Month of April

DALLAS, April 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Aveda(TM) The Art and Science of Pure Flower and Plant Essences(TM) and Green Mountain Energy Company, the nation's largest provider of cleaner electricity, announced today that they would partner this month (Earth Month) to promote 100 percent pollution-free electricity.

As part of the effort, Green Mountain Energy Company will support the generation of wind power from the Green Mountain Energy(R) Wind Farm at Brazos equivalent to the estimated amount of electricity the Aveda Experience Centers in Dallas will use during the month of April. This special renewable transaction will match the 60,000 kilowatt-hours of estimated electricity usage of the Experience Centers for the month of April with 100 percent pollution-free wind power, offsetting over 44 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, a greenhouse gas largely believed to be responsible for global warming.

Additionally, Aveda will sell compact fluorescent light bulbs throughout the month and donate all the proceeds to the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, a non-profit group dedicated to promoting clean air policies and the use of renewable energy. Using one compact fluorescent light bulb instead of traditional incandescent light bulbs can avoid the production of as much as 1,000 pounds of CO2.

"Aveda is committed to preserving and protecting biodiversity," says Dominique Conseil, president of Aveda. "Earth Month is a time for us to take a more active role in educating the public about the consequences of our actions on the health of the planet and future generations. It also serves to remind Aveda employees in corporate offices, salons, spas and stores what they can do to reduce their own CO2 emissions."

Aveda Corporation and Green Mountain Energy Company share a common dedication and commitment to the environment. Both companies have adopted the CERES principles for responsible business practices and incorporate environmental practices into daily business operations.

"We are proud to work with Aveda to promote the environment and clean electricity alternatives. Aveda is a visionary corporation when it comes to protecting the earth's resources, and this relationship is a natural tie-in for our company and customers," said Gillan Taddune, chief environmental officer for Green Mountain Energy Company. "Most people don't realize that electricity generation is the leading cause of industrial air pollution in the United States. We are proud to offer Texans an alternative that is 100 percent pollution-free."

Taddune explained that by purchasing 100 percent wind power from Green Mountain Energy Company, the average Texas household could avoid contributing over 17,600 pounds of CO2 into our air each year. This is a significant reduction in the amount of CO2 an average household emits annually -- the same as not driving your car almost 20,000 miles a year.

Aveda plans to raise $775,000 for its Earth Month Partners around the world through Appointments for the Earth -- in which customers can experience salon and spa services at Aveda Concept Salons with a portion of monies being directed to partnering organizations. See www.aveda.com .

Green Mountain Energy Company has been offering 100 percent pollution-free wind electricity in Texas since April 2001. In addition to visiting Aveda stores during the month of April, customers can call 1-888-749-5201 or visit www.greenmountain.com to sign up for Green Mountain Energy electricity service.

About Aveda

For more than a decade Aveda, The Art and Science of Pure Flower and Plant Essences has conducted a self-initiated awareness and education campaign across its worldwide network of salons, spas and retail stores with one goal: to raise awareness of the need to protect the planet's biodiversity through responsible human action. Over the past four years, the Aveda network has raised more than $2.5 million for Earth Month partner organizations working for biodiversity protection around the world.

About Green Mountain Energy Company

Founded in 1997 to "change the way power is made", Green Mountain Energy Company (www.greenmountain.com ) sells cleaner electricity generated from sources such as wind, solar, water, geothermal, biomass and natural gas to residential, business, institutional and governmental customers. About 600,000 customers in Florida, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Texas have chosen Green Mountain Energy(R) electricity, which is dramatically less- polluting than typical system power in those states. The company is based in Austin, Texas. SOURCE Green Mountain Energy Company; Aveda