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COM Joins MCE Deep Green; Switches to 100% Renewable Energy
College will reduce approximately 1,100 metric tons of greenhouse gasses by participating
KENTFIELD, CA—August 15, 2017—As of today, all electricity accounts at College of Marin (COM) have been switched to MCE’s Deep Green—a 100 percent renewable energy program. Making the decision to power campus operations with renewable energy affirms the institution’s commitment to sustainability and aligns with core tenets of the College’s mission and values.
COM has become a leader in sustainability as an early adopter of many green practices. Examples of these actions include installing photovoltaic panels, geothermal heat pumps, and awarding construction contracts that earn projects LEED certification. The College also has the distinction of being the first community college in California to partner with Tesla on its innovative commercial energy storage solutions. Now COM can add to that list being the first educational institution to join Deep Green.
“By choosing Deep Green, College of Marin will reduce 1,100 metric tons of greenhouse gas-related emissions, which is the EPA equivalent of the carbon sequestered by over 1,000 acres of U.S. forest in one year,” said Dawn Weisz, CEO of MCE. “College of Marin previously participated in an MCE pilot program for the installation of Tesla batteries to store and use surplus energy from solar panels at their Kentfield and Indian Valley Campuses. We are thrilled to see College of Marin expand their environmental commitments even further with this move to 100 percent California renewable energy.”
In 2002, California Assembly Bill 117 passed, allowing Community Choice Aggregation (CCA), where groups of communities purchase power on behalf of their residents and businesses. This presented an opportunity for local leaders to increase access to cleaner energy sources. Launched in May of 2010, MCE is a public, not-for-profit electricity provider that gives all PG&E customers the option of having 50 to 100 percent of their electricity from clean, renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, bioenergy, geothermal, and hydroelectric.
Even with diligent sustainability efforts, the size of COM’s campuses makes it a large electricity user. That makes the decision to join Deep Green even more impactful. The College’s next PG&E bill will reflect zero Scope 2 emissions, or emissions from the consumption of purchased electricity, steam, or other sources of energy.
“By switching to 100 percent Green-e certified clean energy for campus operations, College of Marin is reducing its output of greenhouse gases and its overall environmental footprint,” says Superintendent/President Dr. David Wain Coon. “We are proud to be the first educational institution to join MCE’s Deep Green and hope that other educational institutions and organizations in the area will consider using certified clean energy in the near future.”
MCE’s Deep Green 100 percent California renewable energy is certified by Green-e Energy, the leading renewable energy certification program in the nation. Green-e Energy ensures renewable energy products meet strict environmental and consumer protection standards by providing independent, third-party certification. Every participant in the Green-e Marketplace must undergo annual verification and audits to document that enough certified renewable energy has been purchased to meet its annual commitment.
“An integral part of College of Marin’s mission is promoting environmental responsibility,” said Board of Trustees President Diana Conti. “Our statement of values makes a clear commitment to implementing environmentally sustainable principles in our college community and we will continue to seek out opportunities to minimize our environmental impact.”
About College of Marin
Established in 1926, College of Marin remains committed to educational excellence, providing equitable opportunities, and fostering success in all members of its diverse community. With campuses in Kentfield and Novato, students of all ages have affordable access to an exciting variety of credit and noncredit courses as well as community education classes for lifelong learning. College of Marin is one of 114 public community colleges in California and approximately 13,000 credit, noncredit, and community education students enroll annually.
College of Marin is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges, 10 Commercial Boulevard, Suite 204, Novato, CA 94949, (415) 506-0234, an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education.
About MCE
MCE is a not-for-profit, public electricity provider that gives customers the choice of having 50% to 100% of their electricity supplied from clean, renewable sources such as solar, wind, bioenergy, geothermal, and hydroelectric at competitive rates. MCE provides service to 255,000 California customers in Marin County, Napa County, and the cities of Benicia, El Cerrito, Lafayette, Richmond, San Pablo, and Walnut Creek. By choosing MCE, customers help support new in-state and local renewable energy projects and jobs. For more information about MCE, visit mceCleanEnergy.org