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NC Green Power
PRESS RELEASE - Immediate release | statewide distribution
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June 15, 2005
Contact: Sharon Gladwell, Manager of Marketing and Communications
| 919-857-9058
Duke Energy and Progress Energy provide funding for statewide nonprofit
renewable energy program
Raleigh, N.C. — North Carolina’s largest investor-owned
utilities, Duke Energy and Progress
Energy, each presented checks for $25,000 to NC GreenPower,
a non-profit organization working to encourage the development of
renewable energy sources for the state’s power supply. The
checks were presented today at the N.C.
Utilities Commission during a review of NC GreenPower’s
parent company, Advanced Energy, which was established by and reports
to the Commission. Both utilities have made voluntary contributions
to the program since its start date two years ago.
NC GreenPower is the nation’s first statewide, voluntary,
multi-utility initiative to encourage the development of renewable
energy sources. The program taps into technology that transforms
renewable energy sources such as wind, sunshine and landfill and
animal waste methane gas into safe and environmentally sustainable
power, giving North Carolinians cleaner options for their energy
sources. The N.C. Utilities Commission approved the NC GreenPower
program plan in January 2003. NC GreenPower is a subsidiary of Advanced
Energy, a Raleigh-based nonprofit corporation that helps utility,
industrial and residential customers improve the return on their
energy investment. Residential and business customers may voluntarily
contribute tax-deductible funds that NC GreenPower will use to purchase
power from renewable energy sources in the state. All renewable
energy will be generated in North Carolina for the state’s
electric supply. Customers also may sign
up for the program by contacting their electric provider. All
contributions made through the utilities
are sent directly to NC GreenPower.
"We believe in providing energy choices for our customers in
all the neighborhoods we serve across North Carolina," said
Sandra Meyer, group vice president of Duke Energy’s customer
service, sales and marketing.
"Our focus is on our customers, and our partnership with NC
GreenPower is helping to fulfill our mission to provide technological
innovations to better serve the people and communities of North
Carolina," said Progress Energy President and Chief Executive
Officer Fred Day.
Both electric utilities have been involved in the development NC
GreenPower and are members of the program’s Board of Directors,
along with stakeholders representing the state’s other electric
utilities, as well as independent renewable energy suppliers and
environmental and consumer advocacy groups. Before the program became
operational two years ago, both utilities invested hundreds of thousands
of dollars to put in place an infrastructure for receiving voluntary
contributions from their residential and business customers.
Other corporate
sponsors of the program include Dominion North Carolina Power,
Eisai, GlaxoSmithKline, IBM, Lowe’s, N.C. Department of Justice
— Attorney General’s Office, N.C. Department of Administration,
State Energy Office, N.C. Electric Membership Corporation, N.C.
Farm Bureau, N.C. Pork Council, Public Power, Research Triangle
Institute, Smithfield Foods, T.S. Designs and U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency.
— END —
NC GreenPower is a subsidiary of Advanced Energy, a Raleigh-based nonprofit, public benefits corporation that helps utility, industrial and residential customers improve the return on their energy investment.
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