy annually. A Green Power Community since March of 2008, their major provider is Portland General Electric. (Photo: The Oregonian /Landov)

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Gresham, Oregon - Another Oregon city, Gresham, made the list – this time at No. 4 using 125,843,124 kWh of green energy annually. A Green Power Community since March of 2008, their major provider is Portland General Electric. (Photo: The Oregonian /Landov)

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Bellingham, Wash. - Bellingham came in at No. 5 in last month’s rankings using 113,393,764 kWh green power annually. Providers include Puget Sound Energy, Next Era Energy Resources and Carbonfund.org. Bellingham has been a Green Power Community since April 2007. (Photo: Bellingham Herald/MCT /Landov)

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Bellingham, Wash. - Bellingham came in at No. 5 in last month’s rankings using 113,393,764 kWh green power annually. Providers include Puget Sound Energy, Next Era Energy Resources and Carbonfund.org. Bellingham has been a Green Power Community since April 2007. (Photo: Bellingham Herald/MCT /Landov)

Corvallis, Oregon - An Oregon city, this one ranked No. 6, makes its third appearance on the list with 100,297,648 kWh green power annually. A Green Power Community since October 2005, the city’s major energy providers are Bonneville Environmental Foundation, Pacific Power and Consumers Power. (Photo: www.flagsbay.com)

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Corvallis, Oregon - An Oregon city, this one ranked No. 6, makes its third appearance on the list with 100,297,648 kWh green power annually. A Green Power Community since October 2005, the city’s major energy providers are Bonneville Environmental Foundation, Pacific Power and Consumers Power. (Photo: www.flagsbay.com)

Palo Alto, Calif. - This California city comes in ranked at No. 8 with 73,109,065 kWh of green power usage annually. A Green Power Community since July 2006, their energy provider is the City of Palo Alto Utilities/3Degrees. (Photo: Flicker.com)

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Palo Alto, Calif. - This California city comes in ranked at No. 8 with 73,109,065 kWh of green power usage annually. A Green Power Community since July 2006, their energy provider is the City of Palo Alto Utilities/3Degrees. (Photo: Flicker.com)

Beaverton, Oregon - This Oregon community is ranked No. 9 on the list with 71,092,950 kWh of green energy. They’ve been a Green Power Community since August 2007 and their major provider is Portland General Electric.(Photo: www.flagsbay.com)

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Beaverton, Oregon - This Oregon community is ranked No. 9 on the list with 71,092,950 kWh of green energy. They’ve been a Green Power Community since August 2007 and their major provider is Portland General Electric.(Photo: www.flagsbay.com)

Salem, Oregon - Another Oregon community rounds out the top 10 list using 63,769,464 kWh of green power annually. A Green Power Community since November of 2006, their major provider is Portland General Electric.(Photo: www.flagsbay.com)

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Salem, Oregon - Another Oregon community rounds out the top 10 list using 63,769,464 kWh of green power annually. A Green Power Community since November of 2006, their major provider is Portland General Electric.(Photo: www.flagsbay.com)