U.S. DOE recognizes the company's innovative green power program developed
for the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission in Maryland
BALTIMORE, Oct. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Constellation Energy,
(NYSE: CEG) announced that its subsidiary, Constellation NewEnergy, is
receiving a 2007 Green Power Leadership award from the U.S Department of
Energy (DOE) for successfully incorporating green power into the overall
energy portfolio for the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC),
the eighth largest water and wastewater utility in the nation. The annual
awards recognize leading national green power suppliers for their
commitment and contribution to helping advance the development of the
nation's green power market.
Serving nearly 1.8 million customers in Prince George's and Montgomery
counties in Maryland, the WSSC requires an average of 25 megawatts (MW) of
electricity daily for its operational needs. In addition to incorporating
the most efficient demand-side technology and supply-side purchasing
strategies into their energy portfolio, Constellation Energy's innovative
approach included working with Edison Mission Group to build a 30 megawatt
(MW) wind power project, which will provide 85 percent of its power to
WSSC. These extensive efforts to help WSSC achieve both its financial and
environmental goals via a comprehensive energy plan that leverages both
demand-side technology and supply-side purchasing strategies were a driving
factor for receipt of this prestigious award in the category of "New Green
Power Program or Product."
The Green Power Supplier Award was presented to Constellation Energy at
an awards event, Monday, Oct. 22, in conjunction with the Twelfth National
Renewable Marketing Conference in Philadelphia, Pa.
"We are honored to receive this prestigious award from the DOE for our
work with the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission to significantly
reduce their energy consumption and costs," said Martha Duggan, vice
president of the Mid-Atlantic Region for Constellation NewEnergy, who
accepted the award. "We are committed to supporting cleaner technologies
and helping develop the green power market."
The DOE recognized six leading organizations that have helped advanced
the development of the nation's green power markets through the creation of
successful green power programs. DOE recognized green power suppliers in
three categories: New Green Power Program or Product, Renewable Energy
Marketer and Green Power Program of the Year.
The combined green power supplied by these leading organizations
amounts to over 5 billion kilowatt-hours of green power annually, which is
the equivalent amount of electricity needed to power nearly 465,000 average
American households each year. Overall, retail sales of renewable energy to
consumers making voluntary purchases totaled about 12 billion
kilowatt-hours in 2006. That represents an increase of 40 percent over last
year's sales numbers.
"The Department of Energy applauds these organizations for taking a
leading role in providing consumers with cost-effective options for 'going
green,'" DOE Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Alexander Karsner said. "Green power marketing has enormous potential to
expand domestic markets for clean, abundant and affordable renewable energy
technologies by fostering greater availability throughout the country. The
leaders in the voluntary green power markets are a critical part of the
president's strategy to build, generate and promote renewable energy
capacity that will have a sizeable impact in the marketplace and increase
our nation's energy security."
This year, a panel of judges reviewed nearly 100 nominations based on
criteria ranging from the amount of green power generated to each
organization's strategy for incorporating green power into its operations
and communications.
Through an RFP process conducted on behalf of WSSC, Constellation
Energy selected Edison Mission Group to build a 30 MW wind plant in
Somerset County, Pa. This new wind facility is financed through a 10-year
power purchase agreement. Beginning January 2008, WSSC will receive 85
percent of the wind project's power, and renewable energy credits (REC)
output, representing approximately a 70,000 MWh annual wind purchase, and
serving 33 percent of the overall electricity needs of the WSSC facilities.
Constellation Energy will retain and market the remaining 15 percent of the
plant's output.
Additional information regarding DOE's 2007 Green Power Leadership
Award winners and the voluntary markets is available at the U.S. Department
of Energy's Green Power Network below.
Constellation Energy (http://www.constellation.com), a FORTUNE 200
company with 2006 revenues of $19.3 billion, is the nation's largest
competitive supplier of electricity to large commercial and industrial
customers and the nation's largest wholesale power seller. Constellation
Energy also manages fuels and energy services on behalf of energy intensive
industries and utilities. It owns a diversified fleet of 78 generating
units located throughout the United States, totaling approximately 8,700
megawatts of generating capacity. The company delivers electricity and
natural gas through the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE), its
regulated utility in Central Maryland. Constellation NewEnergy
(http://www.newenergy.com), a wholly owned subsidiary of Constellation
Energy (NYSE: CEG), is a leading competitive supplier of electricity,
natural gas and energy-related services to commercial, industrial and
institutional customers throughout North America. Constellation NewEnergy
operates in all competitive energy markets throughout Canada and the United
States, providing products that enable customers to effectively manage and
control energy costs. Constellation NewEnergy's regional expertise, coupled
with its national presence, provides customers with customized energy
products and services while leveraging the assets of one of the strongest
integrated energy companies in North America. Constellation NewEnergy,
based in Baltimore, serves more than 19,000 commercial, industrial and
institutional customers throughout 31 states and three Canadian provinces
representing nearly 14,000 megawatts of peak load and more than 354 billion
cubic feet of annual natural gas consumption.
The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) is the eighth
largest water and wastewater utilities in the nation, serving nearly 1.8
million customers in Prince George's and Montgomery counties. WSSC operates
and maintains seven water and wastewater plants, over 5,400 miles of fresh
water pipeline and over 5,300 miles of sewer pipeline. In its 89-year
history, the WSSC has never had a drinking water quality violation.
Additional information on WSSC can be found at http://www.wsscwater.com.
About the U.S. Department of Energy Green Power Network
The Green Power Network is the nation's premier Web site providing
green power market information. The Network's Web site provides up-to-date
information on green power providers, product offerings, consumer
protection issues, and policies affecting green power markets. It also
includes a reference library of relevant papers, articles and reports. The
Green Power Network is operated and maintained by the National Renewable
Energy Laboratory (NREL) for the U.S. Department of Energy. Additional
information is available at
http://www.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/conference/awards07.html.
SOURCE Constellation Energy
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Related links:
http://www.constellation.com
http://www.newenergy.com http://www.wsscwater.com
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/084087.html/
CONTACT:
Lawrence McDonnell, +1-410-470-7433, for
Constellation Energy
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