Portland pays more than lip service to green goals

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

The port’s green power purchase of more than 75 million kWh is equivalent to avoiding the carbon dioxide emissions of more than 10,000 passenger vehicles per year, or the emissions from the electricity use of more than 6,000 average American homes annually.

Portland is also generating green power from an on site renewable energy system.

Bill Wyatt, Portland’s executive director, said to Port Strategy that purchasing green power helps the port become more sustainable, while also sending a message to others across the US that supporting clean sources of electricity is a sound business decision and an important choice in reducing climate risk.

Portland is a founding member of the Climate Registry and its new corporate headquarters building was ranked one of the world’s top ten green technology buildings by Forbes magazine.

The building showcases both tried-and-true and state-of-the-art green building techniques designed to reduce water and energy use, improve indoor air quality, and minimise waste.