AUSTIN, TX - Though Kermit the Frog laments that it's not easy to be green, according to a new national survey commissioned by Green Mountain Energy Company, the nation's largest residential provider of less-polluting electricity, the ease of being "green" -- or environmentally friendly -- is not what limits many Americans from protecting the environment.

According to the new Green Mountain Energy Company survey(1) conducted to commemorate Earth Day 2002, almost half (44 percent) of survey respondents would make an effort to be "greener" if more environmentally friendly products and services were available. Only about one in five (17 percent) respondents indicated they would be "greener" if it was easier and took less time.

"Today, the average consumer has the power to make a real individual difference in the environment, whether it's choosing to purchase cleaner, less-polluting electricity or using products made with recyclable material," said Tom Rawls, chief environmental officer for Green Mountain Energy Company. "We believe that harnessing that power can create real change, as we are proving through our mission to change the way power is made."

As Americans continue to search for ways to be more earth-friendly through what they consume, they also are concerned about protecting what the earth provides naturally for future generations. When asked about the environmental lessons that were most important to teach children, survey respondents ranked the following:
* Preserving natural resources (36 percent)
* Reducing air pollution (23 percent)
* Energy conservation (20 percent)
* Protecting wildlife habitats (16 percent)

Americans also differ in their understanding of what being "green" really means. According to the survey, respondents think of recycling (39 percent) and saving trees (25 percent) when they consider being earth-friendly. Nineteen percent believe driving less, or driving an electric or more fuel-efficient vehicle, equals environmentally friendly actions.

"Being 'green' can take many forms, and we encourage consumers to think of every day as Earth Day -- an opportunity to educate themselves on simple steps they can take to help protect the environment," said Rawls. "For example, buying electricity from renewable energy products has the potential to fight global warming as much as other EPA recommended actions like recycling or planting a tree(2). In fact, in some instances, such as the case with Green Mountain Energysm electricity in Texas, buying renewable electricity can beeven more effective than purchasing a more efficient vehicle."

About Green Mountain Energy Company
Green Mountain Energysm electricity is the leading brand of cleaner electricity in the states where Green Mountain Energy Company (http://www.greenmountain.com) does business. The company provides less-polluting electricity generated from sources including wind, solar, water, geothermal, biomass and cleaner burning natural gas. Nearly half a million customers in seven states -- California, Connecticut, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Texas -- have chosen Green Mountain Energysm electricity. The Austin, Texas-based company was founded in 1997 with a mission to "change the way power is made."

(1) National telephone survey was conducted between March 8 - 11, 2002. Survey respondents consisted of 1,018 adults ages 18 years and older living in private households in the continental United States. Margin of error is no more than plus or minus three percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level.

(2) http://www.epa.gov/region01/steward/cchange/tten.html

Green Mountain Energy Company

Green Mountain Energy Company

Founded in 1997 to change the way power is made, Green Mountain Energy Company (www.greenmountain.com) offers residential, business, institutional and governmental customers the choice to support cleaner electricity generated from sources such as wind, solar, water, geothermal, biomass and natural gas. Due to Green Mountain Energy Company's efforts, almost 600,000 customers nationwide are purchasing electricity that is significantly less polluting than typical system power. The company is based in Austin, Texas.

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