FirstEnergy Solutions this week signed its largest green supply contract with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, a leader in pursuing environmentally sustainable practices within the health care industry.

UPMC has purchased approximately 24,000 renewable energy certificates of FirstEnergy Solutions' MixedGreens product as a source of a portion of their electric generation. This agreement represents 10 percent of UPMC's electricity load in the Pittsburgh area.

One REC is produced when a renewable energy generator produces one megawatt-hour of electricity. When a company purchases RECs, it is choosing to support the development of renewable electric generation.

MixedGreens is a combination of renewable resources, including wind, biomass, geothermal electric, photovoltaic and hydroelectric.

"We have 145 megawatts of capacity available to us from wind farms in western Pennsylvania, with another 70 megawatts expected to go online this year," says Arthur Yuan, vice president of Sales and Marketing for FES. "Our MixedGreens energy products are a great way for customers to support environmentally friendly energy resources."

"At UPMC, we strive to enhance the quality of life for our patients and the communities in which we live and work. Our agreement with FirstEnergy Solutions serves as another example of our commitment to advancing environmentally sustainable practices, while supporting research and education focused on environmental links to disease," says Allison Robinson, director of UPMC's environmental initiatives.

For instance, the health system recently created a $5-million "green action fund" to support environmentally friendly projects across the health system. It's also building one of the first green pediatric hospitals, supporting significant paper and equipment recycling programs, and removing mercury-containing items from its hospitals.

4/4/2008