GDF SUEZ Subsidiary Continues Support of New England Aquarium

BOSTON, Aug. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- GDF SUEZ Energy Resources NA, the retail energy business of GDF SUEZ Energy North America, renewed its support of the New England Aquarium by sponsoring the Future Leaders for a Blue Planet program and donating over 4,000 Renewable Energy Certificates – enough to supply more than half of the Aquarium's electricity usage from green energy sources.

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The $10,000 Gold level sponsorship from GDF SUEZ Energy Resources will fund scholarships and education initiatives of the Future Leaders program, which seeks to help young people "live a blue lifestyle" by increasing their awareness of issues related to the marine environment and inspiring them to use this knowledge to teach others.

Since its inception in 2006, the Future Leaders program has provided scholarships that have enabled over 300 children to attend the Aquarium's Harbor Discoveries Camp.  

In addition, this is the third consecutive year that GDF SUEZ Energy Resources has donated renewable energy certificates to the Aquarium. Each one of these certificates represents all of the environmental attributes or benefits associated with a specific quantity of energy generated from a renewable source such as solar or wind.  The acquisition of these credits on behalf of the Aquarium will help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and encourage development of sources of clean, renewable energy.

"We have had a longstanding relationship with the New England Aquarium, and are proud to support its educational and environmental commitment," said Robert Wilson, President and CEO of GDF SUEZ Energy Resources. "As a company, we share the Aquarium's dedication to preserving and protecting the Earth's resources and providing opportunities for young people to better understand the world they live in."

"With these generous donations from GDF SUEZ Energy Resources, we will be able to not only bring more programming to deserving kids, but also to build upon our mission to reduce our carbon footprint," said Bud Ris, President and CEO of the New England Aquarium. "We rely heavily on energy to keep our animals alive and healthy, and are grateful that GDF SUEZ Energy Resources continues to serve our business and the environment."

The Aquarium is the second-most attended cultural institution in New England, with over 1.3 million visitors annually. In addition to having more than 30,000 animals on display, it reaches out to over 120,000 students per year; provides resources and training to over 3,000 teachers; and undertakes research and conservation work across the globe.

GDF SUEZ Energy Resources NA is the second largest non-residential retail energy supplier in the U.S. and currently serves commercial and industrial customers in 11 markets: Delaware, Texas, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Connecticut, and Washington, D.C. The company serves over 60,000 accounts for customers having a peak demand ranging from 50 KW to more than 200 MW, with an estimated peak load totaling over 8,000 MW.

To learn more about GDF SUEZ Energy Resources, visit www.gdfsuezenergyresources.com or call 1-866-999-8374.

About GDF SUEZ Energy North America, Inc.:

GDF SUEZ Energy North America, Inc. manages a range of energy businesses in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, including electricity generation and cogeneration, natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) distribution and sales, asset-based trading and origination, and retail energy sales and related services to commercial and industrial customers.

GDF SUEZ Energy North America owns and/or operates cogeneration, steam, and chilled water facilities, including those in construction, representing a capacity of more than 8,000 MW of electricity generation, 6.0 million pounds per hour of steam, and 42,000 tons per hour of chilled water. Renewable fuels—wind, hydro, and biomass—power 23 of the facilities in the portfolio, two of which are among the largest wind farms in eastern Canada. The company's natural gas assets include an LNG receiving terminal in Everett, Massachusetts, which currently meets approximately 20 percent of New England's annual gas demand; an offshore LNG import facility off the coast of Massachusetts; and natural gas distribution networks and pipelines in Mexico that serve nearly 400,000 customers.

GDF SUEZ Energy North America is part of the international energy group, GDF SUEZ.

SOURCE GDF SUEZ Energy North America, Inc.