BEF Green Tags

["Tom Gray" <tomgray@igc.org>]

Three Puget Sound Companies Plug in to 100% Green Energy 

April 5, 2001       
PORTLAND, Ore., April 4 /PRNewswire/ via NewsEdge Corporation - 

Three Puget Sound companies announced today their purchase of
Green Tags sourced by the Bonneville Environmental Foundation(1)
(BEF) in an amount equal to 100% of their energy use. The
companies, Xantrex Technology, Inc., for its Arlington facility, Batdorf
& Bronson Coffee Roasters of Olympia, and Global Energy Concepts of
Kirkland are the first in the area -- and among the first in the U.S. --
committing to 100% new renewable energy. 

Angus Duncan, president of BEF, and others saluted this commitment
at a ceremony held at Snohomish County Public Utility District.
Duncan praised the foresight shown by this group and encouraged
others to follow suit. "It takes leadership and courage to be the first.
Making a commitment to new renewable energy is an important
signal," said Duncan. "By their actions, these companies are
demonstrating that sustainable business practices are good for their
communities, their customers and their business." 

Green Tags are the environmental attributes of new renewable energy
which are sold separated from the actual energy output, representing
the environmental benefit that occurs when new renewable energy
replaces traditional forms of power generation. By purchasing Green
Tags, these buyers are providing critical added financing that brings
new renewables, like wind and solar, into the Region's power supply. 

Snohomish County PUD is partnering with Xantrex Technologies to
secure Green Tags for the company's plant in Arlington, with more
than 350 employees. Xantrex subsidiary, Trace Engineering, is a
leading manufacturer of components for renewable power systems.
"We recognize renewable resources are a viable solution to our
country's energy problems. Our purchase of Green Tags is one action
we can take today that demonstrates our commitment to a healthier
environment, helps fund construction of additional renewable
generating sources, and reduces dependence on fossil fuels," said
Xantrex's director of marketing, Kevin Hagen. 

Batdorf & Bronson Coffee Roasters acquired Green Tags for their
Olympia and Atlanta, GA offices with one purchase. Scott Merle of
Batdorf & Bronson said, "We purchase our coffee from sustainable
sources that are healthy to the environment so the decision to buy
renewable energy is a natural extension of our business philosophy." 

Robert Poore from Global Energy Concepts, an engineering and energy
technology consulting company, said, "When we looked at the impact
of our electrical use on air quality and thought about the implications
for global warming, we knew that we could not wait to act. Green
Tags are an easy, and highly credible way to increase the amount of
renewable energy resources utilized in the Pacific Northwest." 

Rachel Shimshak, executive director of the Renewable Northwest
Project, joined Nancy Hirsh of Northwest Energy Coalition and Paul
Horton, co-director of Climate Solutions, in recognizing the three
companies for meeting the Clean Energy Challenge, presented by a
coalition of 13 environmental groups. Shimshak said, "This
commitment to new renewable energy means more renewables in the
energy mix of the region." Added Horton, "As a result of these three
companies buying Green Tags, 899 fewer tons of CO2 will be emitted
into the atmosphere annually. This is the equivalent of the emissions
of 180 cars or the amount of CO2 that would be offset by planting
373 acres of trees each year." 

"It is appropriate that we are recognizing these companies at
Snohomish County PUD," said Duncan. "Snohomish County PUD has
been an early supporter of green energy and the largest buyer of
renewable energy among the public utilities in the Pacific Northwest."
Kathleen Vaughn, Snohomish County PUD Commissioner said, "The key
to stable electric rates is investment in renewable energy." 

BEF was founded in 1998 to generate revenue from the sale of
environmentally endorsed "green power" to utilities and corporations.
The Foundation uses the net revenues from these sales to fund new
renewable energy resources and watershed restoration projects in
Washington, Oregon, Montana and Idaho. The Green Tags purchased
from BEF will come from new wind and solar power plants serving the
Pacific Northwest. 

(1) The Bonneville Environmental Foundation is a non-profit
organization that collaborates with, but is independent of, the
Bonneville Power Administration. 

SOURCE Bonneville Environmental Foundation 

CONTACT: Pam Field of Bonneville Environmental Foundation,
503-248-1905