College of the Atlantic leader in Green Power

The College of the Atlantic has been named a Green Power Leader by the federal government and the nonprofit Center for Resource Solutions, the private, Bar Harbor-based college announced Monday.

The award cites the college’s decision, announced on Earth Day last year, to sign a 20-year wind power contract with Endless Energy Corp.’s Reddington Mountain Wind Farm, proposed for western Maine.

That development could take several years to build, so meanwhile, the college signed a contract with a tribal group to purchase renewable energy credits.

“This far-reaching decision is most impressive, indicative of the notion that COA realizes wind power is here to stay,” said Pam Bloch of the U.S. Department of Energy, in a prepared statement.

COA was among 19 organizations nationwide to receive the award Monday night at the National Green Power Marketing Conference being held in Albany, N.Y., this week.