Energy goes green

South Coast Register
Monday 12/11/2007 Page: 7

THE green energy program put together by ActewAGL, Greenchoice, has been rated number one for the best green energy program in Australia for both small to medium and large businesses. The results were based on its ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support growth in new renewable energy sources in Australia, according to Green Electricity Watch.

Green Electricity Watch, a group consisting of three leading Australian environment organisations: the Australian Conservation Foundation, Total Environment Centre and WWF-Australia, annually ranks GreenPower electricity products to help businesses in choosing the best green energy program.

In the small to medium business and large business categories, the Greenchoice 200 per cent and 100 per cent plans came in equal first, with the Greenchoice 50 per cent and 25 per cent plans achieving equal second. These percentage-based Greenchoice plans refer to the percentage of energy the customer will offset with green energy.

"I am absolutely thrilled with these results - this is a fantastic achievement for Greenchoice," said ActewAGL Retail General Manager, Ivan Slavich. "These results will give our business customers the peace of mind that they are truly reducing their carbon footprint by purchasing Greenchoice." Only electricity products independently assessed and fully endorsed by GreenPower, the government's national green power accreditation program, can participate in the survey.

ActewAGL purchases 100 per cent "new" renewable energy, which is defined as green energy sourced from generators built after January 1, 1997. This benefits the environment now, and also into the future, by encouraging a greater demand for more new renewable energy projects to be established. Greenchoice invests in energy sources that can't be depleted, such as wind energy, solar, mini-hydro and biomass.