Dallas Arboretum Goes Greener with Solar-Powered Vehicles donated by Green Mountain Energy Company


Dallas Arboretum receives $65,000 towards six solar golf carts and trams

 

DALLAS - Green Mountain Energy Company kicks off the effort to bring solar-power to the gorgeous grounds of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden by presenting a check in the amount of $65,000 to purchase six solar-powered mobile carts. The donation is made possible through the Green Mountain EnergyTM Sun ClubTM, a program which collects and donates contributions from Green Mountain customers for solar installations to non-profit organizations.

Visitors of the Dallas Arboretum know and appreciate the lush gardens and blooming flowerbeds that sprawl across the 66 acre private garden. For those visitors needing assistance getting around, the Arboretum enlists a unique and dedicated group of volunteers to transport visitors and ensure no one misses a single daffodil or view of White Rock Lake between the tulips.  In the coming months, six new carts will be added to the fleet, outfitted with solar arrays that capture energy from the sun and convert it into pollution-free electricity which power the carts.

“Looking around at the lush hillside and wide variety of flora and fauna, it’s hard to imagine the Arboretum could get much greener,” said Tony Napolillo, Sun Club program manager, Green Mountain Energy Company. “However, when the Arboretum told us about their plans for solar-powered carts, we knew we had to get involved.”

“Our visitors come here expecting to be thrilled with the incredible work of nature, but now they are certainly in for a treat,” said Mary Brinegar, president, Dallas Arboretum. “We greatly appreciate this donation and look forward to having our new solar-powered carts out in the park soon.”

One of the many volunteers eager to drive these sun-powered carts is Chuck Maag who has been a volunteer at the Arboretum for over 12 years. “I already love volunteering at the Arboretum, but now I can’t wait to tell my friends that I’m driving something powered by the sun,” said Chuck. “If it will conserve energy, I’m all for it.”

Green Mountain has made eight other donations to fund solar installations for non-profit organizations in Dallas since the start of the Sun Club in 2002. The company also provides thousands of homes and businesses locally with pollution-free electricity service. Last year, Green Mountain residential customers in Texas prevented the emission of more than 2.7 billion lbs of CO2.  That’s as much as taking more than 244,000 cars off the road for a year!

Celebrate Earth Month in Dallas

Earth Day takes place every year on April 22, but why celebrate just one day? Earth Day has turned into a month-long celebration where people all over the world attend events, participate in helping the Earth, and put the environment’s well-being at the top of their priority lists. Many communities across the world come together through different conservation methods including planting trees, recycling and providing educational material on sustainability.

Celebrate Earth Month throughout April at the local events listed below. While there, make sure to stop by the Green Mountain table to learn more about bringing renewable energy to your home or business.  Whether you attend one, a few or all of the events, you are sure to have a great time and learn more about reducing your carbon footprint!

Dallas Earth Month events

  • Earth Fest Dallas (April 21-22)
  • Main Street Fort Worth Arts Festival (April 19 – 22)

 

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About Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden

The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is located on the southeastern shore of White Rock Lake at 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, TX, 75218. The Arboretum is open daily from 9am until 5pm. General admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors 65 and older, $9 for children 3-12, and free for Arboretum members and children two and under. On-site parking is $10. The Arboretum is wheelchair accessible and tram service is available for the mobility impaired sponsored by Stryker Orthopaedics and Stryker Communications. For more information and other events, call (214) 515-6500 or visit the Arboretum’s website at www.dallasarboretum.org.

The Dallas Morning News is the principal partner of the Dallas Arboretum. The Arboretum is supported, in part, by funds from the Dallas Park and Recreation Department.

Green Mountain EnergyTM Sun ClubTM 

Green Mountain EnergyTM Sun ClubTM is a program where Green Mountain residential customers have the opportunity to give back to deserving non-profit organizations through the promotion of solar power. Direct monthly contributions from customers go toward the funding of solar installations. Since the program’s founding in 2002, Sun Club members have helped install almost 500kW of solar power, preventing over 3.3 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. That equals 3.6 million miles not driven or 8.1 million aluminum cans recycled. For more information, visit www.greenmountainenergysunclub.com.

Green Mountain Energy Company

Green Mountain, the nation’s leading competitive retail provider of cleaner energy and carbon offset solutions, was founded in 1997 to “change the way power is made.” The company is the longest serving green power marketer in the U.S. Green Mountain offers consumers and businesses the choice of cleaner electricity products from renewable sources, such as wind, as well as a variety of carbon offset products. Green Mountain’s largest customer is the “world’s most famous office building,” the Empire State Building in New York City. Green Mountain customers have collectively helped avoid over 14.8 billion pounds of CO2 emissions. As a wholly owned subsidiary of NRG Energy (NYSE:NRG), Green Mountain is backed by one of the nation’s largest renewable power producers. For more information, visit www.GreenMountain.com.