Menomonee Falls, Wis.— For the second time, Kohl’s Department Stores holds the top spot in retail on the quarterly ranking of top green power purchasers as rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The EPA’s Green Power Partnership has ranked the mid-tier department store chain in third place overall and third among Fortune 500 companies. According to the EPA, Kohl’s green power purchase of more than 850 million kilowatt-hours is equivalent to avoiding carbon dioxide emissions of nearly 112,000 passenger vehicles per year and also equal to the amount of electricity needed to power nearly 85,000 average American homes annually.

Since July when the EPA’s last quarterly rankings were announced, Kohl’s has been building on its green power efforts. The retailer has increased its green power purchase by more than 42%. Throughout 2009, Kohl’s has purchased more than 851 million kWh in renewable energy credits – which the retailer said is enough to meet 71% of its purchased electricity use, and more importantly means that more than 70% of Kohl’s energy comes from renewable resources.

“Green power purchases are one of the easiest and more important ways we can implement renewable energy sources as we work to reduce our carbon footprint,” said Ken Bonning, Kohl’s evp of store planning and logistics. “We continue to increase our purchases that are applied companywide, and we hope to reach 100 percent green power in the coming year. This is just one more way we continue to operate as an environmentally responsible company.”

Kohl’s also was ranked ninth on EPA’s list of Green Power Partners that generate and consume the most green power on-site, with 19,126,000 kWh of on-site green power usage from solar. Kohl’s is said to be the world’s largest retail host of solar power, with 79 active solar locations in six states – California, Wisconsin, Oregon, Maryland, Connecticut and New Jersey. The solar panels generate 20% to 50% of each store’s electricity, depending on geographic location.

“EPA commends our leading Partners for their continued commitment to protecting the environment by using green power,” said Ann Bailey, Acting Director of the Climate Protection Partnerships Division at EPA. “By supporting green power, Kohl’s Department Stores is reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, supporting clean energy technologies, and contributing to a clean energy future.”

Kohl’s EPA recognition comes on the heels of another green honor – the company’s recent ranking as the greenest retailer in America by Newsweek magazine in its Green Rankings.