1.28.2008 - 01:30pm ET

(CSRwire) SAN FRANCISCO, CA – January 28, 2008 - The Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) announced today that Intel Corp. joined Green-e(R) Marketplace with the largest single purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs) in history, representing 1.3 Million MWh of the electricity used to power its facilities throughout the U.S. The purchase was provided by Sterling Planet using RECs sourced from a mix of renewable energy generation sources, including geothermal, wind, and solar, from projects distributed throughout the country.

"Electricity generation is the biggest source of greenhouse gases on the planet," said Jan Hamrin, CRS president. "This purchase by Intel demonstrates not only their leadership on environmental issues, but a serious commitment toward mitigating the effects of climate change as one part of their larger sustainability strategy, which includes energy efficiency. Taking responsibility for the electricity a business uses is an example we want other companies to follow, and it also illustrates the increasing demand for renewable energy in the market."

One REC represents the attributes associated with one megawatt hour of energy from a renewable source. Energy generated from a renewable source results in less environmental waste and pollution, and customers who purchase RECs benefit by displacing other non-renewable sources from the electric grid.

Intel's purchase of electricity generated from nearly emissions-free renewable sources represents the equivalent environmental impact of avoiding the CO2 emissions of more than 185,000 passenger vehicles per year, or is the equivalent electricity needed to power more than 130,000 average American homes annually, according to the U.S. EPA. It also serves to build the market for renewable energy nationwide, increasing the incentives for building new facilities. Currently, renewable energy accounts for less than 2% of total electricity generation nationwide.

The RECs purchased by Intel were certified by Green-e Energy, the leading renewable energy certification and verification program in the U.S. It provides independent, third party certification to ensure certified renewable energy meets strict environmental and consumer protection standards, including ensuring RECs are sourced from verified, new facilities; not double-counted towards any state’s renewable energy goal; and retired on behalf of the purchaser. By joining Green-e Marketplace, Intel is submitting to auditing procedures that verify the company's purchase, allowing them to use the Green-e Marketplace Certified logo.


Contact
Jeff Swenerton
Communications Director
Center for Resource Solutions
415-561-2119
jeff@resource-solutions.org.

Bill Calder
Intel Corporate Communications
503-264-5669
bill.calder@intel.com.

About Intel

Intel (www.intel.com), the world leader in silicon innovation, develops technologies, products, and initiatives to continually advance how people work and live. Founded in 1968 to build semiconductor memory products, Intel introduced the world's first microprocessor in 1971. For the fourth year in a row (and since the list's inception), Intel has been named to the list of the 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World, which is announced each year at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

About Green-e and the Center for Resource Solutions:

Green-e(R) is the nation's leading independent consumer protection program for the sale of renewable energy and greenhouse gas reductions in the retail market. Green-e offers certification and verification of renewable energy and greenhouse gas mitigation products through Green-e Energy, the renewable energy certification program; Green-e Climate, the greenhouse gas emission reduction certification program; and Green-e Marketplace, for organizations that purchase or generate sufficient quantities of renewable energy. To learn more about Green-e certified products and programs available in all 50 states, visit www.green-e.org.

Green-e is a program of the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS), a San Francisco–based nonprofit with a global impact. CRS brings forth expert responses to climate change issues with the speed and effectiveness necessary to provide real-time solutions. Its leadership through collaboration and environmental innovation builds policies and consumer-protection mechanisms in renewable energy, greenhouse gas reductions, and energy efficiency that foster healthy and sustained growth in national and international markets.

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