EPA Recognizes Coca-Cola Refreshments Among Nation’s Top Green Energy Users

Coca-Cola Refreshments earned the No. 3 spot on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) list of the largest on-site green power generators. EPA’s Green Power Partnership includes more than 1,300 organizations recognized for their support of alternative energy to reduce their environmental impacts.

A key factor in Coca-Cola Refreshments’ high ranking is the recent installation of a landfill-gas-to-energy system at one of its Atlanta facilities. The system supplies most of the facility’s energy needs, including electricity, steam and chilled water. It is one of the largest biogas projects of its kind in the United States. The use of bio-fuels, fuel cells and solar panels to provide alternative energy at other facilities also contributed to the recognition.

“The EPA applauds Coca-Cola Refreshments as a leader in using green power,” said Blaine Collison, Director of EPA’s Green Power Partnership. “Coca-Cola was named a Top Partner due to the company’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint through on-site renewable energy generation.”

The system at the Atlanta plant generates at least 48 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of on-site biomass energy annually. This is equivalent to eliminating the carbon dioxide (CO ₂) emissions of more than 6,000 passenger vehicles per year.

“Investing in energy efficiency projects like the landfill-gas-to-energy system creates multiple benefits. It helps The Coca-Cola Company meet our environmental sustainability goals while reducing costs in our manufacturing process,” said Brian Kelley, Chief Product Supply Officer for Coca-Cola Refreshments. “Being named a Green Power Partner by the Environmental Protection Agency is validation for our ongoing work in creating energy and carbon efficiencies in our supply chain.”

The landfill-gas-to-energy project was part of the facility’s effort to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED is the world's most influential rating system among the standards for assessment of environmental sustainability of facilities. The use of recycled materials, renewable energy, energy-efficient lighting and mechanical systems in the facility’s building design, as well as reduction in water consumption, were all winning aspects which contributed to receiving certification.

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