TRENTON, New Jersey - Green Mountain Energy Company is teaming up with the Administration of Governor James E. McGreevey to make New Jersey one of the cleanest-powered state governments in the nation.

New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) President Jeanne M. Fox, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell, State Treasurer John E. McCormac and A. Clifton Payne of Green Mountain Energy Company held a news conference today at the Governor's Office in Trenton to announce the State's cleaner electricity contract.

A total of 196 State-operated facilities -- from the State House in Trenton to Barnegat Lighthouse at the Shore -- are now purchasing cleaner and renewable electric service from Green Mountain Energy Company, the nation's largest and fastest growing residential provider of cleaner electricity. The service represents 12 percent of the electricity purchased by the State government, for a total of 113 million kilowatt hours over the 15-month term of the contract. That's equivalent to the average amount of electricity purchased in a month by approximately 173,000 homes in New Jersey.

According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy, only three other states have implemented green power purchase programs for government-operated facilities: Maryland at six percent of the state electric load, Pennsylvania at five percent, and Tennessee at two percent.

"Choosing renewable sources of energy is a way to help clean the air we breathe. New Jersey is helping to lead by example by purchasing power for some of our State facilities from Green Mountain Energy Company that is less-polluting than generic system power," said Governor James E. McGreevey.

The Governor added that families and businesses throughout New Jersey can choose to purchase cleaner and renewable electricity thanks to the New Jersey Energy Choice program administered by the BPU.

"Making electricity causes more air pollution than any other industry in the United States, emitting billions of tons of carbon dioxide annually," said A. Clifton Payne, eastern region president for Green Mountain Energy Company. "Green Mountain Energy(SM) electricity will help the State avoid 9,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions over the length of the contract. That prevents as much carbon dioxide pollution as not making 136,800 trips by car up the length of the New Jersey Turnpike -- adding up to more than 20 million miles."

During the news conference, a utility-scale wind turbine -- as tall as the Statue of Liberty -- at the Green Mountain Wind Farm some 400 miles away in Garrett, Pennsylvania, was ceremonially dedicated to the State of New Jersey for its commitment to renewable energy. The wind turbine was seen live on a monitor at the State House via satellite downlink. The Green Mountain Wind Farm generates pollution-free electricity that goes into the regional power grid on behalf of Green Mountain Energy(SM) electricity customers in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

State facilities covered under the contract will purchase Green Mountain Energy's(SM) "Enviro Blend," a Green-e certified product generated from renewable resources such as wind, water, biomass and solar generation. Green-e is a program of the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS), a non-profit organization based in San Francisco, CA. To receive Green-e certification, an energy product must come from at least 50% eligible renewable resources. Green Mountain Energy Company also agrees to abide by the Green-e Code of Conduct, and to meet Green-e disclosure and truth-in-advertising requirements. The company will also undergo an annual verification process.

The Green Mountain Energy Company contract with the State runs through June 2003. In addition to the New Jersey State government, Pennsylvania is also buying over 13,500 megawatts of cleaner electricity from Green Mountain Energy Company.

Since 1999, the demand for cleaner Green Mountain Energy(SM) electricity has led to the development of eight new renewable facilities, including the first utility-scale wind power facility in the PJM Interconnection grid, and two large, grid-side solar electric generating stations in Pennsylvania.

Green Mountain Energy Company began offering its cleaner and renewable brand of electricity to New Jersey consumers in March 2000. Payne said that electric customers in New Jersey can choose Green Mountain Energy(SM) electricity through the New Jersey Energy Choice program (http://www.njenergychoice.com ) or http://www.greenmountain.com/nj , or by calling 1-888-246-6730.

About Green Mountain Energy Company

Green Mountain Energy(SM) 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 Energy(SM) electricity. The Austin, Texas-based company was founded in 1997 with a mission to "change the way power is made."

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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