Taking Action on Climate Change

by Darren Deffner, Senior Government Relations Representative for PG&E

 

Fighting climate change is on everyone’s minds these days.  The scientific evidence is overwhelming that climate change is occurring and the need for action is now. 

 

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) believes it is our responsibility to be among those leading the charge and partner with our communities – residents, businesses, and governments – to develop comprehensive solutions that address the problem.  And, while PG&E can report a successful track record with fellow Californians through energy efficiency programs and clean energy sources, we must do more! 

 

PG&E is proud to offer a third important piece to the climate protection puzzle that offers our customers the ability to “neutralize” all of the greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) associated with their energy use.  It’s called ClimateSmart. 

 

Our new, voluntary program uses 100% of the funds collected from enrolled customers –  less than $5 a month for the average residential household – to pay for California environmental projects that reduce or capture GHGs by the same amount as what your energy use creates, making your household’s energy “climate neutral.”

 

All ClimateSmart projects will have verified reductions by one of the leading organizations pioneering standards for carbon accounting – the California Climate Action Registry.  We are striving to have a diverse portfolio with some of the projects conserving forest ecosystems, while others reducing emissions from livestock farms.  PG&E is committed to working with the California Climate Action Registry to add another three types of projects, such reducing emissions from transportation or expanding urban forests, which guarantee measurable and verifiable GHG reductions as our ClimateSmart program expands.

 

By the end of 2009, PG&E expects ClimateSmart to reduce our customers’ carbon footprints by an amount equivalent to taking 350,000 cars off the road for a year.  This will amount to 2 million tons of CO₂ removed from the atmosphere through ClimateSmart.

 

At PG&E, we are committed to leading the fight against climate change.  In fact, PG&E was the first customer to enroll in ClimateSmart, committing over $1.5 million of shareholder funds to make our company energy use “climate neutral.” 

 

We invite you to join us by continuing to conserve energy through energy efficiency and clean self-generation projects like solar and “neutralize” the remaining GHG emissions your energy use creates by signing up for ClimateSmart today.

 

To enroll in ClimateSmart or learn more about our program, please visit our website at www.pge.com/climatesmart.  To find out what ClimateSmart would cost, please use the online calculator at www.pge.com/about_us/environment/calculator/estimator.html.