Environment, Pictures, Renewable Energy

North Carolina Zoo Offsets Electrical Consumption With Renewable Energy Credits

north carolina zoo logoIt takes a lot of electricity to run the North Carolina Zoo. Most of North Carolina’s electricity is generated by coal, the emissions of which are found at the heart of climate change.

So when the zoo had the opportunity to offset some of its 2006 electrical consumption with a block of Renewable Energy Credits, (RECS) it leaped on the opportunity. They applied 400,000 Kwh to their Veterinary Hospital, and another 400,000 Kwh to their Streamside exhibit.

The renewable energy credits were generated by Bruce Cox, of Cox Electric, at a hydro electric facility on the Deep River which is not far from the zoo.

The deal was brokered by Lyle Estill, of Piedmont Biofuels in Pittsboro, who has recently opened a Renewable Energy Trading division to make RECs from local power sources available to North Carolinians.

“We have a clean, abundant electrical generation resource in our rivers,” said Estill, “The dams are there, the generators are there-we just have to get them turned on.”

The Streamside Exhibit is a representation of a riparian zone which stretches from the mountains to the coast of North Carolina. Visitors to Streamside will see native species, including trout, otters, owls and bobcats in a display which traverses multiple buildings.

“The zoo is a leader in sustainability and environmental issues, “said Mary Joan Pugh, “and I know that the people who work here will be glad to know their electrical consumption has been offset with renewable energy.”

“North Carolinians are ready for change,” said Estill. Piedmont Biofuels is currently in talks with dozens of entities, from private companies to municipalities to arts organizations to major league sports teams about procuring RECs for 2007 electrical consumption.

“A large part of providing RECs is keeping a chain of trust, ” said Estill. “In this case Cox Electric has one generator operating, and another which is currently offline. In 2007 Piedmont will generate enough REC revenue to get that second generator up to speed-which will double the amount of clean renewable energy the facility generates.”