PITTSBURGH, Pa., February 19, 2008 – Strategic Energy® has announced that Duquesne University has purchased 8,020,000 kWh of Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) for use at its Pittsburgh, Pa., campus.  The purchase of RECs through the Green-e certified Make Me GreenTM product affirms Duquesne’s commitment to environmental stewardship, and ensures the acclaimed University will receive renewable energy from naturally generated, non-depleting energy sources such as hydrogen, wind, water and the sun.

Purchasing REC’s has proven to be highly effective in offsetting the toxic emissions produced by more traditional non-renewable energy sources like oil and coal.  By purchasing over 8 million kWh of RECs from Strategic Energy, a leading supplier of retail electricity in deregulated markets, Duquesne will be responsible for removing 11,163,840 lbs. of CO2 emissions from the air, the equivalent of 1,096 passenger cars for one year, saving the equivalent of 4,219 acres of pine forest, or eliminating the equivalent of 1,705 tons of waste. 

However, Duquesne has not needed to rely solely on traditional energy sources for over a decade, as a large portion of the University’s energy comes from clean-burning natural gas and an independent provider of wind power.  Through its recent purchase of RECs from Strategic Energy, Duquesne brought its total amount of purchased RECs to 12,400,000, ensuring that 100% of its purchased outsourced energy is renewable.

Through its PowerPortfolio® product line, Strategic Energy has partnered with Duquesne University since 2007 to manage their grid-delivered electricity usage.  PowerPortfolio is a custom energy buying solution that offers energy-procurement strategies for larger customers to meet their individual complex energy requirements.  PowerPortfolio offers a range of options for customers to take control of their electricity budget, from the ability to lock in electricity prices when wholesale market conditions are optimal, to pooling the electricity usage of multiple facilities to mitigate volatility and lower expected spend over time.

“Duquesne University is profoundly committed to the environmental quality of its operating facilities,” stated George Fecik, Executive Director of Facilities Management at Duquesne University.  “Through the University’s energy center, we are able to create nearly all of our energy from clean-burning natural gas.  However, the small percentage of its purchased energy is 100% renewable, and poses little threat to the future of our planet.  Duquesne’s partnership with Strategic Energy and its recent purchase of renewable energy credits affirms our dedication to the sustainability of our planet.”

According to Art Miller, Market Segment Director for Renewable Energy, Strategic Energy, “By partnering with higher education institutions such as Duquesne University, Strategic Energy has been able to provide its business and institutional customers with innovative products and services that work within their particular budgets and individual needs.  In addition, Strategic Energy offers these services with a commitment to providing responsible renewable energy solutions and environmentally sustainable business practices to our customers and the communities we serve.”

About Strategic Energy
Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa., Strategic Energy is a leading supplier of retail electricity in competitive markets. For more than 20 years, Strategic Energy has acted as a trusted, unbiased advisor, helping companies implement effective energy-purchasing strategies to optimize their energy spend. Strategic Energy is licensed to serve customers in deregulated energy markets including California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington, D.C. Strategic Energy is a wholly owned subsidiary of Great Plains Energy (NYSE: GXP). For more information, visit www.strategicenergy.com.