Applied Materials,
Inc., the global leader in Nanomanufacturing Technology™ solutions
with a broad portfolio of innovative equipment, service and software products
for the fabrication of semiconductor chips, flat panel displays, solar photovoltaic
cells, flexible electronics and energy efficient glass, announced today that
it has received a 2009 Green Power Leadership Award from the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA). The annual awards recognize the country's leading
green power purchasers for their commitment and contribution to helping advance
the development of the nation's voluntary green power market. EPA presented
Applied Materials with the award at an event held in conjunction with the 2009
Renewable Energy Markets Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.
Applied Materials was one of only three organizations nationwide to receive
a Leadership Award for the on-site generation of green power. The award recognizes
EPA Green Power Partners who distinguish themselves using on-site renewable
energy applications, such as solar photovoltaic (PV) or wind energy projects.
Applied Materials is currently generating 3.2 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of
green power annually in the U.S. using on-site solar power generation at the
company's California and Texas facilities. In addition, Applied Materials
purchases more than 31 million kWh of green power annually. In total, the company
uses enough green power to meet more than 15 percent of its electricity use.
“Purchasing and generating green power are important elements of our
long-term commitment to business and global sustainability,” said Bruce
Klafter, senior director for Environmental Health and Safety and head of Corporate
Responsibility and Sustainability at Applied Materials. “Through our solar
installations we are demonstrating the ease of integrating clean energy into
existing business campuses and proving that solar power is a sound business
decision, in addition to being an important choice in combating climate change.”
Applied Materials is purchasing green power in support of EPA's Fortune
500 Green Power Challenge. EPA is challenging Fortune 500 Corporations to collectively
exceed 10 billion kilowatt-hours green power purchasing by year end 2009. Applied
Materials' purchase ranks No. 26 in the United States.
Green power is electricity that is generated from environmentally preferable
renewable resources, such as wind, solar, geothermal, biogas, biomass and low-impact
hydro. These resources generate electricity with a net zero increase in carbon
dioxide emissions, while offering a superior environmental profile compared
to traditional power generation sources. Green power purchases also support
the development of new renewable energy generation sources nationwide.
“EPA's Green Power Leadership award winners are raising the bar for green
power purchasing,” said Kathleen Hogan, Director of EPA's Climate Protection
Partnerships Division. "By using renewable energy, Applied Materials is
helping our environment by leading our national transition to clean energy;
they are a model for others to follow.”
According to the U.S. EPA, Applied Materials' current green power use
of nearly 35 million kWh is equivalent to avoiding the carbon dioxide (CO2)
emissions of nearly 5,000 passenger vehicles per year, or the equivalent amount
of electricity needed to power more than more than 3,000 average American homes
annually.
As a green power purchaser, generator and the world's largest solar equipment
manufacturer, Applied Materials is dedicated to growing profitably and sustaining
our business in an environmentally and socially responsible manner and is striving
to make renewable energy a more meaningful contributor to the global energy
supply. The company is aware of the inherent business and social impacts of
global climate change, and is fully committed to improving the way people live
by achieving sustainability in a clean tech economy — from the products
we design, to how we manage our business.