GDF SUEZ Energy Resources To Continue Providing Power To Houston METRO
Contract Supports Authority's Environmental Commitment
HOUSTON, Dec. 15, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- GDF SUEZ Energy Resources announced today that it will continue to serve as the electricity provider for the Metropolitan Houston Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) through an agreement that supports the Authority's commitment to environmental responsibility.
Under the contract, METRO will offset 30 percent of its electricity consumption with Green-E certified Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), 5 percent of which – up to 15,968 RECs – will be donated by GDF SUEZ Energy Resources. Each REC represents the environmental attributes of, or benefits associated with, a specific quantity of energy generated from a U.S.-based renewable source, such as solar or wind.
METRO is a member of the Environmental Protection Agency's Green Power Partnership. This partnership program encourages over 1,500 member organizations to reduce both the environmental impacts associated with conventional electricity and the risk of climate change through the use of green power programs and REC products. Partnership members pledge that at least 5 percent of their power will come from green resources – a requirement that METRO exceeds in the new contract with GDF SUEZ demonstrating METRO's continued environmental stewardship. The contract also includes a feasibility study to evaluate the Authority's possible participation in ERCOT's Emergency Response Service (ERS-30). ERS-30 is a demand response program in which consumers agree to curtail their usage during periods of peak demand in order to help alleviate stress on the electricity grid.
Additionally, GDF SUEZ will donate to the METRO "See the Light" energy toolkit, a program designed to engage the Authority's employees in a continuing mission to reduce energy waste and cut electricity consumption while building a sustainable culture of conservation.
J.D. Burrows, vice president of marketing for GDF SUEZ Energy Resources, said the agreement with METRO reflected the company's "go-the-extra-mile" approach by developing relationships that are consistent with a client's broader business goals.
"METRO has a strong environmental record and was looking for ways to complement its existing efforts," Burrows explained. "So our team of experts worked with METRO on a contract that meets its needs to go even greener, stay within budget, and support energy management goals. We're proud to serve the Authority and greatly appreciate its confidence in our ability to do the job."
The combined RECs from GDF SUEZ Energy Resources and METRO will have a positive effect on greenhouse gas emissions. According to the Environmental Protection Agency's calculator, this many RECs are equivalent to the carbon sequestered by 1,693,926 tree seedlings grown for 10 years, removing about 66,063 metric tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, or displacing the estimated annual greenhouse gas emissions of 13,908 passenger vehicles.
About Houston METRO
The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) is the region's largest public transit provider, offering safe, reliable, and affordable transportation services about 370,000 times per day. METRO operates more than 1,200 buses and 22.7 miles of light rail. METRO's services also include: Star Vanpool, METROLift, HOV lanes, HOT lanes, the Bikes-on-Buses/Trains program, Park & Ride, and road improvement projects.
About GDF SUEZ Energy Resources NA
GDF SUEZ Energy Resources NA is one of the largest non-residential retail electricity suppliers in the U.S. and currently serves commercial, industrial, and institutional customers in 12 markets: Delaware, Texas, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Connecticut, Ohio, and Washington, D.C. The company serves over 60,000 accounts for customers having a peak demand ranging from 50 KW to more than 200 MW, with an estimated peak load totaling nearly 10,000 MW. The company offers electricity service to residential and small business customers under the brand Think Energy®.
For more about GDF SUEZ Energy Resources, visit www.gdfsuezenergyresources.com or call 1-866-999-8374. Follow GDF SUEZ Energy Resources on LinkedIn, Twitter: @GDFSUEZEnergy, and Facebook. GDF SUEZ Energy Resources is a subsidiary of GDF SUEZ Energy North America, which manages a range of energy businesses in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, including electricity generation and cogeneration, natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) distribution and sales, and retail energy sales and related services to commercial and industrial customers. GDF SUEZ Energy North America is a part of the international energy group ENGIE, with the corporate registered name GDF SUEZ. For more information, please visit www.gdfsuezna.com and @gdfsuezna.
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SOURCE GDF SUEZ Energy Resources NA
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