Recognition for green power initiatives

Source from:  Tobaccoreporter 07/13/2009

Santa Fe, N.M.-based Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company (SFNTC) has been named and official "Green Power Partner" by The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The designation is part of the EPA's climate protection program that works with businesses and organizations to reduce greenhouse gases. As of Oct. 1, 2008, SFNTC became reliant on renewable energy sources by purchasing 100 percent of its electricity needs from windmill power. The company has been using 2.75 million kilowatt hours of electricity a year at its operations and distribution facilities in Oxford, N.C., and Reno, Nev.　It uses about 1.34 million kilowatt hours at its Santa Fe offices.　Power is purchased from NextEra Energy, formerly Florida Power & Light, and Power New Mexico. By using electricity generated by wind power versus fossil fuels like oil and coal, the company is reducing emissions into the atmosphere that would have amounted to 2,264 tons of carbon dioxide, 2.39 tons of sulfur dioxide and 3.33 tons of nitrogen oxide. "This is an important reflection of our company's values and our vision," said Nick Bumbacco, SFNTC's president and CEO.　"We have pioneered sustainable tobacco-growing practices with reduced pesticide use and our 20-year-old organic tobacco program. We have long promoted conservation and recycling.　Now, even as we move to total reliance on wind power to satisfy our electric power requirements, we continue to look for ways to promote sustainability in all that we do." "The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency would like to thank Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company for making a significant green power purchase," said Julia Abell, a spokesperson for EPA's Green Power Partnership. "Your commitment, and those of other Green Power Partners, helps reduce the risks associated with climate change by supporting technologies that are more sustainable for businesses and communities." In addition to buying renewable power, SFNTC has joined Power New Mexico's (PNM) program to moderate "peak" usage of power during periods of high demand, reducing PNM's need to build expensive new power plants, and recently earned ISO 14001 environmental certification from the international standards organization for its operations and distribution centers. Enditem