BioStorage becomes green powered

Source: Healthcare Digital

Date :12/09/2007 10:02:27

BioStorage Technologies has entered into agreement with Indianapolis Power & Light Company to purchase electricity generated by 100 percent renewable energy resources.

The purchase is made through IPL's Green Power Option voluntary program. By offsetting the use of fossil-fueled power generation, this program will enable Biostorage Technologies (BST) to become completely carbon-neutral by 2009.

BST becomes the third-largest customer to participate in IPL's Green Power Option program, joining other environmentally aware leaders - including the State of Indiana as part of its Hoosier Homegrown Energy Plan - in making substantial investments in the purchase of green energy.

"As a service provider to the global pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, we focus on contributing to better health and longer life for people around the world. Energy conservation and environmental preservation are part of this philosophy," says F. John Mills, M.D., Ph.D., BST's chairman and chief executive officer. "We understand the high energy drain that organizations in our field can have on the environment, which is the reason for our commitment to 100 percent certified renewable energy and our goal of becoming carbon neutral."

Under the agreement, IPL has purchased the equivalent of approximately 1.5 million kWh of Renewable Energy Certificates representing electricity generated by wind and biomass facilities. This certificate purchase matches the annual electric usage of BST's U.S. operation, a 25,000 square-foot biorepository in Indianapolis dedicated to 24-hour-a-day sample integrity management for clients in the global pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

"We salute the leadership of BioStorage Technologies and its employees for joining the program at the 100 percent level. Their participation signals a substantial commitment to encouraging investment in renewable resources and positively impacting the environment," says Steve Corwell, IPL's senior vice president of corporate affairs. "IPL has seen a strong increase in customer participation in the Green Power Option because it allows businesses to balance their energy needs with their desire to create a greener future."

By participating in the IPL Green Power Option program at the 100 percent level, BST is offsetting carbon dioxide emissions equivalent of 244 passenger cars being driven over one year or almost six railcars of coal being consumed. Alternatively, BST's participation will save the equivalent of nine acres of forest each year or nearly 30,000 trees planted and grown over 10 years. In addition to its participation in IPL's Green Power Option, BST contributes to other Green causes and environmentally-responsible organizations including the Nature Conservancy and the Indianapolis Zoo.

"Using alternative energy sources allows us to operate our business in an environmentally conscious manner," comments Mills. "The IPL Green Power Option program enables us to take the concept of responsible corporate citizenship to a global level by using renewable energy to help preserve the world environment for future generations."

IPL Green Power customers can participate in the program at 10 percent, 25 percent, 50 percent and 100 percent levels. Customers pay a small incremental fee, which is set once a year and added to the IPL bill in addition to the costs normally associated with the standard, regulated rates and charges.