Hayward remains a top green-power producer
The City of Hayward is holding its position among the top 30 entities in the nation, public or private, for on-site generation of renewable energy, according to a new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ranking.
The EPA established its Green Power Partnership in 2001 to protect human health and the environment by increasing voluntary use of green power and by encouraging development of green power markets and renewable electricity sources. The program now has 1,700 Partner organizations.
According to EPA’s latest ranking released Oct. 21, Hayward is now the 28th largest on-site green-power generator among Partner organizations—with Apple, Inc., topping the list and the City of Portland 29th, one place behind Hayward. Green power is the class of renewable energy sources with the highest environmental benefit, including solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, certain forms of biomass and low-impact, small hydroelectric systems.
Hayward’s wastewater treatment facility generates 11 million kilowatt-hours of green energy annually from solar and renewable biogas—enough to meet more than 100 percent of the plant’s electricity needs while also helping to power other City facilities.
Additionally, the City has added solar panels to its Watkins Street garage to power the new downtown Hayward Public Library and to the roofs of fire stations. These investments, along with a nearly completed expansion of the wastewater plant solar system, should help keep Hayward among the leaders in on-site green energy production for years to come.
