National Grid, 2 customers honored for efficiency

PROVIDENCE – Electric and natural gas distribution company National Grid marked the 20th anniversary of its energy-efficiency programs with an event today at the R.I. State House.
Gov. Donald L. Carcieri was on hand to commend National Grid and two local customers – Brown University and Coventry-based Clariant Corp. – for their leadership in promoting energy efficiency, controlling energy costs and offsetting the greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.
Clariant, a participant in the utility’s efficiency programs since 1994, saves more than $200,000 in energy costs and 1.8 million kilowatt hours of electricity each year, according to National Grid. Brown University’s participation wins it annual savings of about $1.5 million and 14.4 million kilowatt hours, while reducing emissions by nearly 8 tons per year.
Over the life of its efficiency programs, the utility said, more than 800,000 Rhode Island customers have participated, saving more than 5.5 billion kilowatt hours of electricity, enough to power 753,000 homes for a year; and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more than 3 million tons, the equivalent of removing 385,000 cars from the road.
“National Grid’s 20 years with a demand-side management program in Rhode Island has been a valuable investment for everyone who lives and works here,” Carcieri said. “By holding down demand for electricity, and reducing the need to build new power plants, the cost of energy for all users is kept in check.”
He proclaimed today to be “National Grid Energy Efficiency Day” in Rhode Island.
“Today, we are honoring customers who have demonstrated a leadership role in energy efficiency and have raised awareness of greenhouse gas emissions and the threat they pose to our environment. With them, we have been able to prove that energy efficiency works and should be a priority for all of our customers,” Michael F. Ryan, president for National Grid Distribution in Rhode Island, said in a statement.
“This is a perfect occasion to remind our customers – from the homeowner to the industrial plant manager – that our programs can help lower electric bills, save energy and mitigate the effects of climate change by reducing energy consumption.”
The company also used the occasion to launch an ad campaign aimed at promoting the similar efficiency programs now available to its natural gas customers in Rhode Island.
National Grid, a division of the U.K.-based National Grid plc, distributes electricity and natural gas to nearly 4 million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island. Additional information is available at www.nationalgridus.com.