Intel ranks first in the nation for using renewable energy, holding onto its position since 2008.

In 2011, Intel consumed 2.5 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of clean energy - 88% of its electricity use – up from 1.4 billion kWh the previous year. The company gets renewables from biomass, geothermal, small-hydro, solar and wind by buying certificates and from on-site generation.

Intel is followed by Kohl’s Department Stores and Microsoft Corporation. Combined, the Top 50 EPA Green Power Partners use more than 15 billion kWh of clean energy a year, preventing carbon emissions equal to produced by 1.3 million American homes.

Kohl’s runs on 100% renewable energy (solar and wind), but still uses less than Intel at 1.5 kWh, because it’s a smaller company. Kohl’s leads the retail industry in renewable energy use and buys certificates as well as generating on-site. All new stores are LEED-certified and plans to have 300 stores certified by the end of this year and over 500 by 2015.

Microsoft is new to the list, quickly ramping up to 1.1 kWh, nabbing third place through purchasing certificates, and McDonald’s USA, also new to the list, ranks 11th.

The City of Houston gets top ranking on the Top 20 Local Governments list.

This is the first year that every Top 50 partner is using more than 100 million kWh of clean energy a year.

EPA’s Green Power Partnership works with 1,300 organizations, over half of which are small businesses and nonprofits, to voluntarily use green power.

Close to 700 partners use clean energy for 100% of their electricity.

The EPA measures corporate renewable energy use only for operations within the US.

Original Article on SustainableBusiness.com