Constellation’s publicity stunt
Via Yahoo News:
BALTIMORE, Sept. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Constellation Energy (NYSE: CEG – News) today announced that its subsidiary, Constellation NewEnergy, will work with the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) to ensure that its “Your tempo: Olafur Eliasson” exhibition is matched by regional geothermal energy. Constellation NewEnergy has secured green power for the duration of the exhibition (Sept. 8, 2007 through Jan. 13, 2008).
With the exhibition exploring numerous environmental issues including global warming, SFMOMA wanted an energy partner to help reduce the exhibition’s carbon footprint. Given SFMOMA’s support of locally produced renewable power, Constellation NewEnergy was selected in part because of its ability to match the exhibit’s electricity usage with energy generated by the Geysers Geothermal Facility located in Northern California. This clean energy purchase is the equivalent of avoiding the emissions from more than 100 barrels of oil.
Constellation’s Soda Lake geothermal plant
Photo Credit: Anonymous (with permission)
OK, we can understand Constellation Energy wanting to get some of the PR value from green, but this is pretty lame. First off, Constellation is simply buying green energy from the Geysers (Calpine or NCPA.) Secondly, 100 barrels of oil is an interesting comparison – why? Because almost no electricity is generated in the US from oil right now, and that’s certainly the case in California. How about coal? How about the positive impacts on greenhouse gas emission. Nope, just a publicity stunt.
The odd thing about this is Constellation doesn’t even talk about its Soda Lake, Nevada geothermal plants. Why not simply make an arrangement to supply the juice from there? Why not mention that Constellation is a geothermal operator working to provide green power? This is a hollow and transparent act.
I’m sure that this is a classic case of the PR flacks not having a clue about the breadth of what the company does. This is just lazyness.
Hell, elsewhere they just announced a 588kW PV plant in the San Joaquin Valley that they own and operate. It took 5 seconds on a Google search to find – Constellation Energy, Renewable, California.
In the California “solar is sexy” mindset, this would have been even better.
Yeah, you’re right Bill on both counts. Solar would have given more mileage and it’s likely laziness. But it’s silly either way.