Green-e Renewable Electricity Branding Program Underway
April 1, 1998
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - For the first time, Californians have the ability to choose where their electricity comes from. Will they stay with traditional polluting energy resources or will they choose cleaner, greener, renewable energy from solar, wind, water, geothermal and biomass? How will they get the information they need to make decisions that protect the environment?
To help sort through the confusion, the Green-e Renewable Electricity Program has launched a web site (www.green-e.org) and toll-free number (1-888-63-GREEN) to provide consumers information about their green power options. The web site contains information on renewable energy, Green-e certified products being offered in California, and information resources for customers, teachers, and the press. The Green-e toll-free number provides basic information on renewables and allows callers to directly access a green power provider of their choosing.
The Green-e certification system provides customers a means to quickly identify electricity products that meet an objective standard for renewable energy supply When you see the Green-e logo on an electricity product, you can be sure:
- at least 50% of the electricity supply for the product comes from Renewable Electricity Resources. Renewable Electricity Resources are generated from the sun, water, wind, biomass (the burning of agricultural or other wastes), and geothermal (heat from the earth).
- any non-renewable part of the product has lower air emissions than your traditional mix of electricity would have if you did not switch.
Air emissions include: sulfur dioxide (which causes acid rain), nitrogen oxide (which causes smog), carbon dioxide (which causes global warming) and nuclear waste (which causes cancer).
- the company offering the product agrees to abide by the Green-e Program's Code of Conduct.
- the company offering the product agrees to undergo an annual audit to verify their purchases of renewable energy.
Green-e is a project of the San Francisco-based non-profit Center for Resource Solutions. The Center is dedicated to preserving and protecting the environment through sustainable energy strategies and technologies.
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