The City of Gresham has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as an EPA Green Power Community, becoming the seventh community in Oregon and the 14th in the nation to receive the designation. The federal agency extends the honor to communities that show their environmental commitment by purchasing renewable energy in amounts that meet or exceed EPA purchase requirements. Gresham Mayor Shane T. Bemis will accept the honor on behalf of the citizens prior to the Gresham City Council meeting on Tuesday, August 19 at 3:00 p.m. in Council Chambers.

Mayor Bemis also announced the results of Gresham’s Green Power Challenge. Gresham electricity customers have surpassed the Gresham Green Power Challenge goal of 300 new renewable power enrollments set by the Gresham City Council. The community-wide challenge, announced in April, resulted in 332 new sign-ups for renewable energy from PGE. The city and the utility created the challenge to encourage more use and awareness of environmentally friendly power.

“I am proud to be the mayor of a community committed to clean energy and environmental stewardship,” said Mayor Shane T. Bemis. “We received the EPA honor and exceeded our green power challenge goal because our community shares these values.”

As part of the recognition, Gresham has received two colorful street signs from EPA reading, “Welcome to a Green Power Community. We exceed EPA guidelines for buying clean, renewable energy.” The signs, which will be posted at high-visible locations throughout the community, will be on display at the Aug. 19 City Council meeting.  “America is shifting to a ‘green culture,’ with more and more people understanding that environmental responsibility is everyone’s responsibility,” said EPA Administrator Johnson. “EPA commends the community of Gresham, Oregon, for making a long-term commitment to protecting the environment by purchasing green power.”

Gresham is the seventh Green Power community in Oregon to receive this EPA designation and the 14th community to be recognized in the nation, out of the 16 total communities to date. Green Power Communities are cities, towns, and villages in which the local government, businesses, and residents collectively buy green power in amounts that meet or exceed EPA’s Green Power Community purchase requirements. The community is at nearly five percent, representing use of almost 38 million kWh of renewable power over a year. Based on national average emissions rates, that reduces an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide emissions associated with more than 5,300 passenger cars annually, according to U.S. EPA estimates**.

According to EPA, Gresham is also ranked No. 6 on EPA’s national Top 10 list of Green Power Communities and is the third largest Green Power Community in Oregon by total megawatt-hours (MWh) purchased.

“This is a very visible commitment to the future by the leadership and citizens of Gresham,” said Thor Hinckley, manager, PGE Renewable Power Program. “The mayor and council took the first step in April when they purchased renewable power for city facilities and issued a green power challenge to the citizens. That’s leadership by example — a tremendous role model for other Oregon governments.”

More than 1,253 residences and businesses in Gresham are currently enrolled in one of PGE’s renewable energy programs.