CITGO to Help 50,000 Families Conserve Energy This Summer

HOUSTON, July 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- CITGO Petroleum Corporation has launched the third edition of its CITGO-Venezuela Energy Efficient Lighting Program.  This social responsibility program will provide 500,000 energy efficient compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs to qualifying households across 17 U.S. cities. It is expected that this year, the CITGO-Venezuela Energy Efficient Lighting Program, will help approximately 50,000 low-income households save energy. Launched in 2008 as a pilot program, the 2012 initiative begins at the start of the summer season, when electricity bills are expected to rise.

"CITGO is committed to environmental stewardship and we are pleased to offer assistance to help families in need save on their energy costs this summer," said CITGO President and Chief Executive Officer Alejandro Granado. "CFL bulbs have clear environmental and economic benefits and in providing energy efficient lighting resources for families, we seek to encourage energy conservation in the community."

Over their lifetime, the CFLs distributed through this program this year will save almost $18 million in energy costs, nearly 185 million kilowatt hours and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 271 million pounds; equivalent to removing more than 24,000 cars from the road.

This year, the light bulbs will be distributed through community action groups in 17 cities: Houston and Corpus Christi, Texas; Lemont and Chicago, Ill.; Lake Charles and New Orleans, La.; Atlanta, Ga.; Birmingham, Ala.; Greensboro, N.C.; Greenville, S.C.; Jackson, Miss.; Little Rock, Ark.; Kissimmee, Fla.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Nashville, Tenn.; New York City, N.Y.; and Washington, D.C.

Program beneficiaries will also be provided with educational brochures about energy efficiency and conservation, as well as detailed information on the proper disposal of CFLs.

The CITGO-Venezuela Energy Efficient Lighting Program is just one of the ways CITGO demonstrates its commitment to those who feel the severe backlash of poverty in our communities.  Every year, in alignment with the social development principles of its ultimate shareholder, Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, CITGO helps ease the burden of many families across the country through social responsibility contributions, including its CITGO-Venezuela Heating Oil Program, the Fueling Good initiative, the 26-year long support of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and many others. In addition, CITGO employees and those at nearly 6,000 local independently owned and operated CITGO branded stations provide thousands of volunteer hours and millions of dollars to help organizations in their own communities.

CITGO, based in Houston, is a refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products.  The company is owned by PDV America, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. For more information, visit www.citgo.com.

SOURCE CITGO