Green Mountain Energy Company Supports New York Wind Energy for First 'Keep
Winter Cool' Campaign; Company's Support Makes Three New York Ski Lifts
Effectively 100 Percent Pollution-Free
WAYNE, Pa., Feb. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- On Saturday, February 22nd, when
skiers and snowboarders in New York talk about the wind, they won't be
referring just to conditions on the slopes. Instead, they will be talking
about the clean energy resource that is the fastest growing source of
electricity generation in the world. As part of the third annual Sustainable
Slopes Outreach Day, Green Mountain Energy Company (http://www.greenmountain.com ),
the nation's largest and fastest growing retail provider of cleaner
electricity, will be joining with the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) to
promote renewable energy sources at two ski resorts in Oregon.
"Keep Winter Cool" is the theme of this year's campaign to raise awareness
among skiers and snowboarders on the important topic of global warming and
climate change. The outreach effort will also encourage resort guests to take
action to reduce their share of greenhouse gas emissions. Global warming is a
particularly important issue for ski areas as they look to further identify
the impacts of climate change on this weather-dependent recreation business.
"For diehard skiers and snowboarders, winter is already too short," said
NSAA's president, Michael Berry. "The ski industry views global warming and
the potential for climate change as a long-term concern. We want to do our
part to raise awareness about this important issue."
In keeping with this year's Sustainable Slopes theme -- "Keep Winter Cool"
-- Green Mountain Energy Company will support the generation of wind power
equivalent to the estimated amount of electricity the main chair lifts at Gore
Mt. in the Adirondacks and Holiday Valley and Peek n' Peak in Western New York
use in a 14-hour day. Green Mountain Energy Company is purchasing the wind
electricity from the Madison Windpower Project facility about 45 miles
southeast of Syracuse.
This special renewable transaction of over 10,000 kilowatt-hours of wind
power makes the electricity usage of the two lifts effectively pollution-free
for the day by offsetting almost four tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions,
a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. That avoids as much
carbon dioxide as not driving nearly 10,000 miles. It would take almost
600 trees one year to remove that much CO2 from the air.
"Making electricity emits billions of tons of carbon dioxide pollution
into the air annually," said A. Clifton Payne, Jr. eastern region president
for Green Mountain Energy Company. "Many people don't know about this serious
threat to our environment and we're excited about the opportunity to educate
skiers across the nation on Sustainable Slopes Day. We hope our efforts will
have a snowball effect on building support for cleaner energy sources like
wind power."
As part of the Sustainable Slopes initiative on Saturday, February 22,
Green Mountain Energy Company will also have representatives at Gore Mt.,
Whiteface Mt., Greek Peak, Holiday Valley and Peek n' Peak to educate skiers
about cleaner energy. Additionally, eligible customers can sign up for Green
Mountain Energy(R) electricity service at these ski areas.
The Sustainable Slopes Outreach Campaign (http://www.nsaa.org ) originates from
an environmental charter that was adopted in 2000. It includes a set of
voluntary principles outlined by the NSAA for protecting the environment and
formalizes the industry's commitment to environmental sustainability. More
than 170 ski areas in 31 states, plus six resorts in Canada, have endorsed the
Charter.
About Green Mountain Energy Company
Founded in 1997 to "change the way power is made", Green Mountain Energy
Company (http://www.greenmountain.com ) sells cleaner electricity generated from
sources such as wind, solar, water, geothermal, biomass and natural gas to
residential, business, institutional and governmental customers. More than
half a million customers in California, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon,
Pennsylvania and Texas have chosen Green Mountain Energy(R) electricity, which
is dramatically less-polluting than typical system power in those states. The
company is based in Austin, Texas.
About the National Ski Areas Association
The National Ski Areas Association (http://www.nsaa.org ) serves as the trade
association for ski area owners and operators. The association began in 1962
and is located in Lakewood, Colorado.
SOURCE Green Mountain Energy Company
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