Curtis Packaging Clean Energy Plan Elicits Praise, Challenge For Entire Town

Curtis Packaging Corporation announced Wednesday its agreement with Community Energy, Inc to purchase clean, pollution-free, renewable energy equal to 100 percent of its energy usage.

The move drew a positive response from the president of SmartPower, a leader in the marketing and messaging of clean energy. Marketwire reported late Wednesday that SmartPower’s Brian F. Keane offered enthusiastic congratulations to Curtis’s management and employees for their annual purchase of 4.5 GWh (4.5 million KWh) of clean energy. This purchase makes Curtis Packaging a corporate leader in Connecticut with the voluntary support of clean energy.

“The commitment to clean energy by Curtis Packaging clearly demonstrates that clean energy is real, here, and working in the business community of Connecticut,” Mr Keane said. “Further, the Curtis Packaging purchase of clean energy is evidence to everyone in Connecticut that energy independence and clean air is critical to the high quality of life and business practice we enjoy in this state and across the country.”

Curtis Packaging, one of the nation’s leaders in packaging design and printing, will purchase a portion of its clean energy commitment through the CTCleanEnergyOptions Program with the majority of the renewable energy being sourced from wind power. Curtis is one of the first printing and packaging companies in the nation to be both Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified and use 100 percent renewable energy.

“We are proud to be a leader in our industry, and to continue to do our part to protect the environment,” said Don Droppo, Jr, vice president of sales and marketing for Curtis Packaging. “Our customers and the community value the commitment we’ve made to a safe and secure energy future. It’s gratifying to know that our products will be manufactured using clean, renewable energy. We are confident that we are doing the right thing by reducing the impact on the environment without sacrificing the high quality products that our clients demand.”

Curtis Packaging, based in Sandy Hook, will buy a total of 4,524,800 kilowatt-hours of renewable energy per year for the next three years. Compared to the average generation mix in the regional and national electric grids where the renewables are being generated, the estimated environmental benefit from this purchase is equal to offsetting more than 7.1 million pounds of carbon dioxide per year, the impact of which is equivalent to planting more than 480,000 trees or not driving 6.2 million miles per year.

This renewable energy purchase follows Curtis Packaging FSC certification, in which the company committed to use paperboard generated by suppliers who practice responsible forestry. Curtis Packaging is also certified by the SmartWood Sustainable Forestry Program of the Rainforest Alliance.

Community Energy President Brent Alderfer said, “Curtis Packaging has stepped up to the energy challenge by converting energy use to an environmental advantage. Purchasing renewable generation to power its electricity needs sets the standard that makes a clean and secure energy future possible.”

The majority of the renewable energy mix will be sourced from wind power, the fastest growing energy source in the United States today. Approximately 30 percent of the total purchase will be a blend of renewable sources, including locally generated wind power, purchased through the Connecticut Clean Energy Options Program available through Connecticut Light & Power (CL&P).

According to Marketwire’s report, Mr Keane subsequently challenged the entire town to begin an aggressive move to clean energy initiatives.

“Now that Curtis Packaging has purchased such a significant amount of clean energy, we hope that this commitment immediately prompts Newtown elected officials to pass a resolution committing to the ‘SmartPower 20% by 2010’ campaign,” Mr Keane continued. “If Newtown commits to 20 percent by 2010, the Curtis purchase of clean energy means that they will automatically qualify for the 2kw solar energy system as a clean energy community.”

The CT Clean Energy Communities program is a partnership between the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund and SmartPower. For every 100 residential customers (the equivalent of one million KWh of electricity) who live in a town that has committed to the “SmartPower 20% by 2010” campaign, the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund will give a free solar energy system to be placed on a public building of the town’s choice.

“We hope that once Newtown commits to 20 percent clean energy use by 2010, the first 2kw solar energy system we provide the town will be the first of many,” stated Bryan Garcia, director of energy market initiatives at the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund.