Energy is a fundamental driver of economic output and social well-being. However, more than 80% of man-made U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions arise from burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas. Switching to renewable energy or "green power" would significantly reduce these energy-related GHG emissions and therefore is an attractive strategy for combating climate change. In particular, green power will need to dramatically penetrate the commercial and industrial sector since corporations currently account for over 50% of U.S. energy consumption.

Recognizing this situation the World Resources Institute convened in 2000 the Green Power Market Development Group, a unique commercial and industrial partnership dedicated to building corporate markets for green power. As a collaboration of large energy users, the Group is transforming energy markets to enable corporate buyers to diversify their energy portfolios with green power and reduce their impact on climate change. The Group seeks to develop 1,000 megawatts of new, cost-competitive green power by 2010 in the U.S. The corporate Group partners include Alcoa Inc., Delphi Corporation, The Dow Chemical Company, DuPont, FedEx Kinko's, General Motors, IBM, Interface, Johnson & Johnson, NatureWorks LLC, Pitney Bowes, Staples, and Starbucks.

The Group is pursuing three types of green power opportunities:

• Green electricity – Electricity from renewable resources including wind, solar (photovoltaic), geothermal, biomass, landfill gas, and certified low-impact hydro.
• Green thermal energy – Heat from renewable resources including solar thermal systems and direct use of landfill gas.
• “Clean” energy technologies – Electricity and/or heat from fuel cells.

The Group leverages its purchasing power to stimulate the development of cost-competitive renewable energy resources. By developing the business case for clean energy and creating replicable purchasing strategies, the Group seeks to build robust corporate markets for green power. To achieve this goal, the Group:

• Conducts market research on green power technologies, products, economics and providers.
• Engages developers of on-site and grid-connected green power projects.
• Works with power suppliers to design ‘next generation’ green electricity products that are attractive to commercial and industrial end users.
• Develops innovative analytical tools for evaluating the financial and environmental impacts of green power projects.
• Shares strategies and lessons learned through the Corporate Guide to Green Power Markets publication series.
• Informs decision-makers about policy actions that overcome barriers to corporate markets for green power.

This project will demonstrate clearly that by working together companies can address some of the major economic, policy, and technology challenges that are currently preventing corporations throughout the United States from using renewable power now and in the future. The green power purchases and projects achieved by Group partners will send a clear signal to the marketplace that demand for cost-effective renewable resources exists and investments in renewable power generation is a good business decision for power providers.