Progress Energy Carolinas Offers New Carbon-Offset Program to Its Customers
02 October 2008 - 1:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
RALEIGH, N.C., Oct. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Progress Energy
Carolinas and NC GreenPower announced today that their North
Carolina customers now have a simple way to offset, or balance, the
impacts their personal carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions have on the
environment. The new program, which allows customers to purchase
carbon offsets with tax-deductible contributions on their monthly
electric bills, is one more way the company is helping its
customers protect the environment while managing energy costs.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020923/CHM008LOGO-c )
"We are committed to working with our communities to address the
challenges of growing energy demand and global climate change. This
program helps our customers to take action and reduce their
personal carbon 'footprint' even as we are working to reduce ours
on a company level," said Lloyd Yates, president and CEO of
Progress Energy Carolinas. "For the last five years, our
partnership with NC GreenPower has given our customers the
opportunity to support renewable energy resources in our region. We
are pleased to expand this relationship to now offer carbon
offsets." Everyone's daily activities, whether it's driving, flying
or watching television, produce CO2 emissions. The carbon-offset
program will take the monthly contributions and use them to fund
projects that will prevent or capture CO2 or other greenhouse gas
emissions. Examples of carbon-offset projects that are being
considered include the collection and combustion of methane gas
from landfills and reforestation initiatives. NC GreenPower will
select projects that meet strict criteria defined by the
Environmental Defense Fund, thus ensuring customer contributions
are actually making a difference. Each tax-deductible contribution
of $4 will be used to offset, or mitigate, 500 pounds of carbon
dioxide or carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. This is
approximately the same as not driving for two weeks, for an average
driver. For more information or to sign-up, visit
http://www.progress-energy.com/ncgreenpower . Progress Energy is
working to reduce its CO2 emissions in several ways, including: --
Investing in new renewable and alternative energy projects, such as
the two 1-megawatt solar projects announced this summer -- Pursuing
license renewals for our existing hydroelectric and nuclear power
plants, which are important sources of reliable, carbon-free
electricity -- Investing in new advanced-design nuclear power --
Increasing the use of biofuels and hybrid vehicles in our corporate
fleet -- Improving the efficiency in our corporate buildings
through measures such as installing compact fluorescent lighting --
Funding research into innovative technologies, such as plug-in
hybrid electric vehicles and renewable energy storage technology --
For more information on the company's actions to address global
climate change, please visit
http://www.progress-energy.com/environment Progress Energy,
headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., is a Fortune 250 energy company
with more than 21,000 megawatts of generation capacity and $9
billion in annual revenues. The company is observing its 100th
anniversary in 2008. Progress Energy includes two major utilities
that serve approximately 3.1 million customers in the Carolinas and
Florida. The company is the 2006 recipient of the Edison Electric
Institute's Edison Award, the industry's highest honor, in
recognition of its operational excellence. The company also is the
first utility to receive the prestigious J.D. Power and Associates
Founder's Award for customer service. Progress Energy serves two
fast-growing areas of the country, and the company is pursuing a
balanced strategy for a secure energy future. That balance includes
aggressive energy-efficiency programs, investments in renewable
energy technologies and a state-of-the-art electricity system. For
more information about Progress Energy, visit the company's Web
site at http://www.progress-energy.com/ .
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020923/CHM008LOGO-c
http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Progress Energy CONTACT:
Progress Energy Corporate Communications 24-Hour Media Line,
+1-919-546-6189 Web site: http://www.progress-energy.com/
http://www.progress-energy.com/ncgreenpower
http://www.progress-energy.com/environment
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