RIVER FALLS – River Falls Municipal Utilities (RFMU) has been named a Smart Energy Provider by the American Public Power Association (APPA) and has received recognition for its green …
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RIVER FALLS – River Falls Municipal Utilities (RFMU) has been named a Smart Energy Provider by the American Public Power Association (APPA) and has received recognition for its green energy efforts by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
NREL publishes annual rankings of the nation's top 10 utilities across four distinct categories associated with renewable energy. Based on 2022 data, RFMU placed second in the nation for Green Power Participation Rate, which measures the percentage of customers who participated in a utility’s renewable, or “green,” energy programs. Additionally, RFMU ranked third nationally for Green Power Sales Rate, indicating the proportion of a utility's renewable energy sales relative to its total sales.
Additionally, the utility’s 2022 Smart Energy Provider title marks the third consecutive occasion that RFMU has received the honor since the program began in 2019. The designation, which lasts for two years, recognizes locally owned utilities for demonstrating a commitment to and proficiency in energy efficiency, distributed generation, and environmental initiatives that support the goal of providing safe, reliable, low-cost, and sustainable electric service.
“It’s an honor to be recognized as one of the best when it comes to energy efficiency and sustainability,” said Utility Director Kevin Westhuis. “Earning another Smart Energy Provider designation and placing highly in the NREL rankings shows not just the utility’s commitment to smart and green energy, but also how much our community cares about reducing our collective carbon footprint.”
One of RFMU’s most popular renewable energy offerings, “Choose Renewable,” helped the community obtain its honors. The program allows customers to purchase green energy blocks for $2 apiece per month, which increases the amount of renewable energy, such as solar, wind, and biogas, used to power their homes or businesses. A typical home can run on 100% clean energy with the purchase of two to three green blocks.
In 2022, nearly 15% of River Falls Municipal Utilities’ residential customers voluntarily participated in Choose Renewable.
To learn more about River Falls Municipal Utilities’ renewable energy efforts, visit www.rfmu.org.
Submitted by City of River Falls
