Sterling Planet Volunteers Marketing Support for Philadelphia Green Power Challenge

(3BL Media) Atlanta, GA - June 27, 2012 - Summer is here, and the heat is on.  A heated “friendly” competition has begun between the cities of Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. to see which will emerge in September as the leading city in voluntary purchases of green energy from renewable sources, such as wind.  Atlanta-based Sterling Planet has helped fuel the competition, developing a microsite on a pro bono basis at www.philadelphiagreenpower.com for increasing awareness of green energy options and facilitating enrollment.

From now until September 1, each city is vying for bragging rights as the #1 city in renewable energy use. Last year, Washington, D.C. took the honor. This year, Philadelphia hopes to unseat the leader and emerge as the greenest city in terms of renewable energy kilowatt-hours purchased.

“When I came into office, I pledged to make Philadelphia the greenest city in America, and as the largest city to be designated an EPA Green Power Community, we are well on our way,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “Choosing electricity from renewable resources like solar panels and wind turbines gives us the power we need to grow, but also to support job creation, to cut carbon emissions and to bring additional clean, renewable resources online in America. Using green power is a smart choice for our environment and our economy.”

Traveling from D.C. to the June 20 Philadelphia launch in Sterling Planet’s new company car, an electric Chevrolet Volt, Sterling Planet representatives hand delivered to Mayor Nutter a “bring it on” letter from Washington D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray. “I welcome the challenge from Mayor Nutter, and congratulate the City of Brotherly Love on its commitment to green power,” said Mayor Gray. “The District of Columbia entered the Green Power Communities program last year at #1, and I’m seizing the opportunity to renew my challenge to our residents, businesses and institutions to stay on top. I’m all for healthy competition, especially when it involves investing in clean, renewable power – so I say, ‘bring it on!’” (See link below to letter.)

To learn more about green power and enroll with a provider, Philadelphia residents, businesses and other organizations can visit www.philadelphiagreenpower.com, which was developed by Sterling Planet and is now maintained and hosted by the company. Sterling Planet offers an all-wind product and a unique green reinvestment fund. Every enrollment grows the fund, with Sterling Planet contributing financially to future renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in the Philadelphia area. (See link below to fact sheet.)

Sterling Planet leads the nation in retail sales of renewable energy certificates (RECs) and is the only provider of a comprehensive portfolio of carbon-reduction assets – RECs, carbon offsets and innovative White Tags^® energy efficiency certificates. Founded in 2000, the Atlanta-based company was the first to offer RECs to retail clients nationwide and was a pioneer in early development and certification of the REC market. This year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ranks Sterling Planet No. 1 in terms of renewable kWh provided to members of the EPA Green Power Partnership, with more than 5 billion kWh delivered to Partnership members, including the top three purchasers. In compliance markets, Sterling Planet is a leading supplier to government agencies and has partnered with 160 utilities nationwide.  www.sterlingplanet.com