YORK, Maine, March 12, 2003 — York Hospital today announced that it will begin purchasing 100 percent of its electricity from Maine renewable sources as part of a commitment to creating environmentally healthy surroundings for patients, staff and communities.
While the state of Maine requires 30 percent of the energy sold in the state to come from renewable sources, York Hospital has raised the bar by going to 100 percent, becoming the first hospital in the state to set such a precedent.
“Nothing is more important to us than the health of our patients,” stated Stephen Pelletier of York Hospital. “We believe that the health of the environment very much affects the health of each and every one of us. We are committed to doing everything we can to contribute to good health in the communities we serve and this is one big step in that direction,” Pelletier added, “which is why York Hospital has been increasingly focusing its attention on environmentally sensitive ways to enhance its services.”
Constellation NewEnergy, working through Maine PowerOptions (MPO), will supply the ‘green’ power for the hospital. It is the first 100 percent renewable energy contract Constellation NewEnergy signed in Maine. Constellation NewEnergy and York Hospital came together through the services of Maine PowerOptions, a not-for-profit energy-purchasing consortium that serves as an aggregator for Maine’s governmental and non-profit organizations. The group-purchasing program is designed to increase the buying power of eligible participant organizations for the bulk purchase of fuel oil and electricity.
“We are excited to be able to respond to the requests of our customers with environmentally and economically viable options,” said Michael Kagan, the Vice President of Constellation NewEnergy, New England. “Since restructuring became law in Maine, we have been able to offer more alternatives for our customers,” continued Kagan.
Maine generators produce electricity from hydroelectric, biomass (wood waste), municipal solid waste, and co-generation facilities. Other possible renewable resources include wind, fuel cells, tidal, solar and geothermal generators.
According to Allison Watson, Business Development Manager for Constellation NewEnergy in Maine, “People want to know how to tell if the renewable electricity is actually getting to their meter. It doesn’t quite work that way – Constellation NewEnergy makes a commitment to purchase the generation specifically from a renewable source, which supports that type of generator financially. This enables renewable generation to go onto the electricity grid, reducing the need for generation from non-renewable sources.”
“This type of offer keeps the energy supply in the Maine family–buying ‘locally’ from Maine generators and providing Maine businesses with more energy choices,” added Watson.
“Many organizations are seeing the bottom-line benefits of addressing environmental issues,” according to Bob Sheppard, Associate Director of Clean Air-Cool Planet (CA-CP), the Northeast’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to finding and promoting solutions to global warming. “We see many of the corporations, colleges and universities, and communities we work with find that, in the long run, they can save money and help save the environment at the same time by cutting CO2 emissions.”
“It’s exciting to see York Hospital leading the way,” said Sheppard. “It is rare to find an organization able to make a commitment to 100 percent renewable energy resources. It sets an important precedent in the region–one which I am sure others will want to follow,” Sheppard continued.
York Hospital
At York Hospital you will find a modern facility with excellent medical/surgical units, an outstanding emergent care center available 24 hours a day, extensive inpatient and outpatient services and many year-round community programs. We are a leading provider of health care in our region. York Hospital continues to meet the challenges and changing needs of those who seek our services. We invite you to visit us and make York Hospital your hospital. Visit our website at www.yorkhospital.com.
Maine PowerOptions
Maine PowerOptions is a non-profit energy-purchasing consortium that serves as an aggregator for Maine’s local governmental and non-profit organizations. Our group-purchasing programs are designed to increase the buying power of eligible participant organizations for the bulk purchase of fuel oil and electricity. The result is lower energy costs for Maine’s non-profit healthcare organizations, higher education institutions, water, sewer, and school districts, municipalities, all other non-profit organizations, and the University of Maine System. Maine PowerOptions is a program co-sponsored by the Maine Health and Higher Educational Facilities Authority and the Maine Municipal Bond Bank. More information about Maine PowerOptions is available at www.mainepoweroptions.org.
Constellation NewEnergy Inc., A Member of the Constellation Energy Group
A leading national competitive energy supplier, Constellation NewEnergy Inc. provides customized solutions and comprehensive energy services to commercial and industrial electricity customers in Maine, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Texas, Delaware, Maryland, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, California, and Alberta, Canada. A subsidiary of Constellation Energy Group, the company is committed to providing customized energy-related products and services with predictability and flexibility in the competitive electricity marketplace. More information about Constellation NewEnergy is available at www.newenergy.com.
A Fortune 500 company based in Baltimore, Constellation Energy Group owns energy-related businesses, including a merchant power business that serves electrical load for wholesale and commercial and industrial customers in North America, and the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE), a regulated energy delivery company which serves more than 1.1 million electric customers and more than 600,000 natural gas customers in central Maryland. At year-end 2002, Constellation Energy Group reported revenues of $4.7 billion and assets of $14.1 billion. More information about Constellation Energy Group is available at www.constellation.com.
Clean Air – Cool Planet
Clean Air – Cool Planet is an action-oriented environmental group working directly with corporations, communities, and campuses to develop and implement voluntary greenhouse gas emission reduction efforts. A 501©(3) qualified non-profit organization, CA-CP works throughout the Northeast to provide practical solutions that demonstrate the economic opportunities and environmental benefits associated with early actions on climate change. CA-CP works directly with a growing number of companies and institutions that exemplify leadership and social responsibility, including Shaw’s Supermarkets, The Timberland Company, Tufts University, Middlebury College, and The University of New Hampshire. See www.cleanair-coolplanet.org.
