ACORE Stands in Support of Tech Companies’ Backing for EPA’s Clean Power Plan

Today’s amicus brief filed by Amazon, Google, Apple and Microsoft in State of West Virginia, et al v. EPAshows important support for climate action from America’s top tech companies

Washington, D.C. – Today, the American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE) applauded its members Google and Amazon, accompanied by Apple and Microsoft, for interceding on behalf of the EPA in the legal challenge to the Clean Power Plan. These companies, collectively referred to as the “Tech Amici,” filed an amicus brief in the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in State of West Virginia, et al v. EPA.

“This legal action is part of a much broader phenomenon,” said Gregory Wetstone, President and CEO of ACORE. “Tech companies and Fortune 500 businesses across America are increasingly turning to renewable energy to provide carbon-free power for their operations. Their actions speak volumes about the commitment of American business leaders, especially in the high tech sector, to cost effectively reduce their carbon footprint, and deliver value to customers and shareholders alike. We are proud to have Amazon and Google as member companies, and we commend them, along with Apple and Microsoft, for weighing in on behalf of EPA’s Clean Power Plan.”

To demonstrate their strong interest and unique perspective on the Clean Power Plan legal case, the Tech Amici highlight their status as “among the world’s leading technology companies and some of the country’s most significant consumers of electricity.”

The brief notes that these companies have “committed to ensuring that an ever-increasing portion of their electricity consumption comes from renewable sources” and have “learned from experience that renewable electricity generation can be affordable, reliable, and consistent with sound business practices.” To inform the Court’s decision in this case, these companies note that, “in Tech Amici’s firsthand experience, renewable energy already is available in many parts of the United States at prices comparable to or better than the current prices for other electricity options.”

“The growing procurement of renewable energy by leading corporations is a major national trend that is changing the nature of our electrical grid,” added Wetstone. “These companies are putting their money where their mouth is when it comes to clean power.”

In mid-March, ACORE’s hosted a Corporate Procurement Workshop that included its Leadership Council and many of the country’s largest corporate consumers of renewable energy, to discuss ways to facilitate and expand the availability of carbon-free power to businesses across America. This trend is clearly increasing and will be facilitated by the Clean Power Plan once it has cleared the legal challenge. Oral arguments on the case are slated for June 2 in the D.C. Circuit Court.

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About ACORE:
ACORE is a national non-profit organization dedicated to providing value to the renewable energy industry through market development, policy changes, and finance. With hundreds of member companies from across the spectrum of renewable energy technologies, consumers, and investors, ACORE is uniquely positioned to promote the policies and financial structures essential to growth in the renewable energy sector. The organization’s annual conferences in Washington, New York and San Francisco set the industry standard in providing important venues for key leaders to meet; discuss recent developments; and hear the latest from senior government officials and seasoned experts. Additional information is available at: www.acore.org

ACORE Media Contact:
Kevin Haley, ACORE
haley@acore.org;
(202) 777-7584