EDF Applauds Patagonia-Enron Windpower Deal

The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) applauded the decision of Patagonia, Inc. — the outdoor clothing company — to use renewable, wind-generated electricity to serve all of its California electricity use. Patagonia will purchase its electricity from independent supplier Enron Energy Services. New wind turbines will be constructed by Enron Wind, another subsidiary of Enron Corp.

“The changes in the electricity industry mean that we now all have the ability to choose cleaner electricity sources. Patagonia is leading the way toward a less polluted earth,” said Daniel Kirshner, senior economic analyst in EDF’s Oakland, California office.

EDF is especially impressed by Patagonia’s decision to buy electricity from newly-built wind turbines. “By causing new, environmentally preferable electricity sources to operate, Patagonia will be directly displacing energy generated from older, polluting sources. This is a direct and positive difference for the environment,” said Kirshner.

EDF has been a proponent of electricity restructuring in California. “The ability of customers to choose environmentally preferable, ‘green’ electricity sources is one of the benefits of competition in electricity,” said Kirshner. “The Environmental Defense Fund believes that buying environmentally preferable electricity soon will be as popular as recycling is today. It is a simple thing that you can do for the Earth.”