Green Mountain Energy Breaks Ground with Deregulation's First New Renewable Generation Source
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 22, 1998
SAN GORGONIO PASS, Calif. — Green Mountain Energy, California's leading retail marketer of electricity produced from renewable generation sources, announced today the ground breaking for two new wind turbines at San Gorgonio Pass, California. These are the first new renewable electric generation sources to be constructed as a direct result of electric utility deregulation.
"This is a historic date," said Kevin Hartley, Vice President of Marketing. "Today, only six months after the market opening, we are taking our first step in meeting the commitment that has guided our efforts to change the way power is made." Green Mountain promised to build a new wind turbine as customers choose their Wind for the Futuresm power blend — giving Californians the opportunity to actually bring about new, clean wind power development.
Making electricity is the largest industrial source of air pollution in the United States. Renewable generation sources produce electricity that is dramatically cleaner than generic system power. Green Mountain entered California's electricity market in March 1998, offering renewable power blends from resources found in nature such as wind, water, steam, and biomass. One of the two new turbines is associated with customers of Working Assets, best known for its long distance telephone and credit card services. Committed to social and environmental change for more than 12 years, Working Assets endorsed Green Mountain in May 1998 and began encouraging its customers to choose cleaner, renewable electricity by switching to Green Mountain.
Leading national wholesale energy provider PacifiCorp, will actually own the new California turbines and provide power to Green Mountain. PacifiCorp was selected in October 1997 as the first wholesale supplier of renewable energy products for Green Mountain's California customers and is currently finishing a major wind energy facility near Laramie, Wyoming.
"PacifiCorp is pleased to be providing Green Mountain with renewable energy produced by new wind power development in California, and is excited about serving the growing green power market," said Don Furman, Vice President, PacifiCorp. "This new wind power facility is a natural progression for PacifiCorp given its commitment to new renewable energy projects such as the Wyoming wind plant."
"We're proud to make good on our customers' demand for cleaner, renewable energy," said Hartley. "We have told people they have the power to make a difference — and they do. Our customers are seeing a real, tangible benefit from their choices through the construction of these turbines. They're helping to make a difference in the planet's health and human health, for everyone."
Through an agreement with Green Mountain, Working Assets extended the same offer to build new wind turbines to their customers who chose "Wind for the Future(SM)." "We're dedicated to showing our customers simple ways to make a positive difference in the world," added Working Assets Chief Executive Officer Laura S. Scher. "By teaming up with Green Mountain, we've given our customers a chance to vote for a cleaner, healthier environment with their checkbooks. As someone who's made the switch to Green Mountain, I know how easy it is to do something great for the environment without sacrificing electric service or reliability."
San Gorgonio, California, the site for Green Mountain's wind turbines, has approximately 3,000 wind turbines, covering four square miles. Green Mountain will supply customers with electricity from internationally approved wind turbines built by the NEG Micon company. The newly constructed wind turbines are rated at 700 kilowatts and equipped with over 130 foot-diameter blades. The blades spin at 27 revolutions per minute and are remotely operated requiring only minimal maintenance. These models can be installed almost anywhere, individually or on wind farms, and are suited to most environments and wind conditions.
Green Mountain's Wind for the Futuresm product has met the independent Green-e certification standard for environmentally preferred electricity products based on objective standards. The Green-e logo helps customers quickly identify electricity featuring renewable resources, thereby helping them compare electricity offerings.
Green Mountain Energy Resources is the leading retail marketer of electricity produced from renewable generation sources to residential customers. Its operations, currently in Pennsylvania and California, will be expanded nationwide as deregulation of the $200 billion electric utility industry evolves on a state-by-state basis. For more information on Green Mountain, call 1-888-246-6730 or visit their website at www.greenmountain.com.
Working Assets was established in 1985 to help busy people make a difference in the world. Every year, they raise millions of dollars for nonprofit groups by donating one percent of customers' long distance and credit card charges to organizations working for peace, equality, human rights and the environment. In the past 13 years, Working Assets has donated over $13 million to hundreds of progressive groups that customers help select.
PacifiCorp has been in the energy business since 1910 and is the largest investor-owned wholesale power marketer in the western U.S. Through Pacific Power, Utah Power, and Powercor, PacifiCorp provides energy to 1.4 million retail electric customers in the western U.S. and 550,000 customers in the State of Victoria, Australia.
The Weber Group Contacts: Debbie Curley, (650) 463-8689 or Sharen Santoski, (617) 520-7032
|
