Companies, Cities, Universities

Whatever you've heard about the state of renewable energy in the U.S., it's probably outdated; that's how fast the industry is moving. Renewable-energy capacity in the U.S. has nearly doubled since 2008, while prices have fallen through the floor.

Companies are taking the lead. Intel, Kohl's, Whole Foods and Staples (to name a few) all use 100 percent green power for their U.S. operations, according to a ranking of top renewable consumers released last week by the EPA.

Click ahead for the EPA's ranking of the top 15 consumers of America's cleanest energy: solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, biomass, and low-impact small hydroelectric sources, ranked by total green-power use. The agency's list, which isn't comprehensive, draws from 1,300 companies, municipalities and universities that belong to its Green Power Partnership.