PRESS ROOM
News Item
Santa Clara Marriott Commits To Half-Turbine Renewable Power Purchase From Silicon Valley Power
The City of Santa Clara's municipal electric utility has added another large member to Santa Clara Green Power!
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – March 11, 2008 – Silicon Valley Power (SVP), the City of Santa Clara’s municipal electric utility, has added another large member to Santa Clara Green Power, its 100 percent renewable energy program that is managed and developed by 3Degrees, a renewable energy marketer. Santa Clara Marriott will purchase one half of the output of one large-scale wind turbine, or 1,608 megawatt-hours (MWh) annually. The Santa Clara Marriott is the first hotel to become a green power champion.
“Santa Clara Marriott is always seeking innovative ways of reducing our environmental impact,” says Chuck Pacioni, General Manager for Santa Clara Marriott. “The Santa Clara Green Power program provides an opportunity to do this for our facility through the purchase of clean energy.”
This purchase qualifies Santa Clara Marriott’s facility as a member of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership. In addition, the commitment will prevent the emission of more than 641 tons of carbon dioxide annually, equivalent to planting 534 acres of trees or removing 139 cars from the road per year. The Santa Clara Marriott joins the growing list of more than 130 businesses and over 4,000 households participating in Santa Clara Green Power.
“Santa Clara Green Power makes it easy for businesses within Silicon Valley Power’s service territory, such as the Marriott, to support clean energy derived from wind and solar resources,” says Larry Owens, Division Manager of Marketing and Customer Services for SVP. “Santa Clara Marriott’s participation in our green power program demonstrates its commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and makes the Santa Clara Marriott an environmental leader in the community.”
SVP will purchase renewable energy credits on behalf of the Santa Clara Marriott from newly constructed wind farms and solar photovoltaic projects located within California. A portion of the hotel’s Santa Clara Green Power rate will support new solar facilities in the City of Santa Clara, such as the Haman Elementary School project and the Valley Village Retirement Community’s project.