Palo Alto, CA -- The City of Palo Alto Utilities (CPAU) continues to celebrate Earth Day by launching Palo Alto Green, a new renewable energy offering to all residential, commercial, and industrial customers within Palo Alto that provides an easy and affordable way to purchase electricity generated from 100% clean wind and solar power resources. The new program will be unveiled June 1, 2003.

Palo Alto Green, as approved by City Council, will offer Palo Alto electricity customers an easy way to support renewable energy through their utility bill. On behalf of program participants, Palo Alto Green will purchase renewable energy from newly constructed public power wind turbine facilities within the western states and from new solar photovoltaic projects most likely in California. This program, geared towards empowering individual consumers to have a convenient way to make a difference, is just one more way that CPAU promotes renewable energy. CPAU has a longstanding practice of purchasing hydropower for its utility customers and offering financial incentives for customer installation of photovoltaic systems in Palo Alto. The new Palo Alto Green program is in addition to the new energy purchasing guidelines that will also increase the amount of Palo Alto's renewable energy purchases to 10% by the year 2008 and progressing to 20% in renewable energy purchases by 2015.

For the average Palo Alto household using 650-kilowatt hours per month, Palo Alto Green participants will pay an incremental cost of $9.75 per month and annually will prevent the release of over 10,460 pounds (4.75 tons) of carbon dioxide emissions and other harmful particulate matter into the Earth's atmosphere. The environmental benefit is equivalent to planting 624 trees (nearly 1.25 acres of forest) or not driving 11,762 miles each year. Participants will also receive a quarterly newsletter and additional materials explaining and certifying the environmental impact of their purchase.

"The program is simple, affordable, and will give Palo Alto's electricity customers an opportunity to support a high-quality renewable energy option," states John Ulrich, City of Palo Alto Utilities Director, who has high expectations for Palo Alto Green. "By supporting the development of new wind and solar power generation through this program offering, Palo Alto is pleased to do its part in leading the nation toward a cleaner environment and a reduction in dependence on fossil fuels."

Individual utility customers can sign up for Palo Alto Green in advance of the June 1 launch date by sending an email that includes customer address and telephone number to paloaltogreen@cityofpaloalto.org or by calling (650) 329-2241. On June 1, all existing Future Green program participants will be offered the opportunity to convert to the Palo Alto Green program, and the official Palo Alto Green program packet will become available.

CPAU has selected 3 Phases Energy Services, a California-based renewable energy company, as its partner in developing the offering and in managing renewable energy purchases on behalf of the City. Additionally, CPAU will apply for Green-e certification for Palo Alto Green by the Center for Resource Solutions (www.green-e.org), a national accreditation body for renewable energy programs. This certification will provide independent verification of environmental benefit and consumer protection for program participants.

The City of Palo Alto Utilities (CPAU) is the only municipal utility in California that operates city-owned utility services including electricity, fiber optic, natural gas, sewer and water. Visit www.cpau.com for more information.

In operation in the State of California since 1994, 3 Phases Energy Services is a renewable energy service provider (ESP) in California providing 100% renewable energy direct access service, Green-e certified Green Certificates™ (tradable renewable certificates), and solar photovoltaic rooftop electrical system installation. Visit www.3phases.com for more information.

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