San Francisco, CA (May 7)-- The Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) announced today that Sterling Planet has received Green-e certification for their Tradable Renewable Certificates (TRCs). Sterling Planet's offering, called "Green Energy," is available to residential, government, and business customers nationwide. Customers buying Green Energy from Sterling Planet have an independent assurance that their purchase supports generation from newly developed renewable energy plants across the US.

TRCs, also known as "Green Tags," are created when renewable energy is substituted for traditional power. TRCs represent the environmental benefits of renewable energy generation in the form of a marketable commodity. TRCs are purchased in addition to the electricity that most consumers now use. Each purchase of Sterling Planet TRCs supports new renewable electricity generation nationwide, offsetting the negative environmental effects of burning coal, gas and other fossil fuels to generate energy. For every unit of renewable electricity generated, an equivalent amount of renewable certificates are produced. TRCs create demand for renewable energy, reduce global climate change, and reduce regional air pollution.

Founded in 2000, the company seeks to partner with electric utilities and other enterprises to grow the market for renewable energy. Sterling Planet also invests in the development of new renewable energy plants. Sterling Planet's Green Energy product is based on a variety of renewable resources, such as biomass, geothermal power, low impact hydropower, solar, and wind energy. Information on Sterling Planet's Green Energy product is available at www.sterlingplanet.com.

"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 harmful air pollutants," said Jan Hamrin, Executive Director of CRS. "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."

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 (TRCs). To earn Green-e certification, a TRC product must originate from 100% 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. Sterling Planet 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.

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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