BONNEVILLE ENVIRONMENTAL FOUNDATION LAUNCHES WEB BASED CO2 CALCULATOR

September 10, 2001 (Portland, OR) - Individuals and small businesses can determine the amount of carbon dioxide associated with their energy and travel use on a new web site sponsored by the Bonneville Environmental Foundation. By entering data in the CO2 calculator at https://www.greentagsusa.org/greentags/calculator_intro.cfm, visitors to the BEF web site learn how much their specific actions create an environmental impact. They are offered the option of offsetting this impact with clean, natural renewable energy that is pollution free.

Over the past 18 months, BEF has sold more than 11,700 megawatt hours worth of its "Green Tags" green power product. This is equivalent to the output of more than six wind turbines operating for a year, displacing the air pollution emissions that would occur from fossil fuel-burning power plants.

"Carbon dioxide and other pollutants are produced by simple, everyday activities like driving a car and opening a refrigerator," said Angus Duncan, BEF president. "These are activities we all engage in, hopefully with an eye to conserving energy. But even efficient energy produces pollutants when the power is generated from coal or gas. BEF Green Tags allow us to contribute to more wind and solar power - and less fossil fuel burning. The federal government may still be unsure about the advent of global climate change, but most people recognize the serious threat to our children. We are giving them a way to act. They are ready to act, even if Washington is not."

BEF, a non-profit organization, provides individuals with the opportunity to buy Green Tags or make a charitable contribution directing BEF to buy Green Tags on their behalf to offset up to 100% of their CO2 footprint. Green Tags come from renewable energy such as wind and solar that does not add pollution to the air or water. The revenue from these transactions is reinvested in the next generation of renewable energy. The BEF Green Tag program is open to residents of all U.S. states and does not disrupt the current relationship between the participants and their electricity provider.

BEF was founded in 1998 to fund new renewable energy resources and watershed restoration projects. Although BEF maintains a strong collaborative relationship with the Bonneville Power Administration, they are separate organizations.

Back to Top

Back to Press Releases