National Renewable Energy Month - May 2011 Launched

April 9, 2011 - PRLog -- Celebration of Renewable Energy encourages America to Invest, Drive and Produce Clean Energy

Denver, CO - Celebrating one of America’s fastest growing business sectors, “National Clean Energy Month” encourages increased investment and production of renewable energy.  Benefits of increased clean energy production include economic growth, significant numbers of new jobs and lower energy costs.  Electric cars, like the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf can be powered by renewable energy and operate at a cost of $1 per gallon equivalent.   Consistently, ninety percent of Americans say they support increased solar and wind production.  

National Clean Energy Month presents a bright future for American energy production. Renewable energy has safely added more than 24,000 MW of renewable energy to the US grid over the last 3 years- the equivalent of 48 traditional power plants.  The celebration of National Clean Energy Month is expected to generate an additional $350 billion in new energy production over the next four years by encouraging companies across America to offer a clean energy 401(k) choice.

Clean Energy Month is backed by a wide range of private sector energy, engineering and finance companies active in the clean energy sector.  Don Clark, CEO of Akasha Energy, a Denver, Colorado based project development firm says, “For the last decade there’s been a global 30% average growth per year in market demand for wind generated electricity and 40% percent per year growth in solar demand.  Renewable energy is big business.”

James Muchmore, a corporate securities attorney with Patton Boggs is optimistic on the future of clean energy.  “In 2010, solar and wind companies in America employed more than 178,000 people and global clean energy investment hit a record $243 billion.”  

Further accelerating growth of renewable energy production is falling technology costs.  Over the last two years the cost of building a new wind farm has dropped to being on par with building a new coal plant. “We’re now at a point where five 250 turbine wind farms can power a million homes.  That’s all the houses in a large US city like the Denver metro,” explains Ken Beitel, advisory board chair of the Renewable Energy Initiative (TREI), a national education organization that works to create a strong economy and healthy environment through increased investment, production and use of clean energy.  

National Clean Energy Month will be launched at a press conference on April 27 in Denver Colorado held by the Renewable Energy Initiative in partnership with the Colorado Human Resources Association.  As part of the National Clean Energy Month celebration companies across America will be encouraged to add a clean 401(k) choice.    It’s expected that $350 billion or 5% of the $7 trillion in 401(k) plans will be invested in clean energy once these funds are as common place as technology or real estate funds in employee benefit plans.

Denise Kay, Esq., legislative director for the Colorado Society of Human Resource Management (CO-SHRM), sees Clean Energy Month as having a double benefit: “Adding a clean energy fund to the 401(k) plan is a solid way for companies to increase employee satisfaction and attract new customers.”  

As part of the month of recognition, the May 10 Clean Energy Economy Gala will celebrate America’s renewable energy sector and clean energy investment at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.  Sponsored by ING, the gala includes a jazz reception with awards show for the best new Renewable Energy TV Commercial and the Clean Energy Fund awards.  More information available at www.CleanEnergyMonth.org

Contact:
  Andrew Cepada, Media Director
  The Renewable Energy Initiative (TREI)
  Ph:  720 216-7617  email: info@TREI.us

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About The Renewable Energy Initiative: We are an education, non-profit based out of Denver. We encourage investment in renewable energy to provide a clean, emission-free future, help stimulate the economy, and create jobs for hard working Americans.