As many businesses consider the actions they will take to meet Canada's Kyoto Protocol targets, Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) and the Pembina Institute today released details of the significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions that MEC has achieved through the purchase of wind power certificates for its Calgary and Edmonton store operations.
MEC's purchase of wind power certificates from the Wind Power by Pembina Program offsets approximately 50 per cent of the electricity-generated greenhouse gas emissions produced by the two stores.
"Greening our operations — through energy-efficient buildings, waste reduction and now wind power purchases — is a key element in MEC's commitment to environmental leadership," said CEO Peter Robinson. "Purchasing wind power is especially important in Alberta because our stores here produce significant greenhouse gases due to the predominance of coal-based electricity in the province."
Together, MEC's Edmonton and Calgary stores will consume an estimated 1,140 megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity in 2005. Their wind power purchase will displace 570 MWh of conventionally produced electricity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 583 tonnes.
"We are excited to see the wind power program taking off. Leading-edge businesses like MEC really set the example for others to follow," said Marlo Raynolds, Executive Director for the Pembina Institute. "MEC's support of the Pembina Institute's wind power program also helps us advance some of our other projects aimed at advancing sustainable energy systems in Canada," Raynolds added.
By reducing the greenhouse gas emissions of their Calgary and Edmonton's stores by half, MEC will reduce its overall company greenhouse gas emissions by almost 24 per cent. The reduction stems from the fact that MEC's facilities, which include three Natural Resource Canada C2000-certified green buildings, are already 47 per cent less greenhouse gas intensive than most other Canadian retail facilities.
The Pembina Institute is a non-profit environmental organization working to advance sustainable energy in Canada. Its wind power program provides a mechanism to bolster the market for low-impact renewable energy like wind power through the sale of wind power certificates. These certificates can be purchased on-line at www.pembina.org.
MEC is Canada's largest retail co-operative, providing quality products and services for self-propelled outdoor recreation. Established in 1971, MEC has more than 2.1 million members throughout Canada and around the world.
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Contacts:
Marlo Raynolds, Executive Director
The Pembina Institute
Tel: (403) 269-3344 x 113
www.pembina.org
Tim Southam, Communication Manager
Mountain Equipment Co-op
Tel: (604) 707-4480 (direct); 778-388-1275 (cell)
www.mec.ca
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Wind farm in Pincher Creek, Alberta. Photo credit: Tim Weis, The Pembina Institute |
Photo credit: Courtesy of Vision Quest Windelectric |
Vision Quest Windelectric, Canada's largest wind power producer, is working in partnership with the Pembina Institute to offer the Wind Power by Pembina program.
B-roll DVD available upon request. Contact: Kevin Ablett Marketing Coordinator, Wind Power Program, The Pembina Institute Tel: 403-269-3344 x 117