12% of Power Used by New Jersey Government Facilities is now Green-e Certified Renewable Energy; NJ becomes one of cleanest-powered state governments in the nation.Business Editors & Environmental Writers SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 3, 2002 The Green-e Program announced today that the State of New Jersey has committed 12 percent of its annual energy use to Green-e certified renewable energy Renewable energy utilizes natural resources such as sunlight, wind, tides and geothermal heat, which are naturally replenished. Renewable energy technologies range from solar power, wind power, and hydroelectricity to biomass and biofuels for transportation. . Green Mountain Energy Company will provide selected New Jersey state-operated facilities with green electricity that meets Green-e's strict environmental and consumer protection standards. New Jersey's decision to power 196 state-operated facilities with Green-e certified renewable electricity is exemplary. "We see this bold purchase by New Jersey as more evidence of the strength of the Mid Atlantic Mid Atlantic can mean:
"Governor McGreevey and the State of New Jersey are helping to lead by example," said A. Clifton Payne, Jr., eastern region president for Green Mountain Energy Company. "Making electricity causes more air pollution than any other industry. Choosing cleaner and renewable sources of electricity can, over time, help improve air quality." "That's like not driving 136,831 trips by car up the length of the New Jersey Turnpike
New Jersey joins Pennsylvania and Maryland in its commitment to purchase renewable electricity, which makes the Mid Atlantic the largest competitive green power market in the nation. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located in Golden, Colorado, as part of the U.S. Department of Energy, is the United States' primary laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. of the U.S. Department of Energy, only three other states have implemented government green power set-aside programs: Maryland at six percent of the official state electric load, Pennsylvania at five percent, and Tennessee at two percent. (New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of has set a goal of 10% renewable electricity service for state-run facilities by 2005.) An increasing number of governmental agencies including the U.S. Department of Energy and the State of Maryland are choosing green-e certified power products as a means to provide third party verification and public assurance. New Jersey's decision to receive Green Mountain Energy'(SM) "Enviro Blend," a Green-e certified product, affirms the benchmark for states and governmental purchasers to provide green power with an independent assurance of meeting strict environmental standards. To earn Green-e certification, a product's energy supply must come from at least 50% eligible renewable resources, such as energy from the sun, the wind, the heat of the Earth, small or low-impact hydropower hy·dro·pow·er n. Hydroelectric power. , biogas bi·o·gas n. A mixture of methane and carbon dioxide produced by bacterial degradation of organic matter and used as a fuel. biogas Noun gaseous fuel produced by the fermentation of organic waste , or biofuels. Green Mountain Energy Company also agrees to abide by To stand to; to adhere; to maintain. See also: Abide the Green-e Code of Conduct, and to submit marketing materials to CRS CRS Course CRS Certified Residential Specialist (real estate certification) CRS Central Reservation System CRS Can't Remember Stuff (polite form) CRS Cost Reduction Strategy CRS Consumer Relations Specialist to meet Green-e disclosure and truth-in-advertising requirements. The company will undergo an annual verification process audit to document that the company purchased enough quantity and type of renewable energy to meet customer demand and marketing claims. Families and businesses throughout New Jersey can choose renewable electricity through the New Jersey Energy Choice program (www.njenergychoice.com), or through Green Mountain Energy Company (www.greenmountain.com). More About Green-e and the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) Green-e, a program administered by CRS, is a voluntary certification program for a variety of product offerings including retail products in competitive markets, green pricing products in regulated markets, wholesale and commercial products as well as "green tags" or renewable energy certificates Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), also known as Green tags, Renewable Energy Credits, or Tradable Renewable Certificates (TRCs), are the property rights to the environmental benefits from generating electricity from renewable energy sources. nationwide. Through these activities and services, the Green-e Program promotes product quality, consumer confidence and best practices in green power procurement. More information on Green-e is available at http://www.green-e.org. CRS is a nonprofit organization Nonprofit Organization An association that is given tax-free status. Donations to a non-profit organization are often tax deductible as well. Notes: Examples of non-profit organizations are charities, hospitals and schools. that encourages sustainable growth and promotes the use of clean energy. More information on CRS is available at www.resource-solutions.org. |
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