PaloAltoGreen, the renewable energy program offered by the City of Palo Alto Utilities, has achieved the nation’s highest participation rate, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) 2005 Top Ten list.
With 13.6% of utility customers enrolled, PaloAltoGreen has outperformed the national average of 1.3% participation for green pricing programs. This is the first year that PaloAltoGreen has achieved the #1 spot for best-in-nation participation.
NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy’s primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. Each year, NREL releases “Top 10” rankings of the nation’s best performing renewable energy utility programs. Such programs allow electricity consumers to support electricity generated from renewable resources such as wind, biomass, and solar.
The popularity of this green power option has far exceeded expectations. A key to PaloAltoGreen’s success has been the program’s innovative implementation and the community’s enthusiastic support. Offered through the City of Palo Alto Utilities in partnership with 3 Phases Energy, the program takes a community-oriented approach and tracks the tangible environmental benefits of participation.
More than 100 businesses have committed to PaloAltoGreen, including major corporations such as Agilent Technologies, CV Therapeutics, HP, Lockheed Martin, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Roche Palo Alto, and Schering-Plough Biopharma.
When customers choose to support 100% renewable energy for their home or business, CPAU buys Green-e certified renewable energy on their behalf that supports wind resources in the West and solar resources in California, and even within the Palo Alto community. The renewable energy for PaloAltoGreen is supplied by 3 Phases Energy, a renewable energy company that also partners with CPAU in marketing the program to the community.
PaloAltoGreen offers City of Palo Alto Utilities residential, business, and industrial customers the option to support the generation of electricity from 100% renewable wind and solar resources. Voluntary participants pay a low additional cost of 1.5 cents per kilowatt-hour. About the City of Palo Alto Utilities
In operation since 1994, 3 Phases Energy offers green pricing program design and implementation services, retail and wholesale marketing of tradable renewable certificates (Green Certificates), 100% renewable electricity direct access services, and solar photovoltaic installation. www.3phases.com
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