Juniata Vows to Increase Wind Energy Purchases to 75 Percent by 2012
(Posted March 3, 2008)
HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Juniata College has agreed to increase the amount of wind-generated energy it purchases to 30 percent of the college's total energy usage and increasing its reliance on wind-generated electricity to 75 percent by 2012 by purchasing Renewable Energy Credits from Renewable Choice Energy.
Juniata will increase its commitment to wind energy by increasing its use of wind-generated electricity by 10 percent for each year of the contract until 2012. Juniata will use 30 percent wind-generated energy in 2008, followed by 40 percent in 2009, 50 percent in 2010 and 60 percent in 2011. In 2012, the college will raise its commitment by 15 percent from the previous year to reach 75 percent of its total energy usage.
Juniata will reach these goals by purchasing Renewable Energy Credits, a product designed to allow states, businesses, individual or the federal government to purchase renewable energy.
Each time a renewable energy producer adds electricity to the national electric grid, those additions produce a Renewable Energy Credit. Such credits represent the additional cost and value of a specific amount of renewable energy that is generated. These credits are the industry standard method of accounting for renewable energy production. Each credit is audited and guaranteed by an independent third-party Green-e program run by the Center for Resource Solutions in San Francisco, Calif.
Compared to the average energy-generation mix in Pennsylvania, Juniata's decision to purchase 30 percent pollution-free wind power reduces the amount of carbon dioxide equivalent to planting nearly 244,710 trees, not driving 3.12 million miles, or taking 492 cars off the road each year.
Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.