NC GreenPower Now Available to Blue Ridge Electric Members
(First Step Toward Statewide Program Kickoff in October)
For Immediate Release
Contact: Renee Whitener, Director of Corporate Communications, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, (828) 758-2383 ext. 3213; Pager:1-800-471-1323; or E-mail: Renee Whitener
Lenoir, North Carolina (September 26, 2003) – Members of Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation now have the option to help protect the environment by voluntarily participating in a new, landmark renewable energy program called NC GreenPower.
NC GreenPower, a nonprofit entity created by the N.C. Utilities Commission, is the nation's first statewide and multi-utility initiative to encourage development of more renewable energy in North Carolina.
NC GreenPower operates upon voluntary contributions by North Carolina citizens and businesses. Monthly donations as little as $4 are used to purchase electricity generated from renewable energy sources to add to the state’s power supply. These contributions help offset the higher cost to produce renewable or “green” energy—electricity which is generated from nontraditional power sources such as solar, wind, small hydro, methane and other organic sources.
A minimum monthly $4 contribution is enough to offset the higher production costs of renewable energy so that one block of 100 kilowatt-hours of green energy can be added to North Carolina’s power grid.
Members can contribute to NC GreenPower by signing up through Blue Ridge Electric and requesting the cooperative to add a minimum of $4 on to their monthly electric bill. NC GreenPower supporters can contribute any amount in $4 increments by having it added on to their monthly electric bill. Blue Ridge Electric and all utilities across North Carolina have agreed to forward all such contributions directly to NC GreenPower; the utilities keep none of the monies.
Blue Ridge Electric offers a number of ways for members to enroll in NC GreenPower: on line at www.BlueRidgeEMC.com, by calling a local Blue Ridge Electric office, by returning the sign-up form that will appear in the October member newsletter The Enlightener or by asking their local office for a brochure and returning the sign up form included in it.
“NC GreenPower is a great first step in promoting renewable energy and clean air in North Carolina,” said Beverly Finney, a senior vice president at Blue Ridge Electric who was one of four representatives from the state’s electric cooperatives on the study committee to form NC GreenPower. “This independent, voluntary program is an easy and economical way for North Carolina citizens and businesses to increase the use of solar, wind and organic generation to help protect our environment and improve air quality.”
“This landmark program for purchasing renewable energy is a totally new approach for our state and country,” added Carl Wilkins, program manager for NC GreenPower.
NC GreenPower, an independent nonprofit organization, was approved by the North Carolina Utilities Commission to provide North Carolinians with greater options for their energy sources. The program was formed after two years of study with various group input. In 2001, a planning committee representing consumers, electric utilities, the environmental community, technology suppliers, the State Energy Office, and Advanced Energy began working together to bring green energy to North Carolina. The result was the creation of NC GreenPower, a subsidiary of Advanced Energy, a nonprofit corporation with headquarters in Raleigh that creates economic and environmental benefits through innovative approaches to energy use.
Availability of the program meets the Utilities Commission’s requirement that NC GreenPower be in business by July 29, 2003. A statewide rollout of the program will occur during October 2003. For additional information about NC GreenPower visit www.ncgreenpower.org.
Blue Ridge Electric serves some 66,000 member-owners in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, Wilkes and Alexander counties.
