September 29, 2005 (PORTLAND, OR) – Responding to increasing demand for Solar-generated renewable energy credits, or Green Tags, the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) announced today the availability of its Brighter Future™ Green Tag product, featuring a 90 percent, 10 percent blend of new wind- and new photovoltaic solar-generated Green Tags, respectively.  Although wind energy is currently more economically effective, solar power is the most flexible in scale and application, widely available and environmentally benign source of renewable energy. 

As sales of “solar tags” increase, the revenue generated supports the solar power market, enabling more deployment of solar installations and more opportunities to gain experience with the technology, leading to cost reductions as efficiencies increase and economies of scale come into play.  In addition, with energy costs rising rapidly across the United States and around the world, awareness of alternative energy sources is at an all time high, leading to an increased demand for clean, renewable energy.  Not surprisingly, wind and solar are garnering most of the attention. 

“The demand for solar-generated Green Tags is increasing as awareness of solar power is on the rise.  However, unlike wind turbines, that are primarily located in rural areas seen only by highway traffic, solar electricity generation is happening all over the country in a wide variety of applications.  Most of us just don’t notice these systems because they are out of plain view or integrated into a building’s design, and there are no moving parts,” said Tom Starrs, COO and vice president of marketing and sales for BEF.

“This Saturday, October 1, the National Solar Tour, coordinated by the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) is changing that as thousands of people across 43 states and the District of Columbia will be able to view solar installations up close.  While most of the ‘solar tourists’ will be learning about the benefits of clean, renewable solar energy, it’s nice to know they will also be witnessing the creation of ‘solar tags.’”

About the 10th annual National Solar Tour

Tours are held nationwide from September through November centered on the National Solar Tour day, the first Saturday of every October, which is National Energy Awareness Month.  At last count, tours are scheduled in 43 states plus the District of Columbia.  Please go to http://www.ases.org/tour/index.htm for more information.

About Brighter Future Green Tags

Brighter Future Green Tags from BEF are a Green-e certified renewable energy certificate product.  For every unit of electricity generated from renewable sources, an equivalent amount of renewable certificates, or Green Tags, is produced.  A purchase of BEF Brighter Future Green Tags supports new renewable electricity generation, which offsets the environmental effects of burning coal, gas and other fossil fuels in the 15 Western States and Provinces.  Customers that buy Green Tags will continue to receive a separate electricity bill from their utility.  Brighter Future Green Tags are sold in blocks of 1,000 kWh priced at $24.00 each.  For more information: http://www.greentagsusa.org/GreenTags/product_content_bf.cfm.

About BEF

The Bonneville Environmental Foundation, a non-profit organization, was established in 1998 to restore watershed ecosystems and further the development and use of new renewable energy resources.  Through revenues generated from the sales of green power products, BEF funds projects that restore damaged watersheds and support new renewable energy projects from solar, wind and biomass.  BEF pioneered the sale of Green Tags in 2000 and has helped establish national standards for certification and trading.  Created by regional environmental groups and the Bonneville Power Administration, the Foundation operates collaboratively with but independent of both.  More information is available on the web at www.b-e-f.org.