• Solar array dedication event at Texas Humane Heroes
  • Panels installed with $50,000 donation from Green Mountain Energy™ Sun Club™
  • Sheltering New Solar at Texas Humane Heroes with Green Mountain Energy™ Sun Club™
  • $50,000 donation funds solar array installation at Texas Humane Heroes
  • Native was selected for this solar array installation by Green Mountain Energy™ Sun Club™

April 26, 2013

Leander, TX – The animals at the Texas Humane Heroes (www.hswc.net), a non-profit No Kill animal adoption center in Leander, decreased their carbon pawprint today with the installation of the shelter’s new solar panels, funded by a $50,000 donation from the Green Mountain Energy™ Sun Club™. The solar panels were installed on a pavilion at the center of the organization’s new Memorial Garden, a place for pet owners to sit and remember pets they have loved and lost. The Sun Club is a unique program enabling Green Mountain Energy Company residential customers, including many in Leander, to provide solar power and educational programs to non-profit organizations, like Texas Humane Heroes.

The 11.76-kilowatt solar array covers 900 square feet on the roof of the pavilion. The array is expected to generate 15,800 kilowatt-hours of pollution-free energy and avoid 18,200 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) each year. That’s like not driving 20,400 miles every year!

“We can appreciate the sun shining down on our Memorial Garden in a whole new way thanks to these solar panels from the Sun Club,” said Ron Marullo, executive director, Texas Humane Heroes. “Our supporters enjoy spending time outdoors with their pets – from playing frisbee to sitting in the sun with a pet on their lap – and recognize the need to take care of the environment so that these memorable moments can continue for generations.”

The solar array installation on top of the Memorial Garden pavilion was made possible by a $50,000 donation from the Sun Club in January. The array will generate electricity for the organization’s facilities, reducing their operating costs related to electric consumption and reducing their environmental impact. The cost savings will allow them to expand their programs and increase awareness of both the environment and adoptable animals in the area.

“We’re very happy to be dedicating this solar array to Texas Humane Heroes,” said Tony Napolillo, Sun Club program manager, Green Mountain Energy Company. “This organization has truly earned this sustainable power source built with the contributions from our dedicated Sun Club members, whose generosity to the community and genuine interest in preserving the environment is inspiring.”

Texas Humane Heroes is the second recipient of the Sun Club Solar Leaders Award, which includes participation in the Solar Leaders Circle. The Solar Leaders Circle is a group of exceptional Sun Club donation recipients who seamlessly incorporate their solar power into their initiatives and serve as a role model for organizations looking to adopt more sustainable practices.

The array was dedicated in a special ceremony during a volunteer event at the Texas Humane Heroes shelter, where several Green Mountain employees spent time with the shelter animals and prepared the Memorial Garden for its debut. The Memorial Garden is open to the public as a venue to remember loved and lost pets and host small celebrations and events.

Pictures of the donation will be added to Green Mountain Energy’s Flickr stream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/greenmtnenergy/

Celebrating Earth Month in Austin

Green Mountain Energy’s headquarters office in Austin is celebrating Earth Day all month long this April! Becoming a certified-Platinum Austin Green Business Leader, being the Premier Sponsor of the Hill Country Conservancy’s Fourth Annual Give 5% to Mother Earth campaign, and adopting a garden through The Trail Foundation are a few among the many ways Green Mountain is making sure to give back to its beautiful hometown and the environment this Earth Month.

Texas Humane Heroes

The mission of Texas Humane Heroes is to provide innovative programs and services to eliminate pet homelessness and to improve the lives of pets and people throughout Central Texas. Formerly known as The Humane Society of Williamson County (HSWC) and the CenTex Humane Society Second Chance Adoption Center, the organizations combined resources and merged in Texas Humane Heroes in January 2013. Supporting two adoption centers in Central Texas, Texas Humane Heroes has locations in Leander and Killeen, Texas. Texas Humane Heroes is a not-for-profit 501©(3) organization, 100% funded by donations, grants, and modest fees for services and receives no government funding. The corporate office is located at 10930 E. Crystal Falls Parkway, Leander, Texas. For more information, please visit www.texashumaneheroes.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, the Sun Club has contributed more than $2.2 million to help install more than 550 kilowatts of solar power, preventing more than 850,000 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) emissions each year. That’s like planting 100 trees every year. For more information, visit www.gmsunclub.com.

Green Mountain Energy Company

Green Mountain is the nation’s leading competitive retail provider of cleaner energy and carbon offset solutions and believes in using wind, sun and water for good. Founded in 1997, the company celebrates 15 years delivering on the mission to “change the way power is made” and is the longest serving green power marketer in the nation. Green Mountain offers consumers and businesses the choice of cleaner electricity products from renewable sources, as well as a variety of carbon offset products 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 24.5 billion pounds of CO2 emissions. Visit us online at www.GreenMountain.com.