Constellation Energy to Supply Renewable Energy Certificates to Rhode Island Manufacturers Association

This donation of RECs, and others like it, helps support the demand for building new, clean wind power. The RECs donated for the gala will result in approximately 2,235 pounds of avoided carbon dioxide emissions due to the displacement of grid electricity generation by renewable energy.

“We are excited to demonstrate our commitment to sustainability while promoting renewable energy certificates to local manufacturers,” says John Grady, executive director for the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association. “RECs are an easy way for manufacturers to support renewable energy generation and set themselves apart from their competition.”

More than 300 members of the manufacturing industry and other organizations throughout Rhode Island are expected to attend the event. Governor and Mrs. Donald L. Carcieri are honorary chairpersons of this year’s gala. Mr. and Mrs. John T. Powers and Mr. and Mr. and Mrs. Al T. Lubrano, serve as co-chairpersons of the annual fundraising event.

In addition to utilizing RECs to support the annual gala, the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association has held seminars to educate members on the benefits of load response programs that can compensate electricity users for conserving energy during times of peak demand and on renewable energy.

“Constellation Energy has participated in this annual fundraiser since 2006, when the RIMA Energy Program began,” says Emily Neill, vice president of sales for Constellation Energy. “This REC donation is one of many ways Constellation Energy is demonstrating its commitment to renewable energy development. Our renewable energy portfolio includes approximately 1,000 MWs of renewable power generation owned or under contract from sources, including utility-scale solar, hydro, wind power, and biomass power plants.”

RECs are granted to owners of wind and other renewable energy facilities for every megawatt-hour of electricity they generate. RECs can be retired by the electricity suppliers to comply with state renewable portfolio requirements, or they can be purchased by or donated to other organizations, like the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association, to meet their voluntary renewable energy goals. RECs give developers of renewable energy a market-based, financial incentive to build wind, solar and other forms of renewable energy.

Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association represents more than 300 manufacturers employing more than 40,000 workers across the state. The Rhode Island Manufacturers Association, founded in 1998, is committed to legislating Rhode Island into the top quartile among states in terms of manufacturing competitiveness and to enhancing the ability of manufacturers to compete effectively and operate profitably in the global marketplace and addresses issues on behalf of manufacturers dealing with taxation, trade and technology, the environment, human resources and workforce development, and regulation.

Constellation Energy is a leading supplier of energy products and services to wholesale and retail electric and natural gas customers. It owns a diversified fleet of generating units located in the United States and Canada, totaling approximately 9,000 megawatts of generating capacity.

www.constellation.com