EPA recognizes Johns Hopkins University as a leader in green power

Johns Hopkins University has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as one of the nation's leading colleges and universities in the utilization of energy from renewable sources.

Hopkins is using more than 263 million kilowatt-hours of green power annually as part of a 15-year solar agreement with Constellation, the largest renewable energy agreement of any university at the time of its signing. The agreement provides 60% of the university's total power, a figure that is fourth-highest among colleges and universities and No. 71 among all organizations that are part of the EPA's Green Power Partnership, according to rankings released Tuesday. The university's green power use is equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of approximately 24,000 average American homes.

The university recently released its Climate Action and Sustainability Plan, a comprehensive and ambitious framework to strengthen environmental protections over the next decade by implementing sustainable practices across all campuses and enhancing its teaching and research related to sustainability and climate change.

"JHU is proud to be among the largest purchasers of renewable power as part of our commitment to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040," said Julian Goresko, director of sustainability. "Our sizable investment in clean power demonstrates the university's pledge to improving public health and environmental benefits working with our partners in Baltimore and beyond."

In addition to committing to purchasing 100% of its energy from solar and other renewable sources by 2030, the university is deploying multiple strategies to eliminate greenhouse gases. This includes cutting-edge sustainability requirements for new buildings and prioritized action plans to reduce energy and emissions in existing buildings.

"This list of the largest users of green power across the nation is proof that good business practices can also benefit the environment," said James Critchfield, program director of the EPA's Green Power Partnership. "EPA applauds the leading organizations in the Green Power Partnership's top partner rankings for their notable commitment to expanding their use of green power and protecting the environment."

The Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program that helps increase green power use among U.S. organizations and advance the U.S. market for green power and development of those sources as a way to reduce air pollution and other environmental impacts associated with electricity use. In 2022, the partnership had nearly 700 partners voluntarily using nearly 95 billion 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 www.epa.gov/greenpower.