Lowe’s makes switch to green power

Amy Satterwhite photo

Green power switch, offered by the Tennessee Valley Authority and MES, is a renewable energy program that allows consumers to purchase electricity generated from clean sources such as wind, solar power and methane gas. TVA provides green power from 16 solar sites throughout the TVA service area, one wind park in East Tennessee and a methane gas facility at the Allen Fossil Plant in Memphis.

Lowe’s stores across the valley are the largest purchasers of green power under the green power switch program, MES general manager Rodney Boyd said. In 2002, Lowe’s committed to purchasing green power at every available location in TVA’s service territory.

“Lowe’s is proud to be a leader in the use of renewable energy,” said Robin Nickles, the company’s vice president for retail facilities management. “Our commitment to green power reflects Lowe’s core value of operating as a responsible corporate citizen in everything we do.”

MES is a participating distributor of TVA power and sells green power switch to consumers in 150-kilowatt-hour blocks at a cost of $4 per block. Each block is equal to about 12 percent of a typical household’s monthly energy usage. Residential consumers may buy as many blocks as they wish. Business and industrial customers buy blocks based on the amount of energy they use.

“MES is pleased Lowe’s has made the commitment to supply part of their energy needs at the McMinnville store with renewable green power,” Boyd said. “Meeting our county’s future energy needs in an environmentally friendly manner is a challenge, but it is a challenge that must be conquered. Research continues in our universities to find new and better ways to provide renewable fuel sources that will be as efficient as the fuels we use today.”

McMinnville Electric System officials celebrate Lowe’s participation in its environmentally friendly green power program. Pictured, from left, are TVA green power administrator Angela Hamlin, MES general manager Rodney Boyd, Lowe’s manager Justin Puryear and operations manager Eric Friedlein.