We've Been Busy! Check Out Our Commitment to Renewable Energy.

 

Green Mountain Power's commitment to using renewable energy resources began in the 1970s when researchers began looking at harnessing the power of wind to be used as an energy source for Vermont. GMP's multifaceted commitment to protecting the environment has  spanned more than 30 years and includes the following highlights:

 

• 1970s - Began researching wind as an energy source for Vermont.
• 1980s - Voluntarily increased river flow in the Winooski River to improve health of the river, began monitoring for loon nesting at Marshfield as a guide for water levels, and installed osprey nesting platforms to protect the threatened species.
• 1990s - Began effort to offer low emission power mix.
• 1997 - Joined CERES (Coalition for Environmentally Friendly Economics), a national network of investors, environmental organizations and other public interest groups working with companies and investors to address sustainability challenges such as global climate change. GMP was the second utility nationwide to join. www.ceres.org.
• 1997 - Built 11 wind turbines in Searsburg generating more than 6 megawatts each, which represented the largest wind facility east of the Mississippi at the time. Worked with Audubon Society to avoid bird migratory paths and with the State of Vermont to ensure that bear habitats were preserved.
• 2001-2002 - Redesign of company headquarters included a significant reduction in footprint, increased use of natural light, motion triggered lighting, toilets and sinks, and the use of recycled and environmentally friendly construction materials.
• 2002 - First utility in the U.S. to offer energy offset program to customers via the Cool Home program.
• 2004 - Hosted first annual Energy Fair designed to provide the public with information, services and products to reduce energy consumption and improve the environment. Attendance has grown from 300 in 2004 to over 1500 in 2006.
• 2004 - Became members of the Chicago Climate Exchange, pledging to reduce emissions by 4% by 2006, and achieved that goal. www.chicagoclimatex.com.
• 2005 - As part of pledge to improve average fleet fuel efficiency by 25% by 2008, GMP became the first utility in Vermont to use bio-diesel in its fleet and has replaced 10% of fleet (9 vehicles) with hybrids. GMP also introduced idling reduction guidelines for all GMP vehicles.
• 2005 - Eliminated all paper products from employee café.
• 2006 - Sponsored first "Greening Up Your Bottom Line" Conference in partnership with Green Mountain Coffee Roasters and Cabot Creamery to provide businesses with information and resources to improve their environmental footprint and save money.
• 2006 - Named "Large Company Leader of the Year" by Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility.
• 2006 - Voluntarily published Corporate Responsibility Report detailing GMP's commitment to reducing dependence on fossil fuels and pursuing renewable energy resources, and documenting environmental, social and financial impact of its operations.
• January 2007 - Received the Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence for establishing the Berlin Land Farm in 1996 to treat petroleum contaminated soil naturally.
• March 2007 - Initiated "Green Pays" for employees, an incentive based program to encourage environmentally-friendly activities at work, home and on the road.
March 2007 - Announced that only 2% of fuel mix for 2006 was from carbon emitting sources compared to a national average of nearly 70%.


• March 2007 - Signed onto the Investor and Business Call for US Climate Action organized by Ceres, which was called "the largest array of U.S. private sector leaders that has so far come together" to call for US government action on global warming by the Financial Times.
• April 2007 - Launched "choose2bgreen®" and became the first investor owned utility in the U.S. to offer customers the opportunity to be carbon neutral.

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