Wind power to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in US capital

The DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID), located on a prominent street in Washington near the White House, said it decided to switch to wind power to reduce costs and dependency on carbon-based fuels that harm the environment.

In a press release, DowntownDC BID said switching to wind power would save the organisation money and prompt interest among other BID-based businesses wanting to purchase electricity generated by wind turbines and other green resources.

“Improving sustainability through operational practices and the physical plant are important steps in our Greening Downtown DC initiative, which supports the city’s efforts to become one of the world’s most sustainable cities,” Richard H. Bradley, executive director of DowntownDC BID, was quoted as saying in the press release.

The organisation’s headquarters building in the District of Columbia is staffed by nearly 100 people. The contract with Washington Gas Energy Services (WGES) to provide 100% CleanSteps(SM) WindPower to the headquarters building is expected to save $3,000 (€2,152) over two years.

The press release said WGES would supply green power from wind farm plants to the headquarters building beginning in April.

“Wind power is the world’s fastest growing energy source and helps reduce carbon dioxide caused by the environmental impacts of electricity use from fossil fuel plants,” according to the press release. “Office buildings are the District of Columbia’s greatest greenhouse gas emitters.”

Harry Warren, president of WGES, said the wind power purchase would reduce the building’s carbon footprint “by more than 62 metric tons per year, the equivalent of eliminating greenhouse gas emissions from more than 7,000 gallons of gasoline over the life of the two-year contract.”

By Chris Rose, blog.ewea.org/