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This first issue of eMDE features Businesses for the Bay member WindCurrent. WindCurrent is a Baltimore-based company that provides organizations with the option to support clean, renewable electricity generated from West Virginia wind power.
WindCurrent customers purchase "Green Tags," which subsidize the additional cost of producing energy from wind power as opposed to burning coal. The price difference of producing energy from wind power is 2.5 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh), so a 1000-kWh Green Tag, for example, can be purchased for $25. This entitles the holder to a certificate stating they are providing zero-emission electricity to the region's power grid. In the case of a 1000-kWh Green Tag, this prevents the production of about 1,200 pounds of carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and mercury.
WindCurrent's customers across Maryland include churches and synagogues, health care organizations, high-tech companies, and home-based businesses. Despite the diversity of these organizations, they share a commitment to Maryland's environmental future. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recognized each of these organizations with a Green Power Leadership award for their wind power purchases.
WindCurrent was recently selected by the United Nations' World Bank to "green" the power of the bank's headquarters building in Washington, DC. The World Bank is offsetting 100 percent of its electricity usage, 85,000,000 kWh per year, with clean, renewable wind power.
The City of Takoma Park, Maryland is also a WindCurrent customer. They are the first U.S. city to have its buildings 100 percent wind-powered. The city's decision will prevent the annual production of over 900,000 pounds of carbon dioxide and other pollutants in our region. "For Takoma Park, our decision to support wind power with this purchase is consistent with our commitment to clean air and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions," said Mayor Kathy Porter. "We want to set an example by choosing clean, renewable power for city use and we want to encourage our residents to do so, also."
"The decision of these organizations to support renewable power sends a clear sign that they are committed to improving the environmental quality of Maryland, both today and for future generations," said Jim Maguire, WindCurrent's founder. "Wind power creates none of the hazardous emissions or mercury pollution that are associated with producing electricity from burning coal. These groups are serving as role models for other organizations that want to be environmentally responsible."
For more information, contact WindCurrent at 410-484-5079, www.WindCurrent.com
Businesses for the Bay is a free, voluntary pollution prevention (P2) program for businesses, government facilities, and other organizations located within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The program promotes environmental best practices to reduce waste and conserve energy, water, and other natural resources. More than 600 organizations have joined so far, including 150 from Maryland.
Would you like to learn from other organizations or have P2 success stories of your own to share? Join Businesses for the Bay online at www.b4bay.org.
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