PRESS RELEASE
—Reliant Customers Support Program that Helps Reduce Texans’ Carbon Footprint While Supporting 35 Environmental Organizations—
HOUSTON – April 19, 2016 – As Earth Day approaches, Reliant is celebrating the results of the Reliant EcoShare program that has raised more than $450,000 for EarthShare of Texas to support over 35 of the most respected environmental and conservation organizations in the state, including The Nature Conservancy of Texas, Galveston Bay Foundation and Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation. Also, kicking off on Earth Day, April 22, and lasting through June 3, the public is invited to share their Lone Star point-of-view on social media by using the hashtags #FromWhereIStand and #ReliantOneOfAKind. For every photo showcasing the state’s natural beauty, Reliant will donate $5 toward EarthShare of Texas, up to $5,000.
Over the past four years, thousands of Reliant customers have been a part of EcoShare, a simple and affordable program that helps Texans give back to the many organizations that comprise EarthShare of Texas while supporting the reduction of their own carbon footprint. Through the program, customers have contributed to the purchase of nearly 92,500 metric tons of carbon offsets, which represents a verifiable reduction and offset of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide generated as a result of using electricity or driving a car. In fact, Reliant’s customers’ support of carbon offset purchases is equivalent to taking almost 18,000 cars off the road for a year.
“Reliant’s EcoShare program has made a lasting difference for the National Wildlife Federation,” said Meg Haenn, deputy director, South Central Regional Center at National Wildlife Federation. “Each dimension of our mission has been directly touched by donations from Reliant customers – from conserving and restoring our region’s environment to facilitating the relationships between people and their backyard wildlife. Donations from Reliant are helping us protect and restore declining monarch butterfly populations in Texas through our school and community based programs. We appreciate Reliant making it easy for customers to participate in EcoShare and look forward to our continued involvement with the program.”
New and existing Reliant customers can join the EcoShare program, choosing one of two options: EcoShare Gold, priced at $5.95 per month, and which includes a $2 donation to EarthShare of Texas and 1,000 pounds of carbon offsets each month; and EcoShare Silver, priced at $3.95 per month, and which includes a $1 donation to EarthShare of Texas and 500 pounds of carbon offsets each month.
“Earth Day is about shining a spotlight on actions each of us can take to be good stewards of the environment. Through our ongoing partnership with EarthShare, I am pleased with the impact we are making and how we enable our customers to simply and easily take a step toward caring for the natural resources we are blessed to have,” said Elizabeth Killinger, president of NRG Retail and Reliant.
Reliant is part of NRG Energy, which, through its family of companies, is the third largest renewable energy developer in the country. Reliant is an electricity retailer that provides its customers with access to power at home, at work and on-the-go with a full suite of home and portable power solutions.
About Reliant, an NRG company
Reliant brings electricity, smart energy solutions and energy services to business and residential customers across Texas. Reliant is part of NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NRG), a Fortune 200 and leading integrated competitive power company in the U.S. Backed by a diverse portfolio of nearly 140 power generating facilities that can support millions of homes and businesses nationwide, NRG’s retail businesses, including Reliant, serve almost 3 million customers in 10 states and the District of Columbia. Collectively, NRG’s retail brands are the largest providers of electricity in Texas. For more information about Reliant products and services, please visit reliant.com and connect with Reliant on Facebook at facebook.com/reliantenergy and on Twitter @reliantenergy. PUCT Certificate #10007
About EarthShare of Texas
EarthShare of Texas is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to making environmental support easy. EarthShare of Texas represents and supports more than 70 of America’s most respected environmental and conservation groups, including 39 national organizations and hundreds of local groups in 18 affiliate states. EarthShare of Texas member organizations work hard every day to safeguard public health and the environment by combating global warming, protecting ancient forests, protecting water from toxic contaminants, saving endangered species and much more. EarthShare of Texas also protects donors by ensuring that each of its member groups adheres to strict eligibility criteria, and operates with the highest possible ethical and professional standards.
Media Contacts:
Megan Talley, Reliant
(713) 537-2160
Megan.Talley@NRG.com
Jessica Wassenaar, EarthShare of Texas
(512) 872-6677
Jessica@EarthShare-Texas.org
