Gov. Pat Quinn said today that Illinois received the 2010 Green Power Leadership Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), according to a press release. Illinois is one out of 10 green power purchasers to receive this award, which the EPA gave during an event held alongside the 2010 Renewable Energy Markets Conference in Portland, Ore.

“This award reaffirms Illinois’ commitment to reducing our environmental footprint, and our efforts to support the development of renewable energy sources,” Quinn said in a press release. “In Illinois, we will continue to make purchasing green power a priority.”

These awards commend the nation’s top green power buyers and the work they do to enhance the nation’s green power market. For instance, Illinois is purchasing myriad renewable energy certificates (RECs) and utility green power products, which use up more than 30 percent of the state’ electricity.

Using green power will allow Illinois to lead the way toward cleaner air and a healthier environment while helping advance the market for renewable energy, said Gina McCarthy, EPA Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation, in a press release.

According to the press release, the EPA stated that Illinois has a green power purchase of 176 million kWh, which will prevent the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of more than 24,000 passenger vehicles each year, or the CO2 emissions from the electricity use in more than 15,000 average American homes annually.

Illinois is a leader in the effort to increase energy efficiency and promote sustainability, said James P. Sledge, director of the Illinois Department of Central Management Services, the state agency that is in charge of energy purchases.

Illinois was ranked second among the listed states and number 23 on the EPA’s National Top 50 Green Power Partners list earlier this year. Check for more information at: www.epa.gov/greenpower.

Quinn signed the Executive Orders and statutes into law to make sure states exercise efficient energy use, take advantage of renewable energy and protect Illinois’ land, air and water resources. For more information about Quinn’s sustainability initiatives visit: www.Green.Illinois.gov.