Carbon Pollution-Free Electricity at EPA

Carbon pollution-free electricity (CFE) is electrical energy produced from resources that generate no carbon emissions, including marine energy, solar, wind, hydrokinetic (including tidal, wave, current, and thermal), geothermal, hydroelectric, nuclear, renewably sourced hydrogen, and electrical energy generation from fossil resources to the extent there is active capture and storage of carbon dioxide emissions that meets EPA requirements.

Using CFE reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and air pollution associated with energy production and helps diversify the nation’s energy supply. EPA supports the growing green power market by purchasing and generating CFE in a variety of forms.

EPA acquires CFE through:

• Grid-supplied electricity
• Onsite generation
• Utility tariffs
• Energy attribute certificates (EACs)

These purchases promote growth in the carbon pollution-free electricity marketplace and help the agency avoid greenhouse gas emissions associated with its energy consumption.

In this section:

• EPA’s Onsite Renewables
• EPA’s Green Power Purchases