PHILADELPHIA -- University of Pennsylvania, Kinko's, Ikea, the State of Pennsylvania, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, and several others are all setting the example for other big businesses and institutions to follow in renewable energy. Business leaders from these companies and other key corporations will join, federal and state agencies and energy suppliers on June 11th, for a one-day event focusing on the emerging market for renewable energy in the Mid Atlantic.

The Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) and the Mid Atlantic Renewable Energy Coalition (MAREC) will host The Mid Atlantic Green Power Procurement Workshop to be held in Philadelphia, PA on June 11, 2002, the first such regional symposium to foster business-to-business networking and best practices in renewable energy procurement. The Mid Atlantic area was chosen for the event because it leads the nation as the largest and fastest growing regional market for `green power' or electricity generated from renewable sources such as wind, solar, low impact hydro and biomass. Businesses and institutions in the region have set the bar for environmental commitment, and now others will have the opportunity to learn from their leadership.

Gary Kusin, Kinko's President and Chief Executive Officer will address the audience of Fortune 500 companies and governmental leaders on the challenges faced in taking up that role and some of the innovative ways Kinko's has succeeded in purchasing renewable electricity. Other leading Mid Atlantic purchasers, energy suppliers and service providers will highlight effective strategies to integrate renewable energy into company power purchases.

Jonathan Lash of the World Resources Institute will announce major new green power purchases by corporate members of the Green Power Market Development Group at a pre-conference press event (8:00am EST). Workshop presenters and exhibitors include: IBM, Johnson & Johnson, General Motors, Kinko's, WRI Green Power Market Development Group, Innovest, Natsource LLC, Green Mountain Energy, Community Energy, Maryland State Government, PA Department of Environmental Protection, Pepco Energy Services, Ikea, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and many more.

Jan Hamrin, Executive Director of CRS, sees the Mid Atlantic region as a source for national business and market leadership on energy. "The Mid Atlantic leads the nation in establishing a viable, competitive market for electricity and renewable energy. Businesses and institutions are building that market by making "green power" a part of the way they do business."

The event will be held at Philadelphia's Sheraton Rittenhouse Square Hotel, "the nation's first eco-smart hotel." Information on the workshop is available on the Green-e website at www.green-e.org/workshop.html. In addition to CRS, event supporters and contributors include: The Sustainable Development Fund and GPU Sustainable Energy Funds, World Resources Institute, Green Mountain Energy, Community Energy, US Environmental Protection Agency, US Department of Energy and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

For further information on the Mid Atlantic Green Power Procurement Workshop, please contact Anne Marie McShea at 215/569-8807 or email at amcshea@resource-solutions.org. For information on the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) visit the website(s) www.resource-solutions.org or www.green-e.org. CRS is a nonprofit organization that fosters the sustainable use of natural resources for the benefit of communities worldwide.