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South Burlington, VT (August 1, 2002)—Ben &
Jerry’s announced today that it will fight global warming by offsetting
one year’s carbon dioxide (CO2)
emissions from its Vermont ice cream production facilities – while
supporting the construction of a new wind turbine on the rolling grasslands
of South Dakota. Ben & Jerry’s action will have the same impact
on global warming as avoiding 10 million miles of car driving.
A new wind turbine similar to
this one will be constructed on
the grasslands of South Dakota
with support from Ben & Jerry's
and NativeEnergy.
Ben & Jerry’s has secured the CO2
offsets through NativeEnergy’s WindBuilderssm
Business Partner program – a novel initiative that enables individuals
and businesses to support new wind farm construction through the advance
purchase of long-term streams of renewable energy credits, including
the associated CO2 offsets. Revenue from
Ben & Jerry’s purchase will support construction of the Rosebud
Sioux Tribe Wind Turbine Project – the first Native American owned
and operated large-scale wind turbine in the country – which is
expected to be operational by November, 2002.
Through its purchase, Ben & Jerry’s will secure 5,000 tons
of CO2 – enough to offset the 2002
estimated CO2 emissions produced by its
manufacturing and office facilities in Vermont. Ben & Jerry’s
will then donate the CO2 offsets to Clean
Air – Cool Planet, a New Hampshire-based environmental organization
working to promote practical solutions to global warming. Clean Air-Cool
Planet will “retire” the CO2
offsets to ensure that Ben & Jerry’s CO2
emissions are neutralized.
“Ben & Jerry’s energy goals include efficiencies and
technology opportunities, along with valuable offsets,” says Andrea
Asch, Ben & Jerry’s Manager of Natural Resources. “NativeEnergy’s
WindBuilderssm Business Partner program is a unique
opportunity for Ben & Jerry’s to offset its CO2
footprint in a way that helps build a new wind turbine and create important
social and economic benefits for the Rosebud Sioux Tribe.”
According to Pat Spears, President of the Intertribal Council on Utility
Policy, the Tribe sees “utility scale renewable energy generation
as a ‘no-regrets’ sustainable homeland economic development
strategy, with a positive impact on CO2
emission reduction. And the Rosebud Wind Project is leading the way
in bringing tribal utility scale wind power on line."
As a brand, Ben & Jerry’s has teamed up with Dave Matthews
Band, and SaveOurEnvironment.org,
a collation of the nation’s most influential environmental advocacy
groups to help stop global warming. “Together, we’ve created
One Sweet Whirled. It’s not just a new flavor, but rather a campaign
that’s out to inspire some serious changes in the way we impact
our world.”
“Ben & Jerry's has never been short on creativity,”
says Adam Markham, Clean Air-Cool Planet’s executive director.
“By drawing attention to the cool benefits of wind power, they're
giving folks their favorite flavors and finding innovative business
strategies that battle global warming.”
Burning fossil fuels to generate electricity is the largest industrial
source of CO2 emissions in the U.S. New
wind farms fight global warming by reducing the amount of electricity
otherwise needed from power plants that burn fossil fuels.
According to NativeEnergy’s President and CEO, Tom Boucher,
“Ben & Jerry’s commitment to the environment and ability
to sponsor awareness-building events such as the June 22nd festival
is extremely important. Once folks understand the challenge we all face,
they can do their part in the fight against global warming and climate
change.”
About Ben & Jerry’s
Ben & Jerry’s produces a wide variety of super premium ice
cream, ice cream novelties, low fat ice cream, low fat yogurt, and sorbet,
using Vermont dairy products and high quality, all-natural ingredients.
Ben and Jerry’s products are distributed nationwide and in selected
foreign countries in supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores,
franchise Ben & Jerry’s scoop shops, restaurants, and other
venues. Ben & Jerry’s, a wholly-owned autonomous subsidiary
of Unilever, operates its business on a three-part mission statement
emphasizing product quality, economic reward and a commitment to the
community. Ben & Jerry’s contributes a minimum of $1.1 million
annually* through corporate philanthropy that is primarily employee
led. Contributions made via the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation in
2001 totaled over $1.4 million. Additionally, the company makes significant
product donations to community groups and nonprofits both in Vermont
and across the nation. The purpose of Ben & Jerry’s philanthropy
is to support the founding values of the company: economic and social
justice, environmental restoration and peace through understanding,
and to support our Vermont communities.
*annual contribution is adjusted upward to allow for sales growth and
inflation
Contact: Chrystie Heimert (802) 846-1500 x7700
About NativeEnergy
Founded in 2000 and based in North Ferrisburgh, VT., NativeEnergy
offers individuals and businesses simple, effective, and verifiable
ways to fight climate change and global warming by helping to build
new wind farms. NativeEnergy’s patent-pending business
process offers a convenient alternative to buying green electricity
and is dedicated exclusively to driving the construction of new wind
farms to create new environmental benefits. Visit www.nativeenergy.com.
Contact: Tom Boucher (802) 877-6826
About Clean Air-Cool Planet
Based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Clean Air - Cool Planet inspires
coordinated action among citizens, businesses, educational institutions,
and government and community leaders throughout the Northeast to achieve
reductions in greenhouse gases. CA-CP published "Cool Solutions
for Global Warming: 24 Success Stories from the Northeast," highlighting
case studies describing innovative projects and their outcomes in all
eight northeastern states. Visit www.cleanair-coolplanet.org.
Contact: Clean Air-Cool Planet
Bill Burtis, Communications Manager, (603) 422-6464 ext. 105
bburtis@cleanair-coolplanet.org |
