Coldwater Creek Makes Companywide Conversion to Renewable 'Green' Energy
August 23 2006 - 4:15PM
PR Newswire (US)
100% of Company's Energy Usage in the U.S. to Be Replaced by Wind
Power SANDPOINT, Idaho, Aug. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Coldwater
Creek, one of the fastest-growing women's apparel retailers in the
United States, today announced its commitment to purchase renewable
"green" energy for its headquarters, distribution center, customer
contact centers, and retail stores across the nation. Recognizing
the global importance of climate change, Coldwater Creek made the
decision to offset 100% of its energy consumption with renewable
energy certificates in order to dramatically decrease its impact on
the environment. Over the next three years, the company has
committed to buy more than 217,000 megawatt-hours of wind-generated
electricity. By supporting wind energy, Coldwater Creek is
preventing more than 299 million pounds of CO2 -- a key greenhouse
gas -- from entering the Earth's atmosphere between now and 2009.
This is the equivalent CO2 savings of taking nearly 30,000 cars off
the road for one year, or the same amount of CO2 absorbed by
protecting more than 113,000 acres of trees. "We're extremely proud
to join other industry leaders in taking this meaningful step
forward by offsetting our total energy consumption with wind
power," said Dennis Pence, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of Coldwater Creek. "In addition to decreasing greenhouse
gas emissions, companies that have chosen to make this important
move are creating a viable market for renewable energy sources and
raising global awareness about alternatives to fossil-fuel power
production." According to the Environmental Protection Agency,
fossil-fuel-based power plants are responsible for 67 percent of
the nation's sulfur dioxide, 40 percent of man-made carbon dioxide,
and 23 percent of nitrogen dioxide emissions. Beginning Aug. 1,
2006, Coldwater Creek entered into a three-year partnership with 3
Phases Energy Services, LLC, to offset the energy usage of its
operation company-wide with 100% new wind energy. This is being
accomplished through the purchase of an innovative product known as
renewable energy certificates. Renewable energy certificates
provide a means for consumers to purchase and support wind power
that is "injected" into the power grid by renewable energy
producers. To ensure that the certificates it purchases from 3
Phases Energy actually support new wind farms, the certificates are
independently monitored and verified by the nonprofit Center for
Resource Solutions, before receiving the "Green-e(R)"
certification. "From the time the company was formed on the shores
of a pristine lake in a small town in North Idaho, we have had a
tradition of environmental involvement and stewardship," Pence
said. "We plan to continue that tradition as we move toward our
goal of operating 450-500 retail stores and establishing Coldwater
Creek as a premiere, national women's apparel brand." About
Coldwater Creek Coldwater Creek is an integrated
triple-sales-channel retailer of women's apparel, jewelry, gifts
and accessories through a growing number of premium retail stores
located across the United States, an e-commerce web site at
http://www.coldwatercreek.com/ and direct-mail catalogs. About 3
Phases Energy Services In operation since 1994, 3 Phases Energy is
committed to promoting and implementing renewable energy options
for businesses, utilities, governments, and institutions through
Green Direct Access, green pricing support services for utilities,
retail and wholesale sales of Green Certificates, and onsite
efficiency and solar photovoltaic installation. For more
information, visit http://www.3phases.com/ . Contact: For Coldwater
Creek: David Gunter Divisional Vice President of Corporate
Communications & Investor Relations 208-263-2266 For 3 Phases
Energy: Steve McDougal Director of Partnerships & Business
Development 415-370-6487 For more information on social
responsibility at Coldwater Creek, go to
http://www.coldwatercreek.com/ and select the Social Responsibility
link at the bottom of the home page. DATASOURCE: Coldwater Creek
CONTACT: David Gunter, Divisional Vice President of Corporate
Communications & Investor Relations of Coldwater Creek,
+1-208-263-2266, or ; or Steve McDougal, Director of Partnerships
& Business Development of 3 Phases Energy, +1-415-370-6487, or
Web site: http://www.coldwatercreek.com/ http://www.3phases.com/
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