Archived press release

Good Friends: Good Energy and Friends of the Earth join forces on renewable energy

15 September 2008

Leading green electricity supplier Good Energy has teamed up with influential campaigning organisation Friends of the Earth in the fight against climate change.

Good Energy buys 100 per cent renewable electricity, and by offering some of the best tariffs for small-scale electricity generation, gives valuable financial support to households and businesses that produce their own renewable energy. Switching to electricity supplied by Good Energy gives people the opportunity to combat climate change by increasing demand for electricity from renewable sources. Good Energy was last month rated the best company in the sector in a Concerned Consumer survey funded by The Times.

Friends of the Earth harnesses people power to change politics, most recently demonstrated by its success with The Big Ask - the campaign for a strong climate change Bill, which will become law by the end of 2008. Now the green group is encouraging the public to write to their MP and demand that Gordon Brown delivers on his promise to generate 15 per cent of our energy from UK renewable sources - such as the sun, wind, waves and tides - by 2020.

Good Energy will be advocating the campaigns Friends of the Earth embarks on in the coming months and will donate £30 to the charity for every customer who mentions Friends of the Earth when they sign up.

Nick Rau, Friends of the Earth's renewable energy campaigner, said: "Friends of the Earth is working in partnership with Good Energy because it raises awareness of climate change and provides valuable financial support for renewable energy projects. This helps Friends of the Earth's goal to wean the Government off its addiction to dirty coal, oil and gas and pave the way for a cleaner and greener future."

Juliet Davenport, CEO and founder of Good Energy, said: "Good Energy and Friends of the Earth are working towards a similar goal - a sustainable world where people are concerned about what is happening around them and to the environment.This powerful new partnership will add weight to the fight for more renewables, and Good Energy is very pleased to be able to work with such an influential organisation during this critical time for the future of energy in the UK."

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Notes to Editors

· Good Energy is the only 100 per cent renewable electricity supplier in the UK. Unlike many other suppliers, Good Energy buys all of its electricity from renewables and none generated from fossil fuels or nuclear power.

· Good Energy retires from the market 5% of its renewable electricity certificates (ROCs), which it could otherwise sell, thereby creating an important additional boost for renewable electricity generation.

· By choosing electricity from Good Energy, individuals are reducing their personal carbon emissions and impact on Climate Change.

· Over 25,000 homes and businesses across the UK have switched to Good Energy. The electricity supplied by Good Energy comes from renewable generators that use wind, small scale hydro, solar power and sustainable biomass to generate electricity.

· In an official report entitled "Reality or Rhetoric? Green Tariffs for Domestic Customers" the National Consumer Council said of Good Energy: "For those consumers who want a green electricity supply, pure and simple, this is probably the closest they will get to it."

· Good Energy is owned by the Good Energy Group, an independent PLC which specialises in investing in renewable energy. Good Energy Group has in the region of 1700 shareholders, of which over 90 per cent are customers of Good Energy.

· Good Energy is the first electricity company to publish an independent audit of its renewable supply claims.

· Good Energy has made a recent decision to supply gas to UK homes. This is because many UK consumers now expect both their gas and electricity to come from the same supplier (dual tariffs). Many existing customers have also asked Good Energy for a gas supply. Good Energy is currently developing an initiative to promote heat from renewable sources.

· For more information about Friends of the Earth, see http://www.foe.co.uk/.

· Join Good Energy today - mention Friends of the Earth and the green campaign group will receive a £30 donation. Call 0845 456 1640 or sign up online at http://www.good-energy.co.uk/

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust