Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Green Power Buyers Provide Solar Mini-Grants
…or How Green Kilowatts Beget More Green Kilowatts
BRUNSWICK, Maine – A recent survey revealed that half of all Mainers know that clean electricity or “green power” can be produced by the sun. But did you know that buying green power can bring MORE solar energy to Maine? Thanks to a new PV Reinvestment Fund, nonprofits and others can apply for grants of up to $3,000 to help offset the initial cost of a photovoltaic (PV) system.
The PV Reinvestment Fund has been created by a collaboration of clean electricity buyers and sellers. Together, Interface Fabrics (IF), Maine Interfaith Power and Light, Inc. (MeIPL), and the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) have launched the fund with contributions totaling $20,000, derived entirely from sales of clean energy products. The Maine State Energy Program (MSEP), a division of the Maine Public Utilities Commission, provided funds for project staff and Maine Energy Investment Corporation (MEIC) is managing the Fund. The program targets Maine nonprofits, which can utilize Maine solar rebates but not the available federal tax credits.
“We know that clean electricity helps clean up Maine’s air”, said Erika Morgan, program organizer, of the Maine Energy Investment Corporation (MEIC). “Now, by plowing some of their clean electricity sales into new solar systems, these organizations are helping more Mainers make the clean energy switch. They want to show more people how beneficial and available these new, clean technologies are.”
Interface Fabrics stated the ball rolling in 2003, with a major purchase of BEF “Green Tags”. A small amount of revenue from this sale was set aside to encourage more clean energy production in Maine. “While Interface Fabrics has long been on a mission to reduce its own environmental impact, the company also wants to create a clear path for others to follow,” says Paul Bennotti, director of strategic marketing for Interface Fabrics. Interface and BEF jointly made a substantial contribution to get the Fund started.
Maine’s most active green power retailer has contributed as well. Harry Brown, Executive Director of Maine Interfaith Power and Light, Inc., added, “We’re putting our money where our mouth is. For every sale of clean electricity we’ve made since 2003, we have set aside a portion of those revenues to help put solar power on Maine roofs”.
Bonneville Environmental Foundation was one of the country’s first retail marketers of renewable energy credits (RECs), which it calls Green Tags. The foundation launched its Green Tag products in 2000, and has since become one of the most widely supported national green power options. “We have a particular affinity for our partners in Maine,” said Tom Starrs, BEF’s vice president for marketing and sales. “Interface Fabrics liked our emphasis on supporting local projects, and both MEIC and MeIPL have been very innovative and collaborative in creating the PV Reinvestment Fund. We look forward to getting more new, renewable power generation on the ground in Maine with this program.”
About the PV Reinvestment Fund
The Fund will provide small installation grants for solar electric systems on Maine nonprofits organizations and small businesses. Applicants may apply for grants of up to $3,000, at the rate of $1 per watt of new solar capacity and may combine these grants with applicable State and federal solar incentives. Information is at www.RenewMaine.org/DSC under “PV Reinvestment Fund”.
About Maine Energy Investment Corporation (MEIC) www.RenewMaine.org A Brunswick-based nonprofit, MEIC conducts public education and market development programs on a range of clean energy technologies, including green power, biodiesel and solar. The PV Reinvestment Fund is one of its solar offerings, joining other solar efforts “Downeast Solar Co-op”, “Solar for Maine Builders” and “SolarCents” solar projects.
About Maine Interfaith Power and Light (MeIPL) www.meipl.org
MeIPL is a faith-based non-profit working to help Maine people and congregations take actions against global warming. MeIPL helped create Maine’s clean electricity market in 2003 by offering the first green power products.
About Interface Fabrics (IF) www.interfacefabrics.com
Interface Fabrics is a subsidiary of Interface, Inc., a global leader in sustainable commerce with a “vision to show the entire industrial world what sustainability is in all its dimensions: people, process, product, place and profits by 2020, and in doing so, to become restorative through the power of influence.”
About Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) www.b-e-f.org
BEF, a non-profit organization, was established in 1998 to restore watershed ecosystems and further the development and use of new renewable energy resources. Through revenues generated from the sales of green power products, BEF funds projects that restore damaged watersheds and support new renewable energy projects from solar, wind and biomass. BEF pioneered the sale of Green Tags in 2000 and has helped establish national standards for green power certification and trading.
About Maine State Energy Program (MSEP) www.maine.gov/msep
MSEP serves as a point of coordination for many renewable energy projects in Maine funded by the U. S. Department of Energy. A sister program to Efficiency Maine, MSEP also provides support for the “Clean Energy Maine” campaign and the Maine Solar Rebates program.
MEDIA CONTACT:
For more information
Erika Morgan, Executive Director
Maine Energy Investment Corporation
Phone: (207) 729-9665
Fax: (207) 721-0384
E-mail: erika@RenewMaine.org
Web: www.RenewMaine.org
BRUNSWICK, Maine – A recent survey revealed that half of all Mainers know that clean electricity or “green power” can be produced by the sun. But did you know that buying green power can bring MORE solar energy to Maine? Thanks to a new PV Reinvestment Fund, nonprofits and others can apply for grants of up to $3,000 to help offset the initial cost of a photovoltaic (PV) system.
The PV Reinvestment Fund has been created by a collaboration of clean electricity buyers and sellers. Together, Interface Fabrics (IF), Maine Interfaith Power and Light, Inc. (MeIPL), and the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) have launched the fund with contributions totaling $20,000, derived entirely from sales of clean energy products. The Maine State Energy Program (MSEP), a division of the Maine Public Utilities Commission, provided funds for project staff and Maine Energy Investment Corporation (MEIC) is managing the Fund. The program targets Maine nonprofits, which can utilize Maine solar rebates but not the available federal tax credits.
“We know that clean electricity helps clean up Maine’s air”, said Erika Morgan, program organizer, of the Maine Energy Investment Corporation (MEIC). “Now, by plowing some of their clean electricity sales into new solar systems, these organizations are helping more Mainers make the clean energy switch. They want to show more people how beneficial and available these new, clean technologies are.”
Interface Fabrics stated the ball rolling in 2003, with a major purchase of BEF “Green Tags”. A small amount of revenue from this sale was set aside to encourage more clean energy production in Maine. “While Interface Fabrics has long been on a mission to reduce its own environmental impact, the company also wants to create a clear path for others to follow,” says Paul Bennotti, director of strategic marketing for Interface Fabrics. Interface and BEF jointly made a substantial contribution to get the Fund started.
Maine’s most active green power retailer has contributed as well. Harry Brown, Executive Director of Maine Interfaith Power and Light, Inc., added, “We’re putting our money where our mouth is. For every sale of clean electricity we’ve made since 2003, we have set aside a portion of those revenues to help put solar power on Maine roofs”.
Bonneville Environmental Foundation was one of the country’s first retail marketers of renewable energy credits (RECs), which it calls Green Tags. The foundation launched its Green Tag products in 2000, and has since become one of the most widely supported national green power options. “We have a particular affinity for our partners in Maine,” said Tom Starrs, BEF’s vice president for marketing and sales. “Interface Fabrics liked our emphasis on supporting local projects, and both MEIC and MeIPL have been very innovative and collaborative in creating the PV Reinvestment Fund. We look forward to getting more new, renewable power generation on the ground in Maine with this program.”
About the PV Reinvestment Fund
The Fund will provide small installation grants for solar electric systems on Maine nonprofits organizations and small businesses. Applicants may apply for grants of up to $3,000, at the rate of $1 per watt of new solar capacity and may combine these grants with applicable State and federal solar incentives. Information is at www.RenewMaine.org/DSC under “PV Reinvestment Fund”.
About Maine Energy Investment Corporation (MEIC) www.RenewMaine.org A Brunswick-based nonprofit, MEIC conducts public education and market development programs on a range of clean energy technologies, including green power, biodiesel and solar. The PV Reinvestment Fund is one of its solar offerings, joining other solar efforts “Downeast Solar Co-op”, “Solar for Maine Builders” and “SolarCents” solar projects.
About Maine Interfaith Power and Light (MeIPL) www.meipl.org
MeIPL is a faith-based non-profit working to help Maine people and congregations take actions against global warming. MeIPL helped create Maine’s clean electricity market in 2003 by offering the first green power products.
About Interface Fabrics (IF) www.interfacefabrics.com
Interface Fabrics is a subsidiary of Interface, Inc., a global leader in sustainable commerce with a “vision to show the entire industrial world what sustainability is in all its dimensions: people, process, product, place and profits by 2020, and in doing so, to become restorative through the power of influence.”
About Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) www.b-e-f.org
BEF, a non-profit organization, was established in 1998 to restore watershed ecosystems and further the development and use of new renewable energy resources. Through revenues generated from the sales of green power products, BEF funds projects that restore damaged watersheds and support new renewable energy projects from solar, wind and biomass. BEF pioneered the sale of Green Tags in 2000 and has helped establish national standards for green power certification and trading.
About Maine State Energy Program (MSEP) www.maine.gov/msep
MSEP serves as a point of coordination for many renewable energy projects in Maine funded by the U. S. Department of Energy. A sister program to Efficiency Maine, MSEP also provides support for the “Clean Energy Maine” campaign and the Maine Solar Rebates program.
MEDIA CONTACT:
For more information
Erika Morgan, Executive Director
Maine Energy Investment Corporation
Phone: (207) 729-9665
Fax: (207) 721-0384
E-mail: erika@RenewMaine.org
Web: www.RenewMaine.org
