NC GreenPower to give away trees in Raleigh to celebrate its tenth anniversary

October 1, 2013

RALEIGH, NC – In celebration of the 10 years that NC GreenPower has been helping to green up our state, 225 small trees will be given away from Lichtin Plaza at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh on Thursday, October 17 at 11:30am – free for anyone to take home and plant as a way to reduce their carbon footprint.

In 2008, NC GreenPower added carbon offsets to give residents and businesses the opportunity to offset emissions caused by driving and other activities. Supporters of carbon offsets help to  mitigate greenhouse gases from landfill and hog lagoon methane capture projects. The tree giveaway is to raise awareness around NC GreenPower’s carbon offset product which is offered to all residents of North Carolina.

Since the launch of the program in October 2003, NC GreenPower has supported almost 900 renewable energy projects in nearly every county across our state.  These projects have generated 443 billion kilowatt-hours of green power and donors have provided nearly $5.5 million in incentive payments to them.  That’s the equivalent of supporting 30,800 houses with power for a year. Carbon offset projects have mitigated 10,300 tons of greenhouse gases – equivalent to the emissions from driving 29 million miles – that’s like planting 1.6 million trees.

NC GreenPower carbon offsets are available for as little as $4 a month, which will offset 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide (or carbon dioxide equivalent) through projects such as methane collection and combustion, or reforestation. For a typical resident of North Carolina, subscribing to one carbon offset block at $4 a month for a year would offset the approximate emissions from driving a mid-sized car 12,000 miles.

Trees will be tagged to explain how much carbon dioxide each tree will offset at maturity.  Tags will also list the website for additional information on calculating driving emissions and on how to support renewable energy and carbon offset projects through NC GreenPower.

About NC GreenPower

Currently celebrating its 10th anniversary, NC GreenPower is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit that administers the voluntary program on behalf of all utilities in North Carolina, helping to connect consumers with green energy and carbon offset providers to create positive environmental and economic impacts for our state.  All renewable energy and carbon offset generators supported by the program are located in North Carolina. Contributions to the program are tax-deductible. For more information, visit their NEW website: www.ncgreenpower.org  NC GreenPower was formed by Advanced Energy.

Advanced Energy is a Raleigh-based nonprofit committed to a future in which energy needs are met at reasonable costs and with the least negative consequences. The organization continues to work collaboratively to demonstrate that industry, government and nonprofits can successfully work together to improve the environment and encourage the economy. For more than 30 years, Advanced Energy has created economic, environmental and societal benefits through innovative and market-based approaches to energy issues. For more information, visit www.advancedenergy.org.