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Green Power Switch® Wins TVA Environmental Excellence Award

Dec. 22, 2003

Green Power Switch, the first and largest renewable energy program in the Southeast, has won a TVA Environmental Excellence Award for its continued success in gaining partnerships and public involvement.

More than 7,000 residents and 350 businesses in the Tennessee Valley are currently purchasing green power. Lowe’s Home Improvement Centers is the largest commercial customer purchasing renewable energy and has committed to purchase Green Power Switch for all of its stores in the Valley.

Green Power Switch, which was developed in April 2000, has earned two top-10 national rankings from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory two years in a row. Several local and national environmental groups helped with the initial design of the program, and continue to serve on the steering team that reviews and makes recommendations to TVA.

The program was also honored with a 2002 Federal Energy and Water Management Award from the Department of Energy and the Federal Interagency Energy Policy Committee for outstanding contributions to expanding renewable energy.

Members of the Green Power Switch team are Carmen Copeland, Angela Hamlin, and Program Manager Gary Harris of Nashville and Rick Carson, Rita Livezey, Ron Purkey, and Tom Swanson of Chattanooga.

“Green Power Switch continues to grow thanks to the support of distributors of TVA power and the increasing number of residents and businesses choosing to buy electricity generated from renewable sources,” said TVA Environmental Executive Kate Jackson. “This innovative program allows consumers to make a long-lasting contribution to help preserve and enhance the quality of life in the region.”

TVA Environmental Excellence Awards are presented annually to a TVA individual, team, site, facility, or organization that has demonstrated exemplary environmental performance in support of one of TVA’s six environmental principles. Those principles are: management commitment; environmental protection and stewardship; environmental compliance; pollution prevention; partnerships/public involvement; and innovation and technology.

All award winners received certificates, and Harris received a frame print depicting the Valley environment.

TVA is the nation’s largest public power provider and is completely self- financed. TVA provides power to large industries and 158 power distributors that serve 8.3 million consumers in seven southeastern states. TVA also manages the Tennessee River and its tributaries to provide multiple benefits, including flood control, navigation, water quality and recreation.

Media Contact:

Michelle Chang, Knoxville (865-632-8108), or TVA News Bureau, Knoxville (865-632-6000)

TVA Newsroom