$30,000 will go towards providing renewable energy to Nature Center’s new building
Weslaco, TX - The Green Mountain Energy™ Sun Club™ takes part in the successful expansion of the Valley Nature Center with a donation of $30,000 to fund a solar array for the non-profit’s brand new Nature Center Facility. The Valley Nature Center will also receive an accompanying educational display to teach visitors about solar energy. The Sun Club is a unique program enabling Green Mountain Energy Company’s residential customers, including many in the Rio Grande Valley, to donate solar power to non-profits like Valley Nature Center.
Valley Nature Center is the oldest nature center in the Rio Grande Valley and reaches some 65,000 people annually through educational and recreational programs, partnerships, and visitor events. Green Mountain has been serving the Rio Grande Valley since 2007, offering renewable energy products in the region and educating residential customers on the benefits of cleaner energy. The Sun Club solar array donation will enable the center to reduce their energy costs and fund more educational programs, events, and park maintenance.
“We are grateful for this donation from the Sun Club and are excited to use the power of the sun for our new building programs and to educate the public about solar power,” said Lydia Guerra, executive director, Valley Nature Center. “This solar donation is perfect for us as many of our visitors are passionate about renewable energy, and preserving the environment is directly in line with our mission.”
The solar array will be installed on the center’s new building, the Nature Center Facility, which will house state-of-the-art, interactive exhibits, classrooms, meeting spaces and a nature store. The array is also expected to help the facility earn LEED certification.
“Valley Nature Center’s service in the Rio Grande Valley is commendable and the Sun Club is proud to help them further their efforts to preserve the unique habitat of the region,” said Tony Napolillo, Sun Club Program Manager, Green Mountain Energy Company. “Its mission to conserve our natural resources fits perfectly with our sustainability efforts, and we couldn’t be happier to make this solar contribution.”
Valley Nature Center’s 6-acre urban paradise has housed the Lower Rio Grande Valley’s native plants and animals, many of them rescued from sites that were slated for development, for over 28 years. One of the top birding and butterfly destinations in the United States, the park makes diverse food and habitats available for resident and migratory life, and offers a wide variety of educational programs and events throughout the year. With this donation from the Sun Club, visitors can learn about cleaner energy and how solar works.
Pictures from the event will be added to Green Mountain Energy’s Flickr stream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/greenmtnenergy/
Celebrate Earth Month in South Texas
While most of the planet celebrates Earth Day only on April 22nd, Green Mountain celebrates the Earth every day. Throughout the month of April, we’re celebrating our customers’ and our own sustainability successes at special events in each of our markets. Our month-long conservation activities include online and in-person events in South Texas, where we’ll be connecting more closely with community members and the environment!
- RGV Home & Garden Show: April 12-14
- Vida Verde Green Living Festival: April 20
Declare whether you’re an eco-champion or energy waster by taking our quiz at facebook.com/greenmountainenergycompany. Plus, get tips and tricks to reduce your usage and help the environment by visiting our Energy Saver Center online at www.greenmountainenergy.com/customer-service-center/energy-saver-center.
Valley Nature Center
Located in the City of Weslaco’s Gibson Park, the Valley Nature Center is a secret garden in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley that impacts wildlife and people on local, statewide, and global levels. The organization partners in research and conservation efforts that result in the restoration and protection of hundreds of acres of habitat. Birders and butterfly watchers from around the world know the Valley Nature Center as a “must-see” ecotourism destination in one of the biologically diverse areas of the United States. The Valley Nature Center promotes recycling, ecotourism, involvement in environmental issues and concerns, and getting children back outdoors to connect with nature at an early age and throughout their lifetimes. For more information, visit www.valleynaturecenter.org.
Green Mountain EnergyTM Sun ClubTM
Green Mountain EnergyTM Sun ClubTM is a program where Green Mountain residential customers in New York, Pennsylvania and Texas 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 more than 500 kilowatts of solar power, preventing over 787,300 pounds of CO2 emissions each year. That’s like not driving 878,500 miles or 390 households turning off their lights for a year. For more information, visit www.gmsunclub.com.
Green Mountain Energy Company
Green Mountain is the nation’s longest-serving renewable energy retailer and believes in using wind, sun and water for good. Founded in 1997, the company is a green power pioneer and celebrates more than 15 years delivering on the mission to “change the way power is made.” Green Mountain offers consumers and businesses the choice of cleaner electricity, as well as carbon offsets and sustainable solutions for businesses. One of Green Mountain’s largest customers is the “world’s most famous office building,” the Empire State Building in New York City. Green Mountain customers have collectively helped avoid over 19.4 billion pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Visit us online at www.GreenMountain.com.
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