1.28.2008 - 01:15pm ET

(CSRwire) ATLANTA, GA - January 28, 2008 - Sterling Planet, a leading supplier of renewable energy, energy efficiency and low-carbon solutions, today announced that Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTQ) has become the largest purchaser of certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) in the United States. Under a multi-year contract, Sterling Planet was selected to provide Intel with an annual volume of 1.3 billion kilowatt hours.

"Intel has a long history of commitment to the environment and we’re excited to be partnering with Sterling Planet and the EPA on this important announcement," said Marty Sedler, Global Utilities Director for Intel. "This is part of a broader plan to continue to reduce our overall impact to the environment which also includes reducing the actual energy we do use."

This ground-breaking purchase catapults Intel to top ranking in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Green Power Partnership, a voluntary public-private program recognizing organizations that purchase renewable energy as a way to reduce the environmental impacts of conventional electricity use. Intel is now the largest Fortune 500 renewable energy purchaser.

"Intel's investment provides significant economic stimulus to production-based, renewable energy markets that benefit from the additional demand and liquidity that such a large volume purchase creates. This purchase not only benefits the tradable renewable energy markets, but also adds greatly to the underlying economics of renewable energy project development," said Mel Jones, Sterling Planet President and Chief Executive Officer. "Sterling Planet is proud to be partnered with an organization with such an outstanding commitment to corporate responsibility," added Jones.

Sterling Planet, per Intel's direction, will supply RECs originating from multiple technologies: solar, wind, small hydroelectric, landfill-gas-to-energy and biomass projects nationwide. Additionally, portions will be delivered from the specific regions where Intel operates its major facilities. These domestic, renewable energy projects support local economies, reduce dependence on conventional sources of electricity such as coal and other fossil fuels, and are considered environmentally preferable.

The U.S. EPA estimates that Intel's annual purchase of 1.3 billion kilowatt-hours of green power has the equivalent environmental impact of avoiding the carbon dioxide 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.

Sterling Planet's Green America(TM) RECs carry certification from the Green-e Energy Program of the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS), the nation's leading voluntary certification program for renewable energy. CRS is a national non-profit organization working to promote sustainable resource solutions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

About Sterling Planet:

Winner of the US Department of Energy 2007 Renewable Energy Marketer of the Year award, Sterling Planet is a sustainability pioneer and innovative supplier of renewable energy, energy efficiency and low-carbon solutions. Sterling Planet offers comprehensive carbon neutral solutions for businesses, universities and organizations of all types, bringing together supply and demand side solutions in a rapidly emerging environmental market. The company currently is developing next-generation solar and bioenergy projects to produce ‘green power’ and verified carbon offsets and is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Climate Leaders partner. Since 2001, sales of renewable energy to 928 business clients, 43 colleges and universities, 136 government agencies, 52 utilities and thousands of residential customers have avoided 25 billion pounds of carbon dioxide emissions, which compares to taking 2 million cars off the road for a year. www.sterlingplanet.com.

About U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Green Power Partnership:

EPA's Green Power Partnership encourages organizations to purchase green power as a way to reduce the environmental impacts associated with conventional electricity use. The Green Power Partnership currently has hundreds of Partners voluntarily purchasing billions of kilowatt hours of green power annually. Partners include a wide variety of leading organizations such as Fortune 500 companies, small and medium sized businesses, local, state, and federal governments, trade associations, as well as colleges and universities. www.epa.gov/greenpower.

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