Washington, DC (May 23, 2002)- At the National Press Club today, representatives of a Rhode Island supermarket chain, the US Environmental Protection Agency, elected officials, and the WorldWatch Institute gathered to recognize a new way for Americans to purchase renewable energy. The press conference, held by the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS), presented Tradable Renewable Certificates (TRCs), (aka "Green Tags") to the American public and introduced six providers that have earned Green-e certification and are offering green energy choice to millions of customers for the first time.

Currently, green power is only available to roughly one third of U.S. electricity consumers through competitive power markets and utility green pricing programs. Green Tags make it possible for all Americans to support renewable energy, regardless of whether their state is deregulating its energy markets. Six Green-e certified TRC providers are helping to bring new renewable energy plants online in the Northeast, Mid Atlantic, Great Plains, Texas, Pacific Northwest, and California. With Green-e certification, customers purchasing Green Tags from these six providers receive independent assurance that their purchase supports generation from high-quality newly developed renewable energy plants.

"All Americans now have a reliable and convenient way to support renewable energy," said Kansas State Representative Tom Sloan. "Not only will Tradable Renewable Certificates serve as a way to stimulate local rural economies, but they also motivate renewable technology development and contribute to the a cleaner environment for all." Sloan addressed the audience and media, highlighting green tags as a versatile new way for consumers and businesses to participate in the national transition to renewable energy.

"Nationwide we are currently getting about 10% of our electricity from green power sources", said John Pemberton, Chief of Staff, Office of Air of Radiation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "Our ultimate goal is to have 100% of our electricity supplied by green power sources. Because Green Tags reduce transaction costs, they play an important role in helping to make that vision a reality."

Large businesses have also used Green Tag purchases to make significant environmental commitments. "We decided to purchase Green Tags to offset our greenhouse gas emissions for three of our store locations in Rhode Island," said Kathleen Loftus of Shaw's Supermarkets, "Since the product is Green-e certified, Shaw's feels confident our purchase makes a difference in the air we breathe."

"Through the purchase of TRC products, consumers help reduce our nation's dependence on fossil fuels to produce electricity and contribute to the reduction of air emissions," said Karl R. Rábago, chair of the Green-e Green Power Board that oversees the certification program. "When TRC products are Green-e certified, consumers can be confident they are receiving the environmental benefits of green power as well as helping to expand the market for clean renewable energy."

TRCs, also known as "Green Tags," are created when renewable energy is substituted for traditional power. TRCs represent added benefits and costs of renewable generation and are purchased in addition to the electricity that most consumers now use. Green Tags provide a way to buy and sell the environmental attributes of renewable generation separately from the electricity generated. Green Tags help overcome the obstacle of delivering the benefits of renewable energy to customers who are typically far from generating plants. The purchaser of a Green Tag is the sole "owner" of the environmental attributes of a specific megawatt hour (MWh) of energy added to the grid. Independent verification ensures that no two Green Tags represent the same MWh of energy.

Since 1997, Green-e has served as a nationally recognized tool to help consumers identify environmentally superior renewable energy offerings. Green-e is a voluntary certification program for renewable energy products sold in competitive retail electricity markets, regulated markets, and nationwide through Tradable Renewable Certificates. To earn Green-e certification, a TRC product must originate entirely from new renewable facilities that generate energy from the sun, the wind, the heat of the Earth, low-impact hydropower, biogas, or biofuels. Certified providers undergo an annual verification process audit to document that the company purchased enough quantity and type of renewable certificates to meet customer demand and marketing claims. Each certified provider also agrees to abide by the Green-e Code of Conduct, and to submit marketing materials to CRS to meet Green-e disclosure and truth-in-advertising requirements.

Green-e certified TRC providers now include:
· Sun Power Electric, www.sunpower.org - Available in New England
· Community Energy, www.newwindenergy.com - Available nationwide
· Sterling Planet, www.sterlingplanet.com - Available nationwide
· Bonneville Environmental Foundation, www.greentagsusa.org - Available nationwide
· Aquila, www.aquila.com - Available nationwide
· Renewable Choice Energy, www.renewablechoice.com - Available nationwide

For further information, please contact Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) at (415) 561-2100, or visit the website(s) www.resource-solutions.org or www.green-e.org. CRS is a nonprofit organization that encourages sustainable growth and promotes the use of clean energy.

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