The Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF), an entrepreneurial supplier of green power solutions, announced today that it has received a Green Power Leadership Award for the second year in a row. The Green Power Leadership awards program is jointly sponsored by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the United States Department of Energy (DOE) and the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS). BEF has been recognized as the Best Green Power Supplier of the Year. Award winners were announced during the Renewable Energy Markets Conference being held in Portland, OR this week.

"We are honored to be consistently recognized by these noteworthy organizations as a leader in building the market for renewable energy," said Margie Gardner, CEO of the Bonneville Environmental Foundation. "This award is a reflection of the commitment by our customers and partners to buy, build and promote green power."

Awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the Supplier of the Year award recognizes exceptional achievement among green power suppliers to end-use customers in supporting increased market deployment of renewable energy technologies. Nominees are evaluated based upon the resources and technologies utilized, total annual renewable energy sales, number of customers served, market impact, amount of green power supplied, and overall value provided to participants.

BEF invests in green power development, energy education and fresh water. Revenue from the sales of carbon offsets, renewable energy certificates and water restoration certificates is reinvested in programs that increase awareness and education of renewable energy sources and restore watershed ecosystems across the United States.

In 2002, recognizing that youth education would be a key factor in transforming the nation's relationship to energy, BEF launched its renewable energy education outreach program called Solar 4R Schools. The Solar 4R Schools program is designed to educate children, teachers and parents on the benefits of solar energy. To date the program has provided renewable energy generation and education to more than 40,000 students in 150 schools representing 15 states and Washington, DC.

Since 1999, BEF has committed over $1.6 million to support community-based watershed restoration initiatives. Leveraging BEF's unique Model Watershed approach, these projects improve water quality, restore habitat, and bolster native salmon and trout populations. BEF is the only provider of green power products in the United States that requires all of the sources of renewable energy that they support meet criteria established by three, independent environmental groups including the Natural Resources Defense Council.

About the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF)
An entrepreneurial nonprofit, Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) is creating a more sustainable future by investing now in clean energy and fresh water. Customers who buy independently certified BEF Carbon Offsets and Renewable Energy Certificates support the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the development of new renewable energy facilities, while customers who buy BEF's Water Restoration Certificates™ support the return of water to critically dewatered streams and rivers. All BEF customers and donors support long-term watershed restoration and renewable energy education for students and communities nationwide because BEF reinvests its net revenues to fund its Model Watershed and Solar 4R Schools programs. Since it was established in Portland, Ore. in 1998, BEF has been a pioneer in helping people and companies become better stewards of the environment. Learn more at www.b-e-f.org.

Bonneville Environmental Foundation

Bonneville Environmental Foundation

An entrepreneurial nonprofit, Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) is creating a more sustainable future by investing now in clean energy and fresh water. Customers who buy independently certified BEF Carbon Offsets and Renewable Energy Certificates support the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the development of new renewable energy facilities, while customers who buy BEF's Water Restoration CertificatesTM support the return of water to critically dewatered streams and rivers. All BEF customers and donors support long-term watershed restoration and renewable energy education for students and communities nationwide because BEF reinvests its net revenues to fund its Model Watershed and Solar 4R Schools programs. Since it was established in Portland, Ore. in 1998, BEF has been a pioneer in helping people and companies become better stewards of the environment. Learn more at www.b-e-f.org.

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