October 19 Event Celebrates School Wind Energy Projects, Built With Carbon Funding From CLIF Bar, AVEDA, Ben & Jerry’s, And REVERB
Performance Services and NativeEnergy continue record of bringing wind energy to Indiana
KOKOMO, Ind., October 19, 2012 /3BL Media/ – Today, Northwestern School Corporation, NativeEnergy, and Performance Services (PSI) are celebrating the installation of a 900kW wind turbine on the Northwestern High School campus. The turbine—one of three Indiana school wind projects PSI and NativeEnergy are co-operating on—will power school buildings and cut greenhouse gas pollution. CLIF Bar, Ben & Jerry’s, AVEDA, and REVERB have helped enable the combined Indiana School Wind Project by purchasing NativeEnergy’s Help Build™ carbon offsets.
Commenting on the project, Tony Kuykendall of PSI said, “Working with school districts across the state, we’re on track to place in service more than a dozen clean wind turbines, which will assist schools in managing their energy costs more effectively. The partnership with NativeEnergy has been an essential element in our development activities.”
Jeff Bernicke, president of NativeEnergy commented: “We’re impressed by PSI and the schools across the state that are showing leadership, and we want to offer congratulations to our clients, whose purchases help make these developments happen. Their commitment today means they will get carbon offsets for the next 10 years from the projects.”
Event activities include a 44 mile bicycle ride to the school. Event participants will also climb the 230-foot wind tower with safety backup from SureEnergy. A school convocation will feature wind energy education and career advice from PSI, NativeEnergy, and CLIF Bar.
Eco-Products, a NativeEnergy client, is providing dinnerware for the lunch reception. Aveda and CLIF Bar are providing product samples and certificates for students and visitors. Clark Transfer’s Touring Green program will be on site with its eco touring truck.
About the Indiana School Wind Project
The Northwestern (Kokomo), West Central (Francesville), and North Newton (Morocco) School Corporations have each installed 900kW PowerWind turbines on their school campuses. Each district owns its turbine and will take advantage of the net metering incentive offered through the local electric utility company. The project is being developed by PSI of Indianapolis.
Each turbine is projected to produce 2,400 megawatt hours annually. They are expected to save school corporations millions of dollars over the 20+ year life of the turbines, helping the districts retain critical programs at a time when school budgets are dwindling. While the savings are significant over time, the initial cost for each turbine was prohibitive. NativeEnergy’s Help Build™ carbon offsets, which provide early funding for carbon credits, were essential in making the economics of the project workable.
The rewards to the schools and communities are not just financial. K-12 renewable energy curriculum—which integrates live and historical data from the turbines—will be offered at every school. In addition, the schools are working on dual credit options with regional colleges.
Learn more at http://www.nativeenergy.com/indiana-school-wind-project-2.html.
About NativeEnergy
NativeEnergy is an expert provider of carbon offsets, renewable energy credits, and carbon accounting software. With NativeEnergy’s Help Build™ offsets, businesses and individuals can help finance the construction of wind, biogas, solar, and other carbon reduction projects with strong social and environmental benefits. Since 2000, NativeEnergy’s customers have helped build over 50 projects, reducing more than 2.5 million tons of greenhouse gases, and the company has over 4 million tons under contract. All NativeEnergy carbon offsets undergo third-party validation and verification. Learn more at www.nativeenergy.com.
About Performance Services
Performance Services is an Indianapolis-based engineering and construction company that specializes in constructing and renovating schools, universities and healthcare facilities to deliver optimal environments through both the Guaranteed Energy Savings Contract and Design-Build procurement methods. Innovative Community Wind projects are integral to the energy services portfolio. Learn more at www.performanceservices.com.
