HOUSTON, May 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Green Mountain Energy Company
(http://www.greenmountain.com ), the nation's largest provider of cleaner
electricity, and Houston Habitat for Humanity (http://www.houstonhabitat.org ) are
teaming up to support clean, renewable energy in Houston by installing a
1.2 kWh solar array on the roof of a recently completed Habitat for Humanity
home in Houston. The home, which is located in the Wood Glen subdivision in
Northeast Houston, was funded and built by the graduating class of St. John's
High School in River Oaks as their senior class project.

The home was built thanks to the efforts of 18-year old senior Annie
Criner and her graduating class at St. John's High School. Criner spearheaded
the project, challenging fellow classmates to raise the needed $50,000 and
build the home. The Omar family, who immigrated to Houston in September 1997
from Somalia, will live in the new Habitat Home in mid to late June. The
Omars were forced to find work and support nine children -- seven of their own
and two they adopted after Mr. Omar's brother died.

"The Omars' experience is really an amazing story," said Criner. "But
what's more amazing is that they all came out and pitched in on the project."
The solar array, installed on the house thanks to Green Mountain Energy
Company, is a first for Houston Habitat for Humanity.

"We feel this is a great partnership," said Milby Hart, executive director
at Houston Habitat for Humanity. "It's exciting to be a part of the first
solar Habitat Home in Houston. This creates a genuine opportunity to continue
building homes in the Houston area while giving new homeowners a way reduce
their impact on the environment. It is clearly a win-win situation for
Habitat and Houstonians."

The 1.2 kWh solar array will offset about 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide
(CO2), a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming, annually. That's
as much CO2 as a car makes in 2,300 miles. It would take 140 trees an entire
year to remove this much CO2 from the air. The array will also help the new
Habitat family save a little bit on their electricity bill each year.

"This is a perfect opportunity for us to continue our education campaign
in Texas around less-polluting electricity and its benefits while giving
something back to the community," said John Savage, president of the Texas
region for Green Mountain Energy Company. "We are looking forward to our
continued relationship with the Habitat for Humanity organization as we work
toward our mission to change the way power is made."

The Solar Array Habitat home is the first step in an ongoing partnership
between Houston Habitat for Humanity and Green Mountain Energy Company. The
two organizations hope to help raise continuing awareness about renewable
energy and its benefits in addition to making a positive contribution to the
Houston community. Plans include supporting enough 100% pollution free
generation to offset electricity at construction sites for new Habitat homes
in addition to exploring other opportunities to install solar arrays.

Green Mountain Energy Company will recognize Annie Criner for her efforts
at the KRBE/Green Mountain Energy Earth Day Festival taking place on May 24th
at Eleanor Tinsley Park.

Green Mountain Energy Company has been offering 100 percent pollution-free
electricity products in Texas since April of 2001, and Houstonians have been
extremely receptive to choosing clean electricity. For more information on
Green Mountain Energy Company's 100 percent pollution-free products in Texas,
go to http://www.greenmountain.com/services/TX/index.jsp .

Houston Habitat for Humanity has built over 400 homes in partnership with
low-income families since 1987. Homes are sold to families at cost and with a
zero-interest mortgage. Houston Habitat for Humanity is not a United Way
agency, does not accept government funds for construction and does not receive
financial support from Habitat for Humanity International.

About Houston Habitat for Humanity
Houston Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit, ecumenical housing mission, is
dedicated to eliminating substandard housing in the City of Houston by helping
low-income families earn a simple, decent home in which to live and raise
their children. For more information, please visit http://www.houstonhabitat.org .

About Green Mountain Energy Company
Founded in 1997 to "change the way power is made", Green Mountain Energy
Company (http://www.greenmountain.com ) sells cleaner electricity generated from
sources such as wind, solar, water, geothermal, biomass and natural gas to
residential, business, institutional and governmental customers. About
600,000 customers in California, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon,
Pennsylvania and Texas have chosen Green Mountain Energy(R) electricity, which
is dramatically less-polluting than typical system power in those states. The
company is based in Austin, Texas.

SOURCE Green Mountain Energy Company