SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Innovative new partnerships between private, public and state-sponsored organizations in Rhode Island are now serving to increase awareness of renewable energy choices and purchasing among residents and business. Within the past two weeks, a statewide marketing campaign to promote clean energy began and the largest utility launched a new program allowing consumers to choose high quality renewable energy through their monthly electric bill.

On March 30th, residential and small business customers served by Narragansett Electric Company (NECo) began receiving information with their monthly electricity bill on choosing renewable energy for a slight premium without having to switch to another electricity provider. The program, called GreenUp, allows independent green power providers to partner with the large Rhode Island utility and directly offer residential and business customers brand-name certified renewable energy choices. Now, 465,000 Rhode Island residents have an easy way to choose Green-e certified energy from renewable sources such as wind, solar, small and low-impact hydro and biomass.

The objective of the GreenUp program is to build a sustainable market for renewable energy and increase consumer access to green power choices. Three of the four suppliers offer Green-e certified products through Narragansett Electric, Community Energy, People's Power and Light, and Conservation Services Group, and consumers can just look for the Green-e logo on their utility bill insert to easily identify renewable-based energy products that meet strict environmental and consumer protection standards.

"The Rhode Island GreenUp Program will introduce hundreds of thousands of consumers to renewable energy and makes the purchasing process so easy," says Gabe Petlin, Green-e Program Manager, "For the first time in Rhode Island, consumers can simply check-off a box on their utility bills to opt for Green-e certified electricity produced from clean, renewable energy resources that benefit the environment and public health."

The state of Rhode Island itself has been key to developing and launching the program, and committed to offset 100% of the energy used by the State House with renewable energy for 5 years. The Rhode Island Renewable Energy Fund (RIREF) administered by State Energy Office has also been devoted to promoting awareness, and supported a new campaign to build renewable energy demand. On March 24th, SmartPower, a non-profit marketing campaign dedicated to promoting clean, renewable energy, announced its new partnership with the (RIREF) to promote clean energy in the Ocean State. Radio, print and TV advertisements on clean energy, along with the website www.cleanenergyRI.com were developed to educate consumers on the affordable, renewable electricity choices.

Rhode Island options vary according to the type and percentage of the renewable resources used, and products are priced to fit every budget. Other local providers offering Green-e certified options to businesses in Rhode Island include Constellation New Energy, EAD Environmental and Sun Power Electric. The Green-e logo appears next to certified products, and consumers choosing certified can be sure that they are directing their dollars toward high quality renewable energy meeting strict standards. Green-e provides independent, third party certification based on standards set through a collaborative process with environmentalists, consumer advocates and energy experts, and its annual verification process ensures consumers get what they pay for.

"The vast majority of Rhode Islanders want to do the right thing for Narragansett Bay and the environment as a whole, '' said Curt Spalding, Executive Director of Save The Bay - Narragansett Bay, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting, restoring and preserving Narragansett Bay and its watershed. "The more we can inform the public about energy alternatives, the more we'll find a willingness to shift to renewable energy sources. We're especially pleased to see a large electric company join the effort to give people knowledge they need to make better choices.''

For a complete list of certified renewable energy options in the state of Rhode Island, visit www.green-e.org/your_e_choices/rhode_island.html. For more information about clean energy in Rhode Island, visit www.cleanenergyRI.com. For more information on Rhode Island's GreenUp Program, visit www.narragansett.com/greenupenergy. Narragansett Electric Company serves approximately 465,000 customers in 38 Rhode Island communities and is an electricity distribution subsidiary of National Grid.

About Green-e and the Center for Resource Solutions
Launched in 1997, Green-e Energy 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 (TRCs) Nationally, Green-e currently certifies 60 products that are sold by 98 marketers, utilities and brokers. To learn more about products available in New York and other regions visit www.green-e.org, or call 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.