City’s power generates award

Chico received top honors last week from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which honored the city with a 2007 Green Power Leadership award.

The national award recognizes organizations that demonstrate leadership in the green-power market. Chico’s solar-power installations at the downtown parking structure and at the water pollution control plant generate 1.2 megawatts of clean energy and supply more than 19 percent of the city’s municipal electricity.

Vice Mayor Ann Schwab represented the city, picking up the “on-site generation” award during a conference in Philadelphia, where the EPA honored a total of 17 organizations. All of the recipients are members of the EPA Green Power Partnership, a voluntary program that encourages the purchase of green power to help mitigate the environmental impacts associated with electricity use.