SAN FRANCISCO, CA (February 10, 2006)--The
Green-e Program of the Center for Resource Solutions announced today
that the Buckeye Power “EnviroWatts” program is now Green-e
certified. Buckeye Power joins the largest network of renewable energy
providers who certify their high quality products with the nation’s
leading certification and verification program.
Buckeye Power, the generation and transmission cooperative
that provides power to Ohio’s electric cooperatives, will be the
first provider in the state of Ohio to offer high quality certified
retail renewable energy verified by an independent third party known
for credibility and consumer protection. ”As the cooperatives’
exclusive power provider, we thought it important to be able to offer
this option because of the growing consumer interest in the development
of renewable energy,” stated Tony Ahern, President and CEO of
Buckeye Power and the Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives.
The Green-e certified renewable energy for the EnviroWatts
program comes from collected methane gas produced from landfills that
is then used to generate electricity. A portion of the cost of the 100-kilowatt
hour block of EnviroWatts also goes to a renewable energy fund which
supports research and development of renewable energy sources in Ohio
for electric cooperatives.
“Now Ohio’s electric cooperatives will have the ability
to offer their members the ‘EnviroWatts' program for their homes
and businesses with the confidence that it is backed by the nation’s
leading symbol for renewable energy excellence,” said Lars Kvale,
Green-e Representative for the Southeast, Texas and Midwest Regions.
“Green-e looks forward to working with the cooperatives to increase
the demand for renewable electricity in Ohio."
Green-e is the leading renewable energy certification
and verification program in the U.S. The program provides independent,
third party certification to ensure certified renewable energy meets
strict environmental and consumer protection standards. Green-e’s
verification protects customers from paying for renewable energy that
is “double sold” to other customers or used simultaneously
to meet regulatory mandates.
Through the display and recognition of the Green-e logo, the national
symbol for renewable energy excellence, a growing number of consumers
are able to easily identify high quality, certified renewable energy
options, as well as everyday consumer products that are “Made
with Certified Renewable Energy.”
Providers of Green-e certified renewable energy agree
to abide by the Green-e Code of Conduct, and meet Green-e disclosure
and truth-in-advertising requirements. All Green-e marketers undergo
an annual verification audit to document that the company purchased
or generated enough quantity and type of renewable energy to meet customer
demand and marketing claims. Over one hundred marketers and utilities
throughout North America now offer Green-e certified renewable energy
products. Collectively these suppliers sold 3.5 million MWh of Green-e
certified renewable energy in 2004.
About Buckeye Power
and The Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives (OREC):
OREC is the statewide association that represents
Ohio’s electric cooperatives. Buckeye Power is the generation
and transmission cooperative that supplies power to Ohio’s electric
cooperatives. OREC and Buckeye Power are Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives.
For additional information, visit: www.buckeyepower.com
or call 614-846-5757.
About Green-e and
the
Center for Resource Solutions
Launched in 1997, The Green-e Renewable Energy
Certification Program is the leading voluntary certification and verification
program that sets standards for renewable electricity-based products
in three markets for renewable energy: restructured, regulated, and
tradable renewable certificates. To learn more about certified renewable
energy available throughout North America, visit: www.green-e.org,
or call 1-888-63-GREEN.
Green-e is a program of the Center for Resource
Solutions (CRS), a national nonprofit organization that makes it easier
for people and organizations to use renewable energy. CRS designs and
operates national and international programs that support the increased
supply and use of renewable energy resources such as wind, solar, biomass,
geothermal and low-impact hydroelectric power. To learn more about CRS,
visit: www.resource-solutions.org.
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