5.22.2007 - 05:15pm ET

(CSRwire) SAN FRANCISCO, CA -May 22, 2007 — The Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) announced today that Puget Sound Energy, (PSE), Washington state’s largest and oldest energy utility has received Green-e certification for its Green Power program. The display of the Green-e logo verifies for PSE customers that their voluntary green power purchases are verified on an annual basis, ensuring that their actions are contributing to a real and positive impact on the environment.

"Green-e is very pleased to have PSE in the program and to have so many electricity users, from individual residential customers to the many large commercial customers in PSE’s service territory, able to sign up for local, certified renewable energy," said Alex Pennock, Green-e associate. "This is a huge opportunity for ratepayers, renewables and for the State of Washington."

The renewable resources offered to PSE’s customers as part of its Green Power program are sourced from local generators in Oregon and Washington. Customers will receive energy sourced predominantly from wind generated in-state, as well as smaller amounts of wind from Oregon and biomass and solar energy. By buying cleaner energy through Green Power, customers increase demand for development of renewable energy.

"Green-e certification provides a guarantee for our customers that their voluntary purchases of Green Power from PSE support Green-e certified renewable energy sources," said Cal Shirley, PSE vice president of Energy Efficiency Services. "We're proud of our customers' active commitment to the support of renewable energy. In 2006, our Green Power Program was ranked among the top 10 programs nationally, out of approximately 600 utility green power programs, by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory."

The Green-e program is the leading renewable energy certification and verification program in the U.S., with more than 150 participating vendors who sold more than five million megawatt hours (MWhs) of renewable energy in 2005. The program provides independent, third party certification to ensure certified renewable energy meets strict environmental and consumer protection standards.

Through the display and recognition of the Green-e logo, the national symbol for renewable energy excellence, a growing number of consumers are able to easily identify high quality, certified renewable energy options, as well as everyday consumer products that are produced by companies who use renewable energy in their operations.

Providers of Green-e certified renewable energy agree to abide by the Green-e Code of Conduct, and meet strict Green-e disclosure and truth-in-advertising requirements. All Green-e marketers undergo an annual verification audit to document that the company purchased or generated enough quantity and type of renewable energy to meet customer demand and marketing claims.

About Puget Sound Energy

Washington state’s oldest and largest energy utility, with a 6,000-square-mile service area stretching across 11 counties, Puget Sound Energy (PSE) serves more than 1 million electric customers and 718,000 natural gas customers, primarily in Western Washington. PSE meets the energy needs of its growing customer base through incremental, cost-effective energy efficiency, low-cost procurement of sustainable energy resources, and far-sighted investment in the energy-delivery infrastructure. For more information visit www.PSE.com.

About Green-e and the Center for Resource Solutions

Green-e provides an easy way for consumers to find credible greenhouse gas mitigation options. The Green-e Program currently offers renewable energy certification and Green-e logo product labeling for businesses and organizations that purchase or generate sufficient quantities of renewable energy. Beginning in summer, 2007, Green-e will also offer certification of retail greenhouse gas reduction products. 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 national non-profit organization working to promote sustainable resource solutions and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by increasing the demand for and supply of renewable resources and promoting markets and policies that mitigate climate change. CRS designs and operates national and international programs that support the increased supply and use of renewable energy resources, greenhouse gas reductions, and energy efficiency measures. To learn more about CRS, visit www.resource-solutions.org.