Apple, Intel, Cisco Systems, Microsoft, Kohl’s, Dell and The North Face were among 24 organizations that won the EPA’s 13th annual Green Power Leadership awards,  for their achievements in advancing the nation’s renewable electricity market.

The EPA says the winners are moving closer to President Obama’s climate change action plan by taking initiative with green power, including solar, wind, geothermal, biogas and low-impact hydroelectric sources. Of the 24 winners, 21 are what it calls green power partners and three are suppliers, that were chosen out of a pool of 1,500 partners,  including Fortune 500 companies, small and medium sized businesses, local, state and federal governments, and colleges and universities.

Utilities, renewable energy project developers, and other green power suppliers were eligible to apply for the supplier of the year award, which recognizes leadership in voluntary renewable energy offerings. Nearly two-thirds of partners use 100 percent green power.

Intel, Kohl’s and Staples won in the category of sustained excellence in green power. Cisco, Microsoft, Ohio State and Georgetown University were selected as green power partners of the year. In terms of cities that demonstrated sustainability leadership, Cincinnati, Ohio and Mercer Island, Wash. were the top two cities.

Dell and The North Face won for their purchasing of green power. Apple and healthcare company Kaiser Permananente were singled out for on-site generation, as was Volkswagen’s Tennessee facility.

While announcing the winners, the EPA also announced the green power community challenge — a national competition between communities to use renewable energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the collective participation of local governments, businesses, and residents.

Intel and Microsoft are repeat winners, having placed in 2012 as well.  Intel uses green power to cover 100 percent of its electricity load, some 3.1 million MWh a year. Microsoft moved into second place by increasing its green power use to more that 1.9 million MWh a year, or 80 percent of its power.  Apple, which was new to the top 50 list, ranks at number 10 with 537 million kWh a year, or 85 percent of its nationwide electricity, now coming from green power.