The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has named Wells Fargo to its Green Power Partnership National Top 100 for using nearly two billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of renewable energy annually, representing 100% of the company’s global electricity requirements. Wells Fargo ranked No. 4 on the list. The list recognizes organizations that take action to maximize the production of renewable energy and minimize the climate impacts associated with their operations.
EPA’s National Top 100 list represents the largest green power users within the Green Power Partnership.
Wells Fargo also ranked No. 1 among financial services companies.
The EPA’s Green Power Partnership National Top 100 is based on the amount of renewable energy purchased and produced by each organization.
“Wells Fargo’s sustainability goal is to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy, and we are a recognized leader and innovator in the area of operational efficiency,” said Mary Wenzel, head of Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility at Wells Fargo. “Setting and meeting aggressive operational sustainability goals — like our 100% renewable energy goal — is one way we put our commitment into action. It also is a great point of pride for so many of our committed team members.”
Acting on an operational sustainability commitment made in 2012, Wells Fargo began meeting 100% of its global electricity needs in 2017, primarily through the purchase of unbundled Renewable Energy Certificates. The company is working to transition, by the close of 2020, to long-term contracts that fund net-new sources of renewable energy, bundled with Renewable Energy Certificates and supplemented by maximizing on-site solar production within its nearly 85 million square feet of real estate.
“This list of the largest users of green power across the nation is proof that good business practices can also benefit the environment,” said James Critchfield, program manager of the EPA’s Green Power Partnership. “EPA applauds the leading organizations in the Green Power Partnership rankings for their notable commitment to expand the use of green power and protect the environment.”
According to EPA, Wells Fargo’s green power use of nearly two billion kWh is equivalent to the annual electricity use of more than 184,000 average American homes.
Wells Fargo also leverages its businesses, its company culture and its community support to meet sustainability goals. For example, in 2018 the company announced it would provide $200 billion in financing to sustainable businesses and projects by 2030, with more than $100 billion earmarked for renewable energy, clean technology and green building transactions that directly support the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Also, in 2017, 8% of all wind and solar energy generated in the U.S. came from facilities owned wholly or in part by Wells Fargo through its Renewable Energy and Environmental Finance business.
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