The Town of Brookeville continues to be recognized as a leader in energy-saving efforts, and it recently won the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s first Green Power Community Challenge.

The year-long challenge encouraged communities across the nation to voluntarily increase use of power generated from such renewable resources as solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, biogas and low-impact hydropower. By using green power, communities help to reduce their carbon footprint, improve public health and advance the market for renewable energy.

Green Power Communities are cities, towns and villages where the local government, businesses and residents collectively commit to buying green power in amounts that meet or exceed EPA's Green Power Community purchase requirements.

Out of more than 30 communities, Brookeville had the highest green power percentage of total electricity use. Forty-five percent of Brookeville’s government, residential and business electricity usage comes from green sources.

“The Green Power Community Challenge proved that any community, no matter its size, can harness the collective power of its businesses and residents to achieve real environmental results,” said EPA Assistant Administrator Gina McCarthy. “By switching to renewable energy, EPA’s Green Power Communities are investing in a more secure, healthy and prosperous future.”

Brookeville Commission President Michael Acierno said the town is proud to receive the recognition.

“The commissioners want to thank residents Fred Teale and Deborah Wagner for their efforts,” he said. “They went door-to-door asking residents to consider contracting with a renewable energy supplier for their electricity. Clearly, Brookeville residents responded, and we thank them all. Brookeville will continue its efforts in increasing and promoting the use of renewable energy.”

The EPA launched the challenge in September 2010, with a goal for its participating communities to reach a green power usage of 1.8 billion kilowatt-hours annually.

The Green Power Communities surpassed the goal and are using more than 3.3 billion KWH, equal to preventing the carbon dioxide emissions from the electricity use of more than 284,000 homes.

During the past year, the Brookeville commissioners have taken several steps toward the town’s green initiative.

The town contracts with Clean Currents, an independent, green energy company based in Rockville, that provides electricity sourced from clean wind power.

Acierno said in addition to reducing Brookeville’s carbon footprint, the town is saving money by using wind energy.

The town also has installed an energy-efficient tankless water heater in the Brookeville Academy and has encouraged residents to recycle and compost their leaves. As the town’s street lamps need to be replaced, they will be replaced with models that direct the light down toward the street, thus reducing light pollution.

Many town residents have joined the green movement. Many purchase wind power, and two households recently installed solar panels.

Washington, D.C., won the title for the most amount of green power used annually. Its businesses, residents and government are collectively using more than 772 million KWH of green power annually, enough to meet 8 percent of the community's total electricity use.

Rockville was ranked 10th for green power usage, with more than 67 million KWH used annually, about 3 percent of its total electricity.

For more information on the Green Power Community Challenge, visit epa.gov/greenpower/communities/gpcchallenge.htm

thogan@gazette. net