Jersey City, N.J. — Effective beginning January 1, 2010, the electricity purchased for all buildings on the Saint Peter’s College Jersey City campus will be 100 percent renewable “green” energy for a minimum of one year. Saint Peter’s will be the second private college in the state of New Jersey to purchase green energy as its sole source of electricity, thereby displacing an estimated 3,065 metric tons of carbon dioxide throughout the year, which is the equivalent of planting 2,761 acres of trees or removing 7,697,000 miles of vehicle travel from roadways.
“The purchase of renewable energy demonstrates Saint Peter’s commitment to sustainable strategy,” noted Saint Peter’s College President Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., who signed the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment in 2008. “We look forward to identifying additional conservation opportunities and acquiring greener practices to support the College in its goal of carbon neutrality.”
The green energy will be generated by 100% wind power, an attractive alternative to the typical use of fossil fuels to create electricity. The electricity generated by wind turbines prevents the contamination of air by omitting environmentally destructive pollutants.
The College has implemented a number of additional green initiatives: elimination of the use of Styrofoam cups and plates on campus; competitions between residence halls to encourage conservation measures; reduction of paper for communication messages; and the sole use of non-toxic cleaning supplies throughout the campus. The College is also equipped with MINI E cars, the latest generation of 100 percent electric, zero emission vehicles for the next year, as part of BMW Group’s official field trial of the environmentally savvy cars.
The renewable energy that Saint Peter’s has acquired is Green-e ® Certified Energy. The most reliable renewable energy certification organization in the United States, Green-e ® certifies that products meet environmental and consumer protection standards, developed in conjunction with environmental, energy and policy organizations.
"ConEdison Solutions is proud to supply Saint Peter’s College Jersey City campus with clean and renewable wind power," said Robert E. Anderson, Vice President of Retail Commodity Services for ConEdison Solutions of White Plains, N.Y., which provides renewable energy, competitive power supply, and cost-effective sustainability services to national and regional clients. "By choosing renewable energy, the Saint Peter’s campus community is helping to protect the environment, conserve natural resources, and build a more sustainable future."
In addition to working with ConEdison Solutions on its renewable supply, Saint Peter’s also worked with R3 Energy of Tarrytown, N.Y., an advisor on intelligent energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions to various institutions.
Saint Peter’s College, founded in 1872, is a Jesuit, Catholic college in the liberal arts tradition located in the heart of Jersey City, N.J., with a branch campus in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., and course offerings on the Jersey City Waterfront and at various corporate sites throughout New Jersey. Educating over 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students in more than 50 programs, Saint Peter’s College is committed to academic excellence and individual attention, preparing students for a lifetime of learning, leadership and service in a diverse and global society.
About ConEdison Solutions
ConEdison Solutions is a leading energy services company that provides competitive power supply, renewable energy, sustainability services, and cost-effective energy solutions for commercial, industrial, residential, and government customers. The company is based in White Plains, New York, with offices in Burlington, Massachusetts; Cherry Hill, New Jersey; Falls Church, Virginia; Houston, Texas; Tampa, Florida; Durham, North Carolina and Overland Park, Kansas. The firm’s dedicated team of energy professionals delivers a broad range of commodity, consulting, demand-side management and performance contracting services. ConEdison Solutions offers programs and services designed to help customers achieve their energy objectives and is accredited as an Energy Services Provider (ESP) by NAESCO.
ConEdison Solutions is a subsidiary and registered trademark of Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE: ED). More information can be obtained by calling 1-888-210-8899 or visiting the ConEdison Solutions website at www.conedsolutions.com. You can also visit the Consolidated Edison, Inc. website at https://investor.conedison.com for information on all of the Consolidated Edison companies.