NJ Nonprofits Find New Funding Source While Helping To Green the Environment

HACKENSACK, N.J., Nov. 30, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The Environment Education Group (http://www.eeglife.org/) has recently discovered a new way to address their mission of promoting the use of renewable energy sources throughout New Jersey.  The EEG has seen a new way for Viridian, a third-party energy-provider, to raise money for nonprofit organizations while helping their members save money and green the environment.

According to Louis Paulucci, an EEG Trustee, New Jersey's nonprofit service, religious and educational organizations can sign up as Associates with Viridian.  The nonprofit shares information with their members and for every member who chooses Viridian for their basic generation service, the nonprofit receives $2 per month residual income, as long as the member remains a Viridian customer.   EEG will help the nonprofit with information and choices to educate members. There are additional cash bonuses of $250 to $4,500 available to nonprofits depending on how many of their members switch to Viridian.

"Nonprofits are always looking for new resources and all of us are interested in reducing our negative impact on the environment," says Paulucci.  "Our relationship with Viridian offers the triple benefit of supporting community nonprofits, saving people money and reducing dependence on polluting energy sources."

Since 1999 when the New Jersey Energy Choice program was initiated, New Jersey residents and organizations have had the right to choose their electricity generation supplier -- just as they have the right to choose a telephone service provider.  However, up until April of this year, only 625 residential customers took advantage of the opportunity.  The turning point came when Viridian entered the New Jersey marketplace offering an alternative source of electricity that includes 20% or 100% renewable sources, like wind and solar.  In New Jersey, customer service is still provided by your current energy company (PSE&G, JCP&L, Atlantic City Electric), with only the "basic generation service" line on the bill changing to Viridian when the switch is made.  

Since April, over 65,000 more environmentally-conscious New Jersey residents have made the switch, saving on their electric bills.  In addition, more than 160 nonprofits have signed up as Associates to promote the program and generate residual income.

Before the program launched in New Jersey, the first nonprofit to sign up in Connecticut was the University of Connecticut's athletic scholarship fund.   Tickets to UConn athletic events carried information encouraging fans to go green, save money and support the school's fundraising by switching their electricity generation supplier to Viridian.  The monthly residual income generated by the promotion resulted in a new altruistic scholarship fund at the school which otherwise would not have been possible.  Currently UConn has a base of over 2700 customers and each month $2 goes to the scholarship fund for each customer.

Paulucci envisions similar success stories as more nonprofits participate in the program in New Jersey.  "This is an innovative way for individuals and the organizations they're affiliated with to benefit while helping the environment," he said.  "It takes less than 5 minutes to sign up online, there's no contract, no credit check, no hidden charges , all rate tax is included and there is no additional cost to make the switch.  Unlike other third party electric suppliers who charge a premium for clean energy Viridian supplies it at a discount.  Their 20% renewable energy is almost three times the state mandate."

Nonprofits can view a video online to learn more about the Associate Program: http://www.eeglife.org.   For residents and nonprofit leaders who have questions about renewable energy sources and switching their basic generation service, please call the Environment Education Group at 201/994-9169.

SOURCE Viridian; Environment Education Group