NativeEnergy Teams With Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. to Help Build Wind Turbine for Lake Region State College
1.6 MW turbine provides hands-on learning for college’s Wind Energy Technician program
Burlington Vt., June 19, 2013 /3BL Media/ — Today, representatives from NativeEnergy, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. (GMCR), and Lake Region State College in North Dakota will attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the completion of a 1.6 MW wind turbine. Through the purchase of NativeEnergy’s Help Build™ offsets, GMCR provided critical upfront funding to enable the project to be developed. The turbine will provide LRSC with energy and a teaching tool for students.
“With the Lake Region State College Turbine, NativeEnergy and its business partners have helped bring more than 10 community wind projects online,” said Jeff Bernicke, the company president. “It has been enormously gratifying for us to have the opportunity to work with business leaders and valuable community resources, like the College, to promote clean energy and tackle climate change.”
LRSC has had a focus on wind energy since their Wind Energy Technician program began in 2009. Students have a choice of a one or two-year program, which trains them to enter the field as operational technicians. In 2011, the program received the Seal of Approval from the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). Only seven other schools in the country have received this honor.
“This project was the missing piece to our wind energy program. We needed the turbine to turn a good program into a great one,” explained LRSC President Douglas Darling. “Students feel we have a whole new program now – one where they can learn theory and then enter the work environment of a commercial grade turbine and reinforce classroom learning with hands-on experience.”
North Dakota has the sixth largest wind resource in the country, yet ranks ninth in wind energy development, producing a small fraction of its full potential. The Wind Energy Technician program provides the state with young, trained professionals to help advance North Dakota’s wind energy sector.
The turbine is projected to reduce more than 50,000 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions during the project’s 10-year lifetime. GMCR will use those reductions to mitigate its corporate greenhouse gas footprint.
“Sustainability has been an essential part of GMCR since it was founded more than 30 years ago,” said T. J. Whalen, GMCR’s Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer. “This is a great way for us to reduce our environmental footprint, and at the same time help raise awareness for sustainable energy solutions.”
Previously, GMCR and NativeEnergy have worked together to help fund the Greensburg Wind Farm, the Alex Little Soldier Wind Turbine, and the Wewoka Biogas Project.
About Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc.
As a leader in specialty coffee and coffee makers, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. (GMCR) (NASDAQ: GMCR), is recognized for its award-winning coffees, innovative Keurig® single cup brewing technology, and socially responsible business practices. GMCR supports local and global communities by investing in sustainably-grown coffee, and donating a portion of its profits to social and environmental projects. Learn more at www.GMCR.com.
About NativeEnergy
NativeEnergy is an expert provider of carbon offsets, renewable energy credits, and carbon accounting software. With NativeEnergy’s Help Build™ offsets, businesses and individuals can help finance the construction of wind, biogas, solar, and other carbon reduction projects with strong social and environmental benefits. Since 2000, NativeEnergy’s customers have helped build over 50 projects, reducing more than 2.5 million tons of greenhouse gases, and the company has over 4 million tons under contract. All NativeEnergy carbon offsets undergo third-party validation and verification. Learn more at www.nativeenergy.com.
About Lake Region State College
Lake Region State College is a student-centered, open-access, comprehensive community college within the North Dakota University System. The college provides quality academic education, vocational/technical training, workforce training, educational outreach opportunities, and life-long learning. Learn more at www.lrsc.edu.
