{news} RE: Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency Update

[David Bedell]

Here's the final press release issued by Clean Water Action.  Levco has been 
a power supplier in CT for some time, offering a cheaper, all-nuclear 
alternative to CL&P's Standard Offer.  Now they are offering a "100% 
renewable" option, but it is dirtier than the options soon to be available 
from Sterling Planet and Community Energy.  Of course, CL&P still handles 
all transmission and billing.

http://www.sterlingplanet.com
http://www.newwindenergy.com
http://levcoenergy.com

David

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CLEAN WATER ACTION
             645 Farmington Ave, 3rd Floor, Hartford, CT 06105 (860) 
232-6232



For immediate release				             Contact: Clean Water Action
March 31, 2005							    Roger Smith
                                        860-232-6232
	         rsmith at cleanwater.org

Levco Energy Fails to Demonstrate Environmental Benefit of “100% Renewable” 
Electricity Offer; Environmental Groups Encourage Consumers to Choose “CT 
Clean Energy Options”

HARTFORD—For the first time in recent years, consumers will be able to 
choose clean energy on their electricity bills through the Connecticut Clean 
Energy Options this April.  The Department of Public Utility Control 
approved Sterling Planet and Community Energy to offer customers a 
high-quality clean energy products at a modest premium over existing rates.

The Connecticut Clean Energy Options include energy from wind, clean 
landfill gas, and small-scale, low-impact hydropower, and the premium 
consumers pay for these options will support new generation from clean 
energy sources.   These products offer significant health, environmental, 
and economic benefits,  and have the support of the environmental community, 
as they will reduce our reliance on coal, oil, nuclear power, and other 
dirty energy sources.

“Connecticut consumers deserve to have a choice of how their electricity is 
generated.  We are very pleased that this April consumers can sign up for 
the Connecticut Clean Energy Options on their electricity bills.  The slight 
extra charge will support clean energy sources like wind, and will help 
reduce our air pollution and our dependence on fossil fuels,” said Roger 
Smith, Campaign Director for Clean Water Action.

In contrast, Levco Energy recently offered and began promoting a “100% 
Renewable Offer” which has no additional cost but also provides no 
demonstrated environmental benefit.  Environmental groups are concerned that 
this product is being marketed in a misleading fashion.

Levco’s marketing materials claim that people "can now choose to help the 
environment without increasing their monthly energy costs” by purchasing the 
Levco Energy 100% renewable product.  In a March 3rd letter to Levco, Clean 
Water Action requested the exact product mix to substantiate their claim of 
an environmental benefit, and to know if Levco would rule out using 
incineration in their product.  Levco did not reply.  Levco’s website states 
that their offer is only 1.5% Class I (clean) renewable energy, with the 
remaining 98.5% less desirable Class II renewable energy from older or 
dirtier sources.  Levco’s marketing campaign is misleading because:

•	Levco has not ruled out using incinerators for Class II energy, this 
source is significantly dirtier than the regular offer, and incineration is 
opposed by all the organizations below.
•	The mere 1.5% Class I clean energy is already required by state law for 
all electricity suppliers and offers consumers no additional benefit 
whatsoever.
•	Other Class II sources provide no additional environmental benefit as they 
are not new.

Dr. Mark Mitchell, President of the Connecticut Coalition for Environmental 
Justice said, "Incineration produces more air toxins than other methods of 
generating electricity and has no place in any renewable energy option.  
Incinerators are disproportionately located in urban communities and 
communities of color, and are not an environmentally acceptable renewable 
energy source."

For Levco’s product to truly benefit the environment it should at least meet 
or exceed standards set by the independent Green-e organization. Green-e 
represents the consensus view on the minimum requirements for electricity 
products to be considered environmentally superior.  The minimum Green-e 
standard in 2005 requires that 20% of the electricity come from NEW Class I 
or equivalent energy facilities.  Green-e also prohibits the use of 
incineration, bars purchases of nuclear power that exceed the system mix , 
and requires full disclosure of the resources used in the product.

“As a consumer advocate, I recommend avoiding Levco Energy’s ‘100% Renewable 
Product.’  Levco can’t have it both ways, claiming to provide an 
environmental benefit while refusing to tell us where the electricity is 
coming from.  If they want our support they need to show that their energy 
is at least 20% new and only comes from truly clean sources,” said Chris 
Phelps, Legislative Advocate for ConnPIRG.

The undersigned environmental groups are working to create a market for 
clean energy by encouraging consumers to spend their dollars supporting new, 
clean energy sources.  For this reason, these groups urge their members and 
supporters to avoid the Levco “100% Renewable Energy Offer,” and to sign up 
for the Connecticut Clean Energy Options when they become available in April 
2005.
###

Environmental Organizations Supporting this Statement:

Clean Water Action is a non-profit environmental health organization and 
collaborator in the 20% by 2010 clean energy campaign.  
www.cleanwateraction.org/ct/energy.html
The Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice works to protect urban 
environments through educating communities, promoting changes in local, 
state, and national policy, and promoting responsibility towards our 
environment.
ConnPIRG is a non-profit, non-partisan advocate for the public interest with 
over 20,000 citizen and student members throughout Connecticut.

Congregation Pnai Or
Connecticut Citizen Action Group
Connecticut Coalition Against Millstone
Connecticut Green Party
Environmental Concerns Coalition
Interrelligious Eco-Justice Network
Mattabeseck Audubon
Middlesex Clean Air Association
People’s Action for Clean Energy
Portland-River Valley Garden Club
Sierra Club Connecticut Chapter
Toxics Action Center