<p><strong>Austin, TX</strong><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Whole Foods Market has been honored with a 2012 Green Power Leadership Award for sustained excellence from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its renewable energy purchase of 800 million kilowatt-hours last year. The annual award recognizes leading green power purchasers for their commitment and contribution to helping advance the development of the nation’s voluntary green power market.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Whole Foods Market has also received the Superior Achievement Award from the EPA’s GreenChill Partnership for reaching its refrigerant emission reduction goal for last year.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">“We are proud of and appreciate our partnership with the EPA’s Green Power and GreenChill programs to ensure renewable energy development and the use of refrigerants that don’t harm the ozone layer or contribute harmful emissions,” says Kathy Loftus, global leader of sustainable engineering and energy management for Whole Foods Market. “What an honor to be recognized for work that furthers our commitment to our core value of supporting our communities and environment.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Whole Foods Market will add this award to its three previous Green Power Partner of the Year and two Green Power Purchasing awards from the EPA. The company currently ranks fifth on EPA’s National Top 50 list as well as third on its Top 20 Retail List.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/mission-values" target="_new"> Whole Foods Market</a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
