Aveda and EILEEN FISHER Enable New Wind Energy Project at Indiana School with Purchase of NativeEnergy Carbon Offsets
13,000 metrics tons of carbon emissions to be reduced with 900kW turbine at K-12 school
Burlington, VT., Jan. 30, 2014 /3BL Media/ – Two leaders in corporate sustainability have come together with other small businesses like The Clymb to purchase Help Build™ carbon offsets from NativeEnergy, providing essential upfront funding for a 900kW wind turbine at the Shenandoah School Corporation campus in rural Middletown, Indiana.
Aveda and EILEEN FISHER each have deep institutional commitments to sustainability, from sourcing to carbon footprint mitigation. In all, voluntary carbon offset buyers committed more than $523 million to offset over 100 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide in 2012.
Through NativeEnergy, a Vermont-based carbon offset project developer and supplier, corporate sustainability leaders go beyond the purchase of commodity offsets. All NativeEnergy’s Help Build™ offsets directly enable clean technology projects that could not have moved forward without the revenue from the offset sales.
“Our corporate clients choose our Help Build™ projects, like the Shenandoah School Wind Project, because they want their offset purchases to make a difference, driving the development of a new project that delivers both environmental improvement and compelling social benefits, ” said Jeff Bernicke, President of NativeEnergy.
The 900kW turbine at the Shenandoah School Corporation campus in rural Middletown, Indiana will generate energy for the K-12 school and over the 10-year life of the offset project will avoid an estimated 13,000 metric tons of carbon emissions. This is equivalent to preventing the emissions from the burning of 30,000 barrels of crude oil or 1.5 million gallons of gasoline. Additionally, the school gains a hands-on learning facility for students interested in clean energy technology.
“At Aveda, we strive to set an example for environmental leadership and responsibility,” said Dave Rapaport, Vice President Earth and Community Care at Aveda. “One of our goals is to help fuel the expansion of renewable energy to touch more people for generations to come. Our partnership with NativeEnergy and their Help Build™ model enables us to invest in projects that provide funding for the long-term development of new sources of renewable energy including wind energy that might not otherwise be possible. The Shenandoah project is an example of the types of projects we have supported for a decade now.”
In all, NativeEnergy, along with its clients like Ben & Jerry’s, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, and Clif Bar, have stepped in to provide essential upfront funding to seven Indiana community wind projects, avoiding nearly 80,000 tonnes of carbon—equivalent to the emissions from nearly 9 million gallons of gasoline.
Shona Quinn, Sustainability Leader at EILEEN FISHER said, “From our perspective, tackling climate change is an opportunity for positive change. Partnering with NativeEnergy has allowed us to invest in clean, renewable energy that supports the wellbeing of people and planet. For the Shenandoah School Wind Project, the benefits are clear -- inspiring the next generation through hands-on education while reducing carbon emissions. We call it: business as a movement.”
Performance Services, an Indianapolis based engineering and construction company, is the design-builder for each of the Indiana community wind projects.
Corporate Sustainability leaders interested in procuring carbon credits from projects like the Indiana community wind projects can contact Kevin Hackett at 802-861-7707.
About NativeEnergy
Founded in Vermont in 2000, NativeEnergy is an expert provider of carbon offsets, renewable energy credits, and carbon accounting software. Through our Help Build™ carbon offsets, businesses and individuals can help finance the construction of wind and other carbon reducing projects with strong social and environmental benefits. We have provided essential funding to more than 50 community-based initiatives. The Shenandoah School Wind Project is the seventh Indiana community wind project to which NativeEnergy’s Help BuildTM program has provided upfront funding.
