Carbon what?

When carbon based fuels are burned to generate energy, carbon based pollutants that dirty the air we breath are the byproduct. This is true of the gasoline that powers your car and the natural gas or coal burned to generate the electricity that powers the computer you're reading this website on. The more carbon fuels you consume in your life, the larger your "carbon footprint."

Leading the way

In an effort to minimize the team's carbon footprint, the Kodak Gallery Pro Cycling Team, presented by Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. has partnered with Renewable Choice Energy to offset 100% of the carbon based pollution generated by the team with clean, renewable wind power. The Kodak Gallery Pro Cycling Team is the first pro sports team in the U.S. to make such a large commitment.

Inspiration for this major initiative came from the example set by presenting sponsor, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.'s president and founder, Ken Grossman. Environmental impact played a critical role in the development of every aspect of the brewery's facilities and operations. Sierra's initiatives range from applied heat and CO2 recovery systems to their own waste water treatment facility that reprocesses and purifies all water from the brewing process while capturing the methane byproduct for use in its boilers and electrical generation equipment.

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. also has recently completed one of the largest fuel cell installations in the United States. The four 250-kilowatt co-generation fuel cells power units supply electricity and heat to the brewery. The overall energy efficiency of the installation is double that of grid-supplied power and air emissions are significantly reduced. To learn more about Sierra Nevada's environmental impact reduction intiatives, click here.

Net impact of team's commitment

According to statistics from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the net impact of the team's partnership with Renewable Choice Energy is equivalent to the following:

	Not driving 670,000 miles
	Not burning 345,000 lbs of coal.
	Planting 8,460 trees.

How it works

Most electricity comes from burning fossil fuels like coal and gas. According to the EPA, this is the leading cause of industrial air pollution. But, it doesn’t have to be this way. Wind power is now available for anyone, anywhere in the country. Wind power is a clean and renewable alternative to fossil fuels. Not only is wind power pollution free, but it also provides economic assistance to rural farming communities, diversifies our energy portfolio and helps to combat global climate change.

Since it is physically impossible to deliver electricity straight from a wind farm to your home or business, wind energy credits make purchasing wind power possible. When you buy wind energy credits equal to your monthly electricity usage, you guarantee that the electricity you use is replaced onto the national power grid with clean, renewable wind energy.

What can you do?

Team sponsor, Renewable Choice Energy makes it easy and very affordable for YOU to have an impact. Whether you run a bike shop, small or large business or only your own home, it's time to take action. Visit Renewable Choice Energy today to learn how you can join with the Kodak Gallery team in creating a cleaner future for us all.