MREP Purchase Release

	BUSINESSES AND UNIVERSITIES IN MASSACHUSETTS MAKE LARGE WIND POWER PURCHASE

	Hull, MA (January 30, 2006) —The Massachusetts Renewable Energy Purchasers program announces the purchase of more than 20,500 MWh of wind generated power by eight of its members and allies. This significant purchase is enough clean energy to power more than 22,800 homes in Massachusetts for one month. “With this large purchase of energy from clean renewable sources, these businesses and institutions will contribute to cleaner air, help reduce our dependence on fossil and nuclear fuels, and advance as community and environmental leaders,” said Jan Hamrin, President of the Center for Resource Solutions. This marks the largest group purchase of clean energy made by multiple Massachusetts-based businesses and institutions. The purchasers include: Amherst College, the John Merck Fund, Mount Holyoke College, Oak Foundation, PerkinElmer Optoelectronics, Sasaki Associates, Inc., Smith College, and the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Community Energy, Inc., the vendor, will supply 100% renewable energy that is developed from new wind resources and Green-e certified. “The businesses, foundations, and universities making this purchase are leaders who will pave the way for all of Massachusetts, and ultimately the entire nation, to take advantage of new opportunities to buy renewable power,” said Mark Crowdis, President of Think Energy, Inc. “By illustrating the demand for clean, renewable energy, they are prompting utilities and other suppliers of renewable energy technologies to expand their offerings throughout the state and to price their energy competitively.” The clean energy purchasers are members of the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Purchasers (MREP), a program that connects businesses and higher learning institutions with top experts in the renewable energy industry to explore clean energy options. MREP is free to members and provides a unique opportunity for large energy buyers to aggregate their purchasing power to obtain the best terms and services from renewable energy vendors. A new program, the New England Renewable Energy Purchasers (NE-REP), is now underway which will provide clean energy evaluation services to large energy users in both Massachusetts and Connecticut, including the MREP program in its scope. Eventually the NE-REP team hopes to include all of the New England states. “Energy prices in New England are way up, and there is little prospect for relief. Clean energy is the solution because the costs of production are not dependent on volatile fossil fuel markets. As we expand the program throughout New England and engage in purchases, we will provide cost benefits to members and greater price stability in the market,” said Mr. Crowdis. MREP is a program formed through the strategic partnership of the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) and Think Energy, Inc. Together, CRS and Think Energy guide MREP members to cost-effective clean energy purchasing opportunities with the best terms and contracts. Many MREP members intend to leverage this purchase to show their leadership in a variety of ways, and build awareness for clean energy in Massachusetts. Sasaki Associates, Inc. is seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for their facilities from the US Green Building Council. Several of the members, including The University of Massachusetts Lowell and PerkinElmer Optoelectronics will use their purchase to gain membership in the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Green Power Partnership. Amherst, Mount Holyoke, and Smith Colleges will use their purchase as a reward to students for participating in a program to save energy by turning off their computer monitors when not in use. For more information on how your large organization with facilities in New England can participate in purchasing programs, please contact Mark D. Crowdis, Think Energy at (301) 270-0483, mcrowdis@thinkenergy.net or Këri Bolding, Center for Resource Solutions (415) 561-2100, kbolding@resource-solutions.org. About the Center for Resource Solutions The Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) is a national nonprofit working to increase the supply and use of renewable energy. CRS operates national and international programs that design clean energy policies, identify best practices and create implementation tools. CRS administers Green-e – the nation’s leading certification and verification program for renewable energy. Green-e is the most inclusive national brand for renewable energy, representing the largest segment of suppliers and purchasers in the nation. Green-e certifies renewable energy products offered by 100 energy providers. Twenty-three of these energy providers currently offer Green-e certified renewable energy products to businesses and institutions in Massachusetts. For more information about CRS, visit www.resource-solutions.org. About Think Energy Think Energy, Inc. is a consulting firm committed to delivering the clean energy economy that will provide a bright future for all. Think Energy enables its clients to access the financial, environmental, and energy security benefits of clean and distributed energy systems and products. The company works primarily with large energy consumers, helping them find the most economical strategies for using clean sources of energy to run their businesses. Think Energy does this by aiding clients with market intelligence, strategy development, financial analysis, full service procurement, and public relations. For more information about Think Energy, visit www.thinkenergy.net or call (301) 270-0483. About Community Energy Inc. Community Energy, Inc. (CEI) is a marketer and developer of wind energy generation, founded in 1999 and headquartered in Wayne, Pennsylvania. CEI has over 2 billion kilowatt-hours of wind energy sales, 40,000 residential and business customers, and marketing arrangements with 18 investor-owned and municipal utilities. CEI cites its utility partners and customers, which include many of the largest retail purchases of wind energy in the country, as the reason for its success in bringing wind energy to market in new regions of the country. CEI has wind projects under development in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest. For more information about CEI, visit www.communityenergy.biz. ### Contact:Këri Bolding, CRS Director of Communications and Business Services, kbolding@resource-solutions.org (415) 561-2100, or Mark Crowdis,Think Energy President, mcrowdis@thinkenergy.net 301-270-0482 If you would like to be removed from this email distribution list for CRS and Green-e announcements, please click here to unsubscribe.