EcoFair360 Retires 87 Megawatt Hours of 2010 Renewable Energy Certificates

Lake Geneva, WI, February 15, 2011 --(PR.com)-- Community Green Energy will retire 87 megawatt hours of 2010 Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), which were purchased by EcoFair360 to minimize the environmental impact of the Fair. EcoFair360, a three-day exposition which highlighted more than one hundred green businesses and organizations from throughout Wisconsin and Illinois, purchased the RECs using funds generated by its parking fees. These RECs, which were generated at the Inadale Wind Farm located near Roscoe, Texas, equate to more than 97,000 pounds of carbon dioxide not being emitted by power plants burning fossil fuels.

“EcoFair360 was designed to be a learning experience for everyone who participated,” says Fritz Kreiss, who founded EcoFair360 with his wife, Catherine McQueen. “The learning experience started the moment you parked your gas-fueled car, because $3.50 from each parking ticket was used to purchase RECs. Hybrid cars and bicycles parked for free.”

The 87 RECs “greened up” 100% of the electricity used at EcoFair360, zeroing out the Fair’s carbon footprint for electricity, with plenty left over. “Our goal was minimal environmental impact, including minimal greenhouse gas emissions” says Kreiss. “Our electric use for exhibitor’s booths, presentation stages, food vendors, administration booths and lighting was fully covered.”

The additional RECs will help to “balance the books” for the emissions from people who traveled to the Fair by car. “That’s the idea behind renewable commodities like RECs: do some good to balance the impact you can’t control,” says Kreiss. “We wanted as many people as possible to come, of course, and we acknowledge that car travel impacted the local environment. Through the Renewable Energy Certificates, we supported the emissions-free electricity generated by Inadale. And the surcharge on the parking voucher helped raise awareness that gasoline-fueled travel has a price beyond what you pay at the pump.”

Community Green Energy brokers Renewable Energy Certificates to businesses in Wisconsin and Illinois. They also provide RECs for The Eco-Vision Sustainable Learning Center, a non-profit organization managed by Kreiss and McQueen to maintain the mission of EcoFair360 through the year.

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