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April 18, 2002
JEA and Sterling Planet Partner to market Solar Energy
- Sterling Planet to market environmental attributes from 520 kilowatts of JEA-owned solar photovoltaic and thermal facilities installed primarily at 26 Jacksonville area high schools
- Attributes to be sold as tradeable renewable certificates (TRCs), also known as Green Tags
- TRCs to be available in 48 states through Sterling Planet at www.SterlingPlanet.com
- TRCs help lessen dependence on burning fossil fuels to produce electricity and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and other harmful air pollution
Jacksonville, FL, April 18, 2002 - JEA, the largest municipal electric utility in Florida, and Sterling Planet, Inc., the first company with a nationally available green energy choice, today announced an innovative new plan to market the environmental attributes from solar power installations in the JEA service territory of northeast Florida. Most of the 520 kilowatts have been installed since 2000 at 26 Jacksonville area high schools, where the facilities are demonstrating the benefits of solar power as an emission-free renewable energy source.
The environmentally friendly attributes of these solar facilities will be sold as tradeable renewable certificates, or TRCs - also known as Green Tags - through Sterling Planet. TRCs represent the environmental benefits of renewable energy generation in the form of a marketable commodity that is created when renewable energy is substituted for traditional power. Consumers and businesses that buy TRCs help lessen dependence on burning fossil fuels to produce electricity and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and other harmful air pollution. TRCs subsidize renewable or green energy production because generating this emission-free electricity is typically more expensive and less cost competitive than electricity generated from nuclear power or the combustion of coal and other fossil fuels
“The sale of Green Tags is one more way to help JEA achieve our ambitious commitment to increase our renewable and clean energy capacity over the next few years,” said Susan Hughes, JEA Vice President of Environmental Services. JEA has set a goal to have 7.5% ofits generating capacity from clean and green sources by 2015. That amounts to about 250 megawatts; an aggressive goal for any electric utility. ”We’ve made a good start, but we have a great deal more work to do,” added Hughes.
“Sterling Planet is encouraged and confident that the contract with JEA to market these solar attributes nationwide will provide JEA revenue to fund JEA’s commitment to more renewable energy,” added Mel Jones, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Sterling Planet. “We also see the agreement as a vehicle for monetizing renewable energy as a new paradigm for American business and utilities. Customers all over the world are interested in green (renewable) energy. Marketing TRCs or Green Tags that are endorsed by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency is a way to deliver a renewable energy choice to those businesses and consumers across the country whose electric utility does not have a green pricing program.“
This agreement permits Sterling Planet to nationally market TRCs from both solar photovoltaic and solar thermal projects in the Jacksonville area. These TRCs are now part of Sterling 100% green energy blend, which also includes TRCs from geothermal, small hydro, biomass and wind projects. Buyers throughout the 48 contiguous states can purchase this blend at www.SterlingPlanet.com. Alternatively, consumers and businesses interested in purchasing TRCs specifically from JEA solar facilities should contact Mel Jones at mjones@sterlingplanet.com.
Sonny Murphy, CEO and founder of Sterling Planet and former executive of Southern Company (one of the world’s largest investor-owned electric utilities), said the new contract forms the basis for a long-term relationship with JEA and other solar providers. “We’re excited about this opportunity to work with JEA, which has shown true leadership in the electric utility industry with its self-imposed green power goal.”
“We at JEA are fully committed to providing reliable electricity at low, stable prices for the northeast Florida community of Jacksonville, while endorsing and embracing the use of solar and other renewable energy production,” commented Walt Bussells, JEA CEO. “We intend to be a leader in clean and green power production, so we’re pleased to partner with another leader like Sterling Planet.”
About JEA: JEA is the largest municipal electric, water and wastewater utility in Florida and the eighth largest in the United States. JEA srves more than one million people in four counties around Jacksonville in northeast Florida. JEA is committed to environmental leadership, fuel diversification and rate stability.
About Sterling Planet, Inc.: Sterling Planet is the company to offer a green energy choice to every consumer, business and school throughout the 48 contiguous states. Sterling Planet partners with electric utilities and other enterprises grow the market for sustainable, renewable energy by (1) delivering a nationwide green energy choice and (2) developing, operating, co-owning and maintaining new electricity generation facilities using green energy sources (solar, wind, small-scale hydro, geothermal and biomass). At www.SterlingPlanet.com the green energy signup is easy, convenient and requires no from current electricity providers. Sterling Planet tracks and reports the environmental benefits of each customer’s cumulative green energy purchases. Operational since January 2001, Sterling Planet is headquartered near Atlanta, GA.
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