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Green Mountain Energy Company and Texas Parks and Wildlife Celebrate New Solar Array at Sea Center Texas

Solar installed at Sea Center Texas as part of sustainable business partnership with Green Mountain

Green Mountain Energy Company and Texas Parks and Wildlife Celebrate New Solar Array at Sea Center Texas

Solar installed at Sea Center Texas as part of sustainable business partnership with Green Mountain

Published 06-16-16

Submitted by Green Mountain Energy

 Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) and Green Mountain Energy Company today announced a major milestone in their sustainable business partnership with the full completion of a new solar array at TPWD’s Sea Center Texas. The 21-kilowatt rooftop solar system is expected to generate approximately 27,000 kWh of electricity for the facility each year. Through the partnership, Green Mountain also provides additional energy solutions to TPWD, including 100 percent renewable energy to all of TPWD’s facilities in deregulated service areas and energy management software for facilities across the state. 

“Sea Center Texas is proud to be the newest beneficiary of the sustainability business partnership between Texas Parks and Wildlife and Green Mountain Energy Company,” said David Abrego, facility director, Sea Center Texas. “As a facility that is strongly committed to the conservation of our natural resources, the adoption of solar power will provide clean energy and serve as a powerful tool for our educational and outreach programs.”

Sea Center Texas is a marine aquarium, fish hatchery and nature center operated by TPWD that offers various educational programs designed to promote conservation of Texas’ marine resources. The Lake Jackson facility is home to the largest red drum hatchery in the world and has the capability to produce up to 15 million juvenile red drum and spotted seatrout each year. Sea Center Texas also boasts a wetland area featuring a three-acre freshwater marsh and one-acre salt marsh. 

“Our partnership with Texas Parks and Wildlife allows us both to continue growing as sustainability leaders in Texas, and we are proud to work with an organization that is so strongly committed to resource conservation,” said Mark Parsons, vice president and general manager of Green Mountain. “The new solar array at Sea Center Texas is one more way we provide clean, renewable power to our local community.”

Because Sea Center Texas is the second largest energy user in the TPWD system, additional energy solutions, such as solar, are a welcome addition to power the fish hatchery. The solar array on top of Sea Center’s aquarium building is supported by Green Mountain’s SolarSPARC™ program. Launched in 2013, Green Mountain’s SolarSPARC (Smart People Accelerating Renewable Change) program helps support the adoption of solar energy by funding efforts intended to make solar more affordable, effective and available. SolarSPARC was the first Texas residential electricity plan backed by 100 percent solar energy, and customers receive a bill credit for the facilities they help fund. Solar design and installation was performed by Alba Energy. The sustainable business partnership and energy service agreement were completed in collaboration with Texas Energy Aggregators. 

Under the partnership with Green Mountain, Texas Parks and Wildlife is also implementing a Lucid BuildingOS Energy Management System Pilot test, which is expected to be complete in early 2017. The system will evaluate the energy use of 100 TPWD electric utility meters from Smart Meter Texas and provide advanced usage data so TPWD can optimize the performance and efficiency of their buildings.

The Green Mountain sustainable business partnership is a mutually beneficial commitment to learning and leadership in the efficient and sustainable use of resources. It empowers our business customers to run a smarter, more sustainable organization. By providing the right tools and metrics, Green Mountain can help our customers identify opportunities to reduce operating costs while making a positive impact on the environment.

Texas Parks and Wildlife
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department manages and conserves the natural and cultural resources of Texas and provides hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

Green Mountain Energy Company
Green Mountain is the nation’s longest serving renewable energy retailer and believes in using wind, sun and water for good. The company was founded in 1997 with the mission to “change the way power is made.” Green Mountain offers consumers and businesses the choice of cleaner electricity products from renewable sources, as well as a variety of carbon offset products and sustainable solutions for businesses. One of Green Mountain’s largest customers is the “world’s most famous office building,” the Empire State Building in New York City. Green Mountain customers have collectively helped avoid more than 37.7 billion pounds of carbon dioxide emissions.

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Green Mountain Energy

Green Mountain Energy

Green Mountain Energy Company was founded in 1997 with the mission to change the way power is made. Today, we remain 100% committed to this mission, which makes us the nation’s longest serving renewable energy retailer and a clean energy pioneer. We provide customers with electricity products made from renewable resources like wind and solar and carbon offsets that help neutralize carbon emissions.

We live our commitment to sustainability inside and out: Every single product offered by our company has an environmental benefit, and our company operates with a zero-carbon footprint - distinctions that make us proud!

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