Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)

Sterling Planet, Inc.

February 2014 - The City of Joliet, Illinois, has partnered with JustGreen, a subsidiary of Just Energy Group Inc., to purchase renewable energy. Renewable energy certificates (RECs) are obtained from 100% U.S. wind power facilities and are certified by Green-e Energy, a voluntary certification program for renewable energy. The REC purchase is equivalent to Joliet's electricity use for the next three years, which is estimated to be 167 million kWh.

Press Release - City of Joliet Goes Green with JustGreen Renewable Energy

February 2014 - The Green Schools Alliance (GSA), a peer-to-peer network of over 3,000 schools in 42 U.S. states and 35 countries, has partnered with Sterling Planet, a retail renewable energy provider, to deliver green power to the Green Schools Renewable Energy Purchasing Consortium. Since 2013, the consortium has invited schools to collectively purchase renewable energy certificates (RECs) for their facilities, earn national recognition from EPA's Green Power Partnership and encourage renewable energy use within the educational community. To date, schools are planning to purchase approximately 15,000 MWh of renewable energy.

Press Release - GSA Announces Purchasing Consortium Energy Provider

September 2013 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) announced the 2013 Green Power Leadership Awards in conjunction with the Renewable Energy Markets 2013 conference in Austin, Texas. The EPA recognizes exceptional achievement among EPA Green Power partners and green power suppliers, and differentiates award categories between green power purchaser and supplier awards.

The EPA handed out a total of twenty-four Green Power Leadership Awards. On the purchaser side, Cisco Systems, Georgetown University, Microsoft Corporation, and The Ohio State University were named Green Power Partners of the Year, and Cincinnati, OH and Mercer Island, WA were named Green Power Communities of the Year. Additionally, Apple, Kaiser Permanente, and Volkswagen Group of America Chattanooga Operations each received awards for on-site generation, and Intel, Kohl's, and Staples all received awards for sustained excellence in green power. On the supplier side, 3Degrees, Dominion Virginia Power, and Sterling Planet were named Green Power Suppliers of the year.

In addition to the EPA Green Power awards, CRS announced six award recipients: Women of Wind Energy was named Best Green Power Education Outreach Program; BMW was given an award for Best Marketing Campaign by a Green Power Purchaser, and Clean Currents, Pacific Power, and Rocky Mountain Power were all awarded for the Best Marketing Campaign by a Green Power Supplier. The Green Power Leader of the Year was awarded to Jon Wellinghoff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Press Release - EPA Honors 24 Organizations for Green Power Leadership

Press Release - Center for Resource Solutions Announces 2013 Green Power Leadership Award Winners

April 2013 - The National Hockey League (NHL) is partnering with Sterling Planet to reduce the environmental impact of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Sterling Planet is providing the NHL with 12.85 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of Green-e Energy certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) from U.S. wind projects. The purchase will help counterbalance the emissions generated from electricity used at playoff games and team travel to those games. Part of the purchase is being used to match 100 percent of the annual electricity use of the NHL's New York City headquarters. This is the second year the NHL and Sterling Planet have partnered in this project. Through this initiative, the NHL will remain a member of the EPA's Green Power Partnership Club.

Press Release - NHL Green, Sterling Planet to reduce environmental impact associated with the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Additional Information - EPA Green Power Partnership Club

September 2012 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) announced the 2012 Green Power Leadership Awards in conjunction with the Renewable Energy Markets 2012 conference in Washington D.C. The EPA recognizes exceptional achievement among EPA Green Power partners and green power suppliers, and differentiates award categories between green power purchaser and supplier awards.

The EPA handed out a total of twenty-eight Green Power Leadership Awards. On the purchaser side, The City of Austin, TX, Hilton Worldwide, Microsoft Corporation and the University of Oklahoma were named Green Power Partners of the Year, and Beaverton, Oregon and Oak Park, Illinois were named Green Power Communities of the Year. Additionally, Coca Cola Refreshments and Zotos international, Inc. each received awards for on-site generation, and Intel, Staples, Kohl's, and Whole Foods Market all received awards for sustained excellence in green power. On the supplier side, Renewable Choice Energy and Sterling Planet were named Green Power Suppliers of the year, and Wellesley Municipal Light Plant was named Innovative Green Power Program of the.

In addition to the EPA Green Power awards, CRS announced four award recipients: Wisconsin Public Service Community Foundation was named Best Green Power Education Outreach Program; the National Football League was given an award for Best Marketing Campaign by a Green Power Purchaser and Puget Sound Energy for the Best Marketing Campaign by a Green Power Supplier; and Lisa Jackson of the EPA was given an award for the Green Power Leader of the Year.

EPA News Release - EPA Green Power Leadership Awards

CRS News Release - Center for Resource Solutions Announces 2012 Green Power Leadership Award Winners

Additional Relevant Green Power Network Stories -
Microsoft and McDonald's Join EPA Green Power Partnership
Coca-Cola Earns Third on EPA Top 20 List of On-Site Green Power Generators
Intel, Kohl's Lead Corporate Renewable Energy Efforts
SunEdison and Staples Reach 30 million kWh of Solar Production
Wellesley (MA) Program Achieves 10% Participation
Wellesley Becomes First EPA Green Power Community in Massachusetts

February 2012 - Greenerprinter and Giovanni Food Company have joined Green-e Marketplace by purchasing Green-e Energy certified renewable energy certificates to meet their electricity demands. By participating in Green-e Marketplace, both companies can now display the Green-e logo to inform customers of their purchases of renewable energy.

Greenerprinter purchased 304 megawatt-hours (MWh) of Green-e Energy certified wind power, enough to meet 100 percent of the annual electricity needs for its U.S. operations, including its headquarters and printing facility. The purchase is supplied by Sterling Planet. Giovanni Food Company's purchase of 1,440 MWh of Green-e Energy certified wind is supplied by Constellation Energy. Giovanni's green power purchase matches 60 percent of the electricity needs at its manufacturing facility.

News Release - Greenerprinter Moves to 100% Wind Energy

News Release - Giovanni Food Company Goes Green With Renewable Energy Certificates From Constellation Energy and Joins Green-e Marketplace

News Release - Greenerprinter Powers 100% of its Operations With Renewable Energy

October 2011 - DTE Energy has teamed with Sterling Planet to create a pilot program for the creation and sale of Energy Optimization Credits (EOCs), known as White Tags. Each EOC represents 1 megawatt-hour (MWh) of measurable and verifiable energy efficient projects or actions that reduce electricity use at facilities served by DTE Energy. DTE Energy will purchase up to 25,000 EOCs from electricity savings and up to 100,000 EOCs from natural gas savings from commercial and industrial customers over the next two years of the pilot program. All EOCs will be measured and validated by Sterling Planet.

DTE will use the EOCs to help meet Michigan energy efficiency mandates.

News Release - DTE Energy Launches Program to Offer Energy Credits to Commercial and Industrial Customers

Additional Information - Energy Optimization Credits - EOCs/White Tags

Additional Information - White Tags Energy Efficiency Certificates

December 2010 - The InterContinental New York Barclay hotel purchased more than 6.3 million kilowatt-hours of wind energy, which is enough to meet 100 percent of the hotel's annual electricity needs. Sterling Planet will supply the hotel with Green-e Energy certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) from nationwide wind resources.

News Release - InterContinental New York Barclay Hotel Energizes With 100% Wind

June 2010 - After three years being one of the largest corporate purchasers of renewable energy, PepsiCo did not renew its 3-year contract for 1.2 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually from Sterling Planet. Citing technology advancements and changes in incentives, PepsiCo decided to drop its primary renewable energy certificate (REC) purchase and will instead invest over $30 million dollars toward new renewable energy projects in the U.S. over the next three years. PepsiCo currently generates 159 million kWh of renewable energy annually. The company may continue to purchase a limited number RECs, for example, for LEED certification purposes.

News Article - PepsiCo Drops RECs in Favor of $30M in On-site Generation

Additional Information - 2009 PepsiCo Annual Environmental Sustainability

February 2010 - The Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) launched the Buy Clean Energy 2010 campaign, partnered with a Web site enabling users to research local utility green power programs and buy renewable energy certificates (RECs). The campaign is sponsored by Xcel Energy, Sterling Planet, EcoElectrons, and various supporting organizations. Sterling Planet is offering a 100% wind REC option priced at $5.00 per 1,000 kWh block. The campaign has set a goal of 1 billion kilowatt-hours of new purchases in 2010.

News Release - Buy Clean Energy 2010 Launched

Additional Information - Buy Clean Energy Campaign Web Site

Contact: Jeff Swenerton, 415-561-2119

January 2010 - Beaulieu Commercial, a carpet manufacturer, has contracted with Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Sterling Planet to purchase wind energy equal to 100% percent of the organization's purchased electricity use nationwide. Under the agreement, the manufacturer will purchase 9 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of Green-e certified renewable energy certificates annually to meet the demand for manufacturing its Nexterra tile line. By participating in the Green-e Marketplace program, Beaulieu is able to display the Green-e logo on its Nexterra line and in corporate communications.

The company was honored with a 2009 Green Power Leadership Award by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

News Release - Beaulieu Commercial Recognized as Leaders in Green Energy

January 2010 - The Natural Resources Defense Council and the Alliance for Clean Energy New York announced Green Power NYC, a new website that allows New York City residents and small businesses to purchase renewable energy. From the site, consumers can select their desired type of clean power and energy provider and fill out a form to make the switch to renewable energy. The site was developed with funds donated from the Wolfensohn Family Foundation.

Currently, the site offers renewable energy options from two suppliers: Sterling Planet and Community Energy.

ConEdison Solutions is offering WIND Power, a 100% wind energy product, at a rate of 2.5¢/kWh, and GREEN Power, a blended product of wind (35%) and small hydro (65%) energy, at a rate of 1.0¢/kWh. The renewable energy for both products is supplied by Community Energy, Inc. from New York State facilities.

Sterling Planet is offering Sterling Wind, a 100% wind energy product sourced from regional/national facilities, at a rate of 1.85¢/kWh, and Sterling NY Choice, a blended product of wind (50%) and small hydro (50%) energy sourced from New York State facilities, at a rate of 2.5¢/kWh.

News Release - New Website Lets New Yorkers Switch to Green Power in Three Clicks

Additional Information - Participating Green Power Providers

Contact: Kate Slusark, 212-727-4592

September 2009 - The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Green Power Partnership recently recognized Lockheed Martin, a global advanced technology security company, for its purchase of 98 million kilowatt-hours of green power, which represents 5 percent of its estimated electricity usage, making Lockheed Martin the 34th largest green power purchaser in the nation. A portion of the corporation's green power purchase consists of renewable energy certificates (RECs) purchased from 3Degrees Inc. and Sterling Planet, but the company also purchases bundled green energy from utilities serving regions in which its operations are located.

In addition, Lockheed Martin has a goal to reduce energy use by 25 percent by 2012 and was awarded a "Sustainable Communities Champion" award by San Diego Gas & Electric for its new campus at Scripps Ranch in San Diego.

News Release - Lockheed Martin Opens New "Green" Facility In San Diego

News Release - EPA Recognizes Lockheed Martin As A Top Green Power Purchaser

Contact: Gail Rymer, 301-535-9500

July 2009 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Green Power Partnership announced that green power buyers in Illinois combined for purchases of more than 445 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity from renewable resources for 2008. The City of Chicago topped green power buyers in the state, with a purchase of 215 million kWh of wind and biomass energy from MidAmerican Energy. Other large buyers included PepsiAmericas Inc., which purchased 157 million kWh from Sterling Planet, Northwestern University in Evanston, and healthcare company Baxter International Inc. An additional six Illinois companies were recognized by the Partnership for buying enough green power to supply 100% of their electricity demand for the year. These were General Converting Inc., Talbott Hotel, Goodness Greenness, Tartan Realty Group, Digital Hub, and Farr Associates.

News Release: EPA'S Illinois Green Power Partners Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions

June 2009 - Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP, a law firm with five offices across the United States and a global client base, announced that it is purchasing renewable energy for 100% of its electricity use. Under the agreement with Sterling Planet, the company will purchase 7.2 million kWh of renewable energy certificates (RECs). Sutherland has also joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Green Power Partnership, a group of organizations that have made voluntary commitments to purchase electricity from renewable sources.

News Release - Sutherland Law Firm Goes 100% Green with Sterling Planet's Renewable Energy

Contact:
Tom Warren, 404-853-8548
Peter Dean, 212-389-5064
sustainable@sutherland.com

October 2008 - Kohl’s Department Stores implements a diverse strategy for its U.S. operations, known as the "Kohl’s Green Scene." The strategy includes an annual renewable energy purchase of approximately 236 million kWh, making the retailer the 15th largest U.S. renewable energy purchaser, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Green Power Partnership program. In recognition of the purchase and Kohl’s other green initiatives, Kohl’s received an EPA Green Power Leadership award at the 2008 Renewable Energy Marketing Conference.

The purchase of RECs from various renewable energy sources represents about 20% of the company’s U.S. electricity use. Kohl’s REC suppliers include the City of Dover, Neuwing Energy Ventures, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Sterling Planet, and WM Renewable Energy.

Kohl’s other green initiatives feature on-site solar-powered energy generation either installed or planned for 130 stores in six states, with over 100 stores currently earning the EPA’s Energy Star label for superior energy efficiency and environmental performance. In addition, a total of 45 Kohl’s stores are expected to receive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council in 2008. Other initiatives include the installation of automated demand response controls at store locations to reduce power usage during peak energy periods, high efficiency lighting retrofits, cardboard recycling, and efficient freight distribution, through which the company conducts more than 30% of its inbound transportation via rail.

News Article - Kohl’s Green Retail Efforts Worth Checking Out

Additional Information - Kohl’s Green Initiatives

October 2008 - Twenty-five companies, organizations and individuals were recognized with national achievement awards at the 2008 National Renewable Energy Marketing Conference in Denver. The Green Power Leadership Awards recognize actions that are significantly advancing the development of renewable electricity sources through renewable energy markets. The awards are presented by the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Center for Resource Solutions.

Among green power purchasers, the highest honors went to the Community of Bellingham, Washington, Cisco Systems, Intel Corporation, University of Pennsylvania, and WhiteWave Foods Company, who were named Partner of the Year. The City of Palo Alto Utilities, 3Degrees Inc., and Sterling Planet were Suppliers of the Year and AmerenUE won for New Green Power Program. Dr. Jan Hamrin, founder of the Center for Resource Solutions, received the Green Power Pioneer Award.

News Release - Utility Suppliers Earn Nation’s Top Honors for Green Power Efforts

More Information - 2008 Green Power Leadership Awards

July 2008 - Sterling Planet, a provider of renewable energy certificates (RECs) and greenhouse gas (GHG) verified emissions reductions (VERs), announced an agreement to purchase what are believed to be the first VERs from a U.S.-based project to be certified by the Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS) Program. A VCS-certified VER, known as a Voluntary Carbon Unit (VCU), represents one ton of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) GHG emission reduction or removal.

Under the agreement, Sterling Planet will purchase an undisclosed quantity of VCUs derived from both methane capture and from renewable energy generation at the Greenville County landfill-gas-to-energy project in Greer, South Carolina. The VCUs will become part of Sterling Planet's VER inventory to serve their retail clients in the voluntary carbon offset market. In all, the Greenville project is expected to prevent the emission of 125,000 tons of CO2e per year over the next ten years. Det Norske Veritas (DNV), a risk management company, independently verified the project to the VCS.

Officially launched in November 2007, the VCS program provides a standard for voluntary GHG emission reduction projects and their verification. VCS program registries are scheduled to become operational in September 2008 for the main purpose of managing transfers in the chain of ownership and the retirement of VCUs, to prevent double counting.

News Release - Sterling Planet Announces First Transaction Originating from the First Publicly Announced Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS) Certified Project in the United States

Stering Planet Contact: Marcus Krembs, 720-946-6373
VCS Program Contact: secretariat@v-c-s.org

March 2008 - The Pepsi Center, Colorado's largest indoor sports and entertainment venue, announced that it will purchase renewable energy for all of the electricity used at the site. Under an agreement with Sterling Planet, the facility owners will purchase 11 million kWh of Green-e certified renewable energy certificates (RECs). The arena, which is home to the NBA Denver Nuggets and the NHL Colorado Avalanche, hosts more than 200 sporting events and concerts a year and is the site of the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

News release - Pepsi Center Going 100 Percent Green

October 2007 - Sterling Planet announced that it signed an agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) extending the agency's commitment to purchase renewable energy equivalent to the annual electricity needs at more than 190 facilities nationwide. Under the agreement, Sterling Planet will provide 135 million kWh from renewable energy sources to EPA in the next year.

As a buyer of 100% renewable energy, EPA continues to be an active partner in the agency's own Green Power Partnership, a voluntary public-private program that promotes renewable energy. EPA ranks seventh on the program's top 25 partner list, second only to the U.S. Air Force among government buyers.

News Release - Sterling Planet selected to supply US Environmental Protection Agency

April 2007 - PepsiCo, one of the world's largest food and beverage companies, announced that it will purchase enough Green-e certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) to match the purchased electricity used by all PepsiCo U.S.-based manufacturing facilities, headquarters, distribution centers and regional offices. The three-year purchase totals more than one billion kWh annually, making PepsiCo the nation's largest corporate purchaser of RECs, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Green Power Partnership. The RECs are being supplied by Sterling Planet, which will seek to source the RECs to model PepsiCo's purchased electricity use geographically.

News Release - Pepsico Makes Largest Corporate Purchase of Renewable Energy Certificates

News Release - EPA Recognizes Largest-Ever Corporate Green Power Purchase

News Article - PepsiCo Takes Top Spot in Global Warming Battle

Additional Information - U.S. EPA Green Power Partnership's Top 25 Partners

January 2007 - Sterling Planet, Inc. announced a partnership with the National Football League (NFL) Environmental Program and Florida Power & Light (FPL) to make Super Bowl XLI and the NFL Experience Football Theme Park both 100% renewable energy events. Although this will be the third "carbon-neutral" Super Bowl, it is the first Super Bowl to use 100% renewable energy. Sterling Planet will supply renewable energy certificates (RECs) from Florida-based solar and bioenergy sources to indirectly offset greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with conventional electricity consumption at the events.

News Release - Sterling Planet Provides Renewable Energy for Super Bowl XLI and NFL Experience (PDF 82 KB) Download Adobe Reader

News Article - Greening the Super Bowl

January 2007 - Penn State University will purchase green power to meet 20% of its electrical energy needs for the next five years, up from its previous commitment of 5%. Under a new set of contracts, the university will purchase 83.6 million kWh of green power annually, including Pennsylvania-based wind energy from Community Energy, Inc., national wind and biomass energy from 3 Phases Energy (now serviced by 3Degrees), and low-impact certified hydroelectric power from Sterling Planet, Inc. The university was able to increase its green power purchases by negotiating a lower average purchase price; the new contracts carry an average price of 0.5¢/kWh compared to 1.4¢/kWh under its previous wind energy contract.

News Release - University Awards Environmentally Friendly Energy Contracts to Enhance Existing Green Initiatives

December 2006 - Intermountain Rural Electric Association, an electric distribution cooperative serving 133,000 customers in parts of 10 Colorado counties, announced a voluntary program through which customers can purchase renewable energy credits (RECs) from either wind or solar generation. The wind and solar credits are priced at a 1¢/kWh and 5.5¢/kWh equivalent, respectively. Customers must designate a monthly payment amount starting at $5, which is not tied to electric usage. The RECs are supplied by Sterling Planet from projects located nationwide.

News Article - Co-op Changes Course on Green Energy

September 2006 - The Auraria Higher Education Center, which houses Metro State College, Community College of Denver, and the University of Colorado at Denver, recently entered into a contract with Sterling Planet, Inc. to purchase 17 million kWh of renewable energy certificates (RECs), equivalent to nearly half of the electricity use on the Auraria campus. The contract went into effect on July 1, with an option to renew for the next two years. In 2004, Auraria students voted to assess themselves $1 per semester for three years to be used for clean-energy sources.

News Article - Auraria Leads Colorado Higher Ed in 'Green Power'

August 2006 - Pepco Energy Services announced that Lerner Enterprises and The Tower Companies have committed to purchase 100% wind energy for both the Washington Square office building in Washington, D.C., and their joint headquarters building in Bethesda, Maryland. Under the terms of the 48-month contract, Pepco Energy Services will provide more than 64 million kWh of renewable energy certificates (RECs) supplied by Sterling Planet from wind projects nationwide.

News Release - Pepco Energy Services Provides Wind Power to Prestigious Washington Square Office Building and Lerner/Tower Headquarters

News Article - Real Estate Firms Buy Credits for Wind Power

August 2006 - Tim and Diane Mueller, owners of Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Colorado, Okemo Mountain Resort in Vermont, and Mount Sunapee Resort in New Hampshire, entered into an agreement with Gunnison County Electric Association to purchase 27 million kWh of renewable energy certificates (RECs) to offset 100% of the electricity use at the three ski resorts for one year. The RECs are being supplied by Sterling Planet. The Muellers are paying a 10% premium on the RECs price to promote Colorado wind energy development through a partnership between Sterling Planet and the Colorado Governor's Office of Energy Management and Conservation.

News Release - Muellers Go "Green" to Power "White"

News Article - Crested Butte Ski Resort Turning its Electricity Use Green

July 2006 - Pepco Energy Services announced that it has been awarded a contract to supply green power to the Washington, D.C., headquarters of the National Geographic Society. Under the 29-month contract, Pepco Energy Services will supply more than 39 million kWh of Green-e certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) sourced from Sterling Planet utilizing wind energy projects located across the United States. When combined with savings under the Society's existing electric service contract, the cost of the green power will be less than current standard-offer service rates for D.C. electricity customers.

News Release - Pepco Energy Services Supplies Affordable Wind Power To National Geographic Society

July 2006 - Duke University has become the latest institution to break into the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Green Power Partnership's (GPP) list of the "Top 25" green power purchasers. Overall, the school is purchasing 54 million kWh per year of renewable energy certificates (RECs) supplied through an agreement with Sterling Planet, Inc. The most recent commitment by a Duke program comes from the Fuqua School of Business, which committed to offset 100% of its electricity usage with REC purchases.

The GPP purchaser list is updated four times annually. Combined, the Top 25 purchases amount to 3.7 billion kWh of green power annually.

News Release - Fuqua School of Business to Purchase Renewable Energy Certificates

News Release - Nicholas School Purchases Renewable Energy Certificates to Offset Fossil Fuel Use

Additional Information - EPA GPP Top 25 Partners

July 2006 - Warren Wilson College, a private, liberal arts college located in North Carolina, has become the first college or university in the Southeast to offset all of its electricity use with green power. The college will purchase 4.4 million kWh annually of renewable energy certificates (RECs) from Sterling Planet, Inc. at an additional cost of $20,000 or about 0.45¢/kWh. The purchase is the result of a year-long effort by students who researched numerous REC providers, launched a successful petition drive, and worked with the college administration to get the purchase approved. A student fee of about $20 will provide the funding for the purchase.

News Release - Warren Wilson College Campus Converts to 100 Percent Green Power

News Article - Warren Wilson Students to Pay a Little More to be Green

May 2006 - The Clean Energy Partnership (CEP), a non-partisan, not-for-profit business group, has teamed with Washington Gas Energy Services (WGES) and Sterling Planet, Inc. to offer businesses a green power purchase option in Maryland's competitive retail electricity market. Through WGES, businesses can buy electricity with 50% or 100% wind energy content at rates below those for standard offer service. The product is supplied by Sterling Planet using renewable energy credits (RECs) sourced from wind projects located across the nation.

News Release - CEP Unveils New Wind Electric Offer to Save Money and Help the Environment

CEP Contact: Gary Skulnik (240) 514-0189

April 2006 - The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU), along with other state agencies and leaders, announced the statewide availability of the CleanPower Choice program. The program allows electricity users to support the development of renewable energy sources located in New Jersey and the mid-Atlantic region by purchasing green power from one of four marketers: Community Energy, Green Mountain Energy, Jersey-Atlantic Wind, and Sterling Planet.

Participating electricity customers will continue to be served and billed by their local electric company, and the renewable energy purchase will appear as a separate line item on the bill. The program began October 1 in the PSE&G and JCP&L service territories and has now expanded to Atlantic City Electric and Orange & Rockland Utilities.

News Release - New Jersey Makes the Choice for Clean Energy

News Article - N.J. to Offer Renewable Energy Surcharge

News Article - 'Green' Electrical Bills Will Cost More Green

NJBPU Contact: Anne Marie McShea, (609) 777-3300

November 2005 - The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced a commitment to purchase renewable energy for all its electricity needs. Under the agreement, DEP facilities will collectively purchase 7.6 million kWh of renewable energy annually through the CTCleanEnergyOptions program, adding an estimated $125,000, or about 10%, to the department's annual electric bill. The purchase will be split evenly between the two clean energy suppliers participating in the program, Community Energy and Sterling Planet.

The DEP purchase represents the largest institutional clean energy purchase since the CTCleanEnergyOptions program was unveiled in April 2005, and will help the state achieve its 20% renewable electricity purchase goal for state agencies and universities for 2010. To date, about 5,500 Connecticut customers have enrolled in the program.

News Release - DEP Announces Move to "Clean" Energy: First State Agency to Get Power from Renewable Sources

November 2005 - Customers of Consolidated Edison Company of New York (Con Edison), a regulated utility which provides electricity in nearly all of New York City and most of Westchester County, can choose among green power options supplied by four providers. Given New York's competitive retail electricity market, Con Edison customers can switch electricity service to an energy service company which provides green power, currently either ConEdison Solutions or Econnergy, or can sign up with a green power marketer, either Community Energy or Sterling Planet, while still receiving electricity from Con Edison.

More Information - Con Edison Green Power Brochure (PDF 847 KB) Download Acrobat Reader

Correction Notice - This article replaces a previous article entitled "Sterling Planet Teams with Con Edison to Offer Green Option"

October 2005 - The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities announced the start of a new program through which the state's retail electric customers can purchase renewable energy without switching electricity suppliers. Under the CleanPower Choice Program, residential and business customers can enroll by checking a box on their utility bills and selecting from among renewable energy products offered by four marketers: Community Energy, Green Mountain Energy Company, Jersey-Atlantic Wind, and Sterling Planet. The program began October 1 in the PSE&G and JCP&L service territories and will expand to Atlantic City Electric and Orange & Rockland Utilities in April 2006. The products available through the program are as follows:

Community Energy is offering a blend of wind (50%), low-impact hydro (49%), and solar (1%) at a rate premium of 1.3¢/kWh.

Green Mountain Energy is offering a blend of wind (50%), and small hydro (50%) sourced in the region at a premium of 0.9¢/kWh.

Jersey-Atlantic Wind is offering a blend of New Jersey-based wind (50%) and low-impact hydro (50%) at a premium of 2.9¢/kWh. The company is also offering a 100% New Jersey-based wind product in 100-kWh monthly increments for $5.50, or a premium of 5.5¢/kWh.

Sterling Planet is offering a blend of new wind (33%), small hydro (33%), and new bioenergy (34%) from sources in the Mid-Atlantic states at a premium of 1.2¢/kWh. Customers can elect to purchase the product to meet 50% or 100% of their electricity usage.

News Release - Acting Governor Codey Declares October "Clean Energy Month in New Jersey"

News Article - Would You Pay More for Clean Energy?

More Information - New Jersey CleanPower Choice Program

NJ BPU Contact: Anne Marie McShea, (609) 777-3300

August 2005 - The Western Area Power Administration announced that 10 entities of the U.S. Department of Energy, including the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, have teamed with the Fort Carson Army Base to purchase 117,825 megawatt-hours (MWhs) of renewable energy certificates (RECs) annually for the next five years. The RECs will come from a combination of biomass generation from sawmill plants in California, and wind projects located in California and Nebraska, and will be supplied by Sterling Planet, a national RECs marketer based in Norcross, GA. Western coordinated the requests for proposal for all of the agencies and also committed to purchase a portion of the RECs.

News Release - Agencies Purchase Biomass, Wind Certificates

News Release - Fort Carson Invests in Renewable Energy Production (PDF 116 KB)

Western Contact: LaVerne Kyriss (720) 962-7051

March 2005 - The Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC) announced that Georgia-based Sterling Planet and New York City-based Community Energy have been selected through a competitive bidding process to provide renewable energy options for customers of the state's two major utility companies, United Illuminating and Connecticut Light and Power. Under the new program, which will begin on April 1, customers will have the option to purchase green power from either of the two providers to meet 50% or 100% of their electricity needs.

The Sterling Planet product is sourced from new wind (33%), existing small hydro (33%), and new landfill gas generators (34%) at a premium of 1.15¢/kWh over standard offer service, which would cost the average residential customer an additional $5.75 per month for the 100% option. The Community Energy offering, which is sourced from 50% new wind and 50% landfill gas, is priced at 1.1¢/kWh over standard offer rates. The two utilities will distribute information about the green power options in monthly billing statements and through their respective Web sites.

News Release - Community Energy, Inc. Announces Launch of CTCleanEnergyOptions

News Release - DPUC Announces Start of Clean Energy Options (PDF 113 KB)

News Article - Starting April 1, electric customers in Connecticut can go "green"

DPUC Contact: Beryl Lyons (860) 827-2670

November 2004 - Keys Energy Services (KES), a municipal utility serving 27,000 customers in the Florida Keys, is now offering green power to its residential and business customers. Under the GO GREEN program, customers can choose from two green power options. The first, called Florida Ever Green, is supplied from solar hot water heating systems (20%), photovoltaic systems (5%), and biomass facilities (75%) located in Florida. The utility offers $10, $25, and $50 monthly purchase options for this product, which carries a 2.75¢/kWh premium price.

The second option, called USA Green, is supplied from wind farms (50%), biomass facilities (45%), and photovoltaic systems (5%) sourced nationwide and is offered as $10, $15, and $20 monthly purchase options, with a lower rate premium of 1.6¢/kWh. Both products are supplied by Sterling Planet and certified by Environmental Resources Trust. There is no minimum enrollment period for either product.

KES Contacts: Rochele Miller, 305-295-1115
Julio J. Barroso, 305-295-1023

November 2004 - Lakeland Electric, a municipal utility serving about 100,000 customers in Lakeland, FL, announced an agreement with Sterling Planet to market up to 330,000 kWh of renewable energy certificates (RECs) derived from solar water heating and photovoltaic (PV) systems to other utilities and corporate customers. The deal is believed to be the nation's first involving RECs derived from solar water heaters.

The utility employs special meters to measure the thermal output of the solar water heating systems and converts the thermal energy to an electricity-equivalent. In September, Sterling Planet sold 50,000 kWh of solar RECs to the Democratic National Convention and Keys Energy Services, which includes the RECs in one of its two green power options.

News Release - Lakeland Electric Trades Green Energy Credits from Solar Water Heaters

Lakeland Contact: Jeff Curry (863) 834-6853

September 2004 - SmartPower, a Hartford, Connecticut-based non-profit organization, announced that more than 1,250 electricity customers have enrolled in Narragansett Electric's GreenUp program just five months after its launch. Under the program, Narragansett customers can purchase renewable energy from one of four participating green energy marketers—Community Energy, Inc., Conservation Services Group, People's Power and Light, and Sterling Planet—without switching their electricity service.

With support from the Rhode Island Renewable Energy Fund, SmartPower conducted an integrated marketing campaign in cooperation with Narragansett Electric to raise awareness of the renewable energy program.

Newsletter Article - Power Switch is on as Rhode Island Reaches 1250 Clean Energy Customers (September 2004)

SmartPower Contact: Michael Trahan (860) 214-6868

September 2004 - Niagara Mohawk (NiMo) announced that about 8,800 customers have enrolled in the utility's GreenUp renewable energy program, since it was unveiled two years ago. Under the program, the utility's customers can purchase renewable energy from one of four participating marketers—Community Energy, EnviroGen, Green Mountain Energy, and Sterling Planet—while continuing to be served by the utility. The additional cost to purchase either 50% or 100% green power ranges from 1.0¢/kWh to 1.5 ¢/kWh, depending on the provider selected. NiMo includes the surcharge as a line item on the participating customer's bill.

News Release - Niagara Mohawk Customers Choosing Renewable Energy

NiMo Contact: Alberto Bianchetti (315) 428-6932
Community Energy Contact: Ron Kamen (917) 453-5740
Green Mountain Energy Contact: Andy Prince (512) 289-4728
Sterling Planet Contact: Bob Maddox (203) 266-7973
EnviroGen Contact: Robert Kreppel (716) 631-1518

August 2004 - Constellation NewEnergy, a Baltimore-based power marketer, announced that it is supplying green power to nine Starwood hotel properties in New York City during the Republican National Convention. Under the agreement, the marketer is supplying renewable energy credits sourced from Sterling Planet to meet the hotels' anticipated peak demand during the convention, approximately 10 million kWh. EAD Environmental and Constellation NewEnergy also supplied green power to Boston's FleetCenter during the Democratic National Convention in July.

News Release - Constellation NewEnergy Supplying Green Power to Starwood Hotels During RNC Convention in New York

News Release - Constellation NewEnergy to Supply Renewable Power for Democratic National Convention

News Release - Hyping Hydro Power (EAD Environmental Offsets the Democratic National Convention)

August 2004 - The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), a municipal utility that serves nearly 1.1 million electricity customers on Long Island in New York, announced that its LIPA Green Choice Program is now open for enrollment. Under the program, LIPA customers can purchase renewable energy attributes through one of the three participating green power marketers—Community Energy, EnviroGen, or Sterling Planet. The green power options are supplied from sources such as wind, hydro and biomass and range in price from 1¢/kWh to 2¢/kWh above standard electricity rates. LIPA will apply the green power surcharge to the standard monthly electricity bills of participating customers.

Participants can change their initial selections or discontinue participation in the program at any time. LIPA will be supporting the program with a public education campaign that will include inserts in monthly billing statements, a Web page, and newspaper advertisements.

News Release - LIPA Opens Green Power Enrollment

News Article - 'Green' power purchase eased by LIPA plan - No longer online at www.newsday.com

June 2004 - 1st Rochdale Cooperative is now offering a fixed-price green power option to electricity customers in Con Edison's service territory in New York City and Westchester County. The product, called Sterling Green, is supplied from in-state renewable energy sources, including new wind (40%), small hydro (30%), and methane from landfills or animal wastes (30%). Customers can purchase the green power at a fixed price of 14.4¢/kWh—a 1.5¢/kWh premium above the Cooperative's standard electricity rate of 12.9¢/kWh—for one year from the time of enrollment. Participating customers will receive a separate bill from 1st Rochdale. The product is supplied by Sterling Planet and certified by Environmental Resources Trust.

1st Rochdale Contact: Tom Thompson (917) 886-4793
Jakob Cirell (212) 673-3900 ext. 1

March 2004 - Narragansett Electric, a National Grid subsidiary, now offers a green power option to its 465,000 electricity customers in Rhode Island. Under the utility's GreenUp program, customers can purchase green power from one of four participating green power marketers: Community Energy, Conservation Services Group, People's Power & Light, and Sterling Planet. The product options range in price from 0.75¢/kWh to 2.0¢/kWh and consist of renewable energy supplied from a variety of sources, such as wind, small hydro, biomass, and solar. Participating customers do not switch from their existing utility service but will see a green power surcharge on their regular utility bills. National Grid also offers the GreenUp program through distribution subsidiaries in Massachusetts and New York.

News Release - Community Energy Makes NewWind Energy Available to Rhode Island Residential and Small-Commercial Customers through New Narragansett Electric Program

News Release - Sterling Planet Offers Narragansett Electric Customers a Robust Renewable Energy Blend With Unprecedented 25% New Solar

News Release - Narragansett Electric Offers Customers New Green Energy Program

March 2004 - SmartPower, a Connecticut-based, non-profit organization that promotes the use of renewable energy, has formed a new partnership with the Rhode Island Renewable Energy Fund (RIREF) to publicize the availability of green power in the Ocean State. Beginning in April, Rhode Island residents will have the opportunity to purchase green power from four providers: Conservation Services Group, Community Energy, People's Power & Light and Sterling Planet. Each provider will market its products individually while SmartPower will conduct a direct marketing campaign to educate state consumers.

The RIREF is administered by the Rhode Island State Energy Office and is financed with funds collected from Rhode Island electric ratepayers. The Fund works to bring more affordable renewable electricity to the state and supports consumer education efforts.

Monthly Charge Newsletter (March 2004) - SmartPower Launches Rhode Island Effort

Smartpower Contact: Brian Keane (860) 249-7040

November 2003 - Sterling Planet, Inc. announced that it has entered into agreements to supply renewable energy certificates (RECs) to corporate partners of the World Resources Institute's (WRI) Green Power Market Development Group, including Alcoa Inc., Delphi Corporation, DuPont, Interface, Pitney Bowes and Staples. Collectively, Sterling Planet will supply the companies with 795 million kWh of RECs from wind and bioenergy resources over the next several years.

News Release - Major U.S. Corporations, World Resources Institute and Sterling Planet Make History with Record-Setting Corporate Renewable Energy Purchase - No longer online at sterlingplanet.com

Sterling Planet Contact: Mel Jones (404) 513-0259 or (770) 408-6389

October 2003 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it has committed to purchase green power to meet 50% of the annual electricity needs at its laboratory complex in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Under three separate agreements, the Agency will purchase a total of 35.7 million kWh of green power for the facility.

During the 2004 fiscal year, EPA will purchase 5.7 million kWh of green power for the laboratory complex through the new statewide NC GreenPower program. In addition, it has contracted with 3 Phases Energy (now serviced by 3Degrees) for 10 million kWh of wind energy certificates from a wind power project in Algona, Iowa, and with Sterling Planet for 20 million kWh of renewable energy certificates from a landfill gas plant in Jacksonville, Florida.

With this latest purchase, EPA now uses green power for more than 40% of the electricity needs at its facilities nationwide. Other purchases include:

• Richmond, California: 1.8 million kWh per year
• Golden, Colorado: 1.9 million kWh per year
• Cincinnati, Ohio: 15.4 million kWh per year
• Chelmsford, Massachusetts: 2.7 million kWh per year
• Manchester, Washington: 2.2 million kWh per year
• New York, New York: 6.1 million kWh per year
• Houston, Texas: 3.4 million kWh per year
• Edison, New Jersey: 6.3 million kWh per year
• Washington, D.C.: 39 million kWh per year

News Release - EPA Boosts Green Power Use With RTP Renewable Energy Purchase

Additional Information - EPA's Green Power Purchases

September 2003 - Massachusetts Electric Company and Nantucket Electric Company, both electricity distribution subsidiaries of National Grid, announced the availability of new retail green power products for their Massachusetts customers. The GreenUp program offers products from four different green power suppliers, ranging in price from 1.2¢/kWh to 2.5¢/kWh above a customer's standard electricity rate. The products are blends of power from new and existing renewable energy resources.

News Release - Massachusetts Electric Offers Customers New Green Energy Program

News Release - Nantucket Electric Offers Customers New Green Energy Program

September 2003 - The Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) announced that its Green-e program has certified another seven Tradable Renewable Certificate (TRC) products. TRCs, or green tags, represent the environmental attributes of electricity generated from renewable sources.

The newly certified products are offered by: EAD Environmental, People's Power and Light, Sterling Planet, WindCurrent, Big Green Energy, Mainstay Energy, and Green Mountain Energy Company. A total of 15 marketers now sell Green-e certified TRCs nationally.

News Release - Seven NEW Green-e Certified "Green Tag" Products Increase Business & Consumer Choice

CRS Contact: Këri Bolding (415) 561-2100

July 2003 - Suburban Energy Services (formerly Agway Energy Products), a Syracuse, NY-based company that provides heating oil, natural gas, and other energy services, announced that it is offering green power to homeowners and small businesses in the Niagara Mohawk and NYSEG electric service territories in partnership with Sterling Planet. The companies are offering a Green-e certified product called Sterling Green, which is a blend of 40% wind, 30% small hydroelectric and 30% methane gas derived from renewable sources. Customers choosing the green power product will pay 1.5¢/kWh more than Agway's variable rate for electricity.

News Release - Agway Energy Products Announces Green Electricity Offer: New Product Available In Niagara Mohawk and NYSEG Territories

Suburban Energy Services Contact: Michael Meath (315) 449-6445
Sterling Planet Contact: Bob Maddox (877) 276-3525

March 2003 - The Tower Companies, a family-owned commercial and residential building developer, announced an agreement to purchase green power to supply company-owned buildings in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Under the terms of the 18-month deal, Pepco Energy Services (PES) will supply 24 million kWh of green power to meet 50% of the energy needs of Tower's commercial buildings and 25% of the energy of Tower-owned apartment communities. Sterling Planet will provide the green power to PES using renewable energy certificates.

News Release - Companies Join Forces to Provide Washington's First Renewable Energy for a Commercial Developer

January 2003 - Green power marketer Sterling Planet has completed the acquisition of two Oklahoma-based engineering companies — EDG Power Group and Engineering Design Group. With the acquisitions, Sterling Planet now has the combined capability to develop renewable energy generating facilities and market the output nationwide. The company has a total of 175 employees working out of offices in Atlanta, Tulsa, and San Diego.

September 2002 - Niagara Mohawk, which serves 1.5 million electricity customers in upstate New York, has unveiled a new program allowing residential and commercial customers to purchase electricity generated from renewable energy sources. Under the program, customers can choose to purchase green power products offered by three providers—Community Energy, Inc., Green Mountain Energy Company, and Sterling Planet. Participating customers will not switch from their regular utility service but will see a green power surcharge appear as a line item on their utility bills.

Community Energy is offering a 50% wind/50% hydro product for 1.3¢/kWh that would supply all of a customer's electricity needs. The Green Mountain Energy product, which is also designed to meet 100% of the customer's electricity needs, is supplied from 85% hydro and 15% wind, and priced at 1.5¢/kWh. Finally, customers can choose to meet 50%, 75%, or 100% of their electricity needs with the Sterling Planet product, which is supplied from 30% wind, 20% hydro, and 50% biomass, and priced at 1.5¢/kWh. All of the utility's residential and commercial customers will receive program information with their September bills.

The development of the renewable energy program stems from the settlement agreement reached in the Niagara Mohawk-National Grid merger.

News Release - Niagara Mohawk Kicks Off Renewable Energy Choice - No longer online at niagaramohawk.com

News Release - Green Mountain Energy Company Expands By Launching in New York State

News Release - Sterling Planet and Niagara Mohawk Team to Deliver Green Energy Choices - No longer online at sterlingplanet.com

News Article - NiMo customers can opt for 'green' electricity - No longer online at buffalonews.com

May 2002 - JEA and Sterling Planet, Inc. announced a partnership to market the environmental attributes of solar power installations installed in the JEA service territory in northeast Florida. Since 2000, JEA has installed 520 kilowatts of solar energy generating capacity, mostly in the form of photovoltaic systems located at 26 Jacksonville-area high schools. The environmental attributes of the solar system output will be a component of Sterling Planet's 100% green energy blend, which also includes attributes from geothermal, small hydro, biomass and wind projects. The attributes are sold as tradable renewable certificates (TRCs), which are available nationwide from Sterling Planet.

Sterling Planet Contact: Mel Jones (770) 408-6389

March 2001 - ENERGYguide.com announced an agreement with Sterling Planet, Inc. to offer a 100% green electricity product to residential and business customers across the continental United States. Sterling Planet is an Internet-based green power marketer based in Roswell, Georgia.

The companies are offering consumers an option to purchase green power equivalent to 50%, 75% or 100% of their power consumption at an additional cost of 10-20% of their monthly electricity bill, or about $10-15 more per month. Sterling Planet promises to use the revenues to add renewable electricity to the national electric grid to "replace an equal amount of conventional electricity" as demanded by consumers. According to the company, the green power will come from renewable sources such as wind, solar, small hydro, geothermal, and biomass.

Consumers are not required to switch suppliers to participate in the program and will continue to receive a monthly bill from their current electricity supplier. According to Sterling Planet, there are no long-term contracts, and buyers can increase, decrease or cancel their green purchases at any time. The company claims that it will "partner with utilities" to offer the green power choice.

Media Contact: Karen McGrath (617) 520-9112

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