Size of Energy Contract Ranks Hillwood as Second Largest Real Estate Company
in United States and First in Texas Dedicated To Using Renewable Energy
Dallas, March 26, 2008 – Hillwood announced that it has signed a 100-percent renewable energy contract for its properties in North Texas and has received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) status as a “Green Power Partner.” Current Energy, a Dallas-based company providing energy efficiency products and services for commercial and residential customers, has negotiated the renewable energy contract with TXU Energy on behalf of Hillwood, a leading commercial real estate developer in the United States.
With the new renewable energy contract and designation as a certified “Green Power Partner,” Hillwood ranks as the second largest real estate purchaser in the United States, and the largest real estate purchaser in Texas, among companies dedicated to using renewable energy, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. A “Green Power Partner” is a partnership with the EPA that recognizes companies that have switched to green power for a specified minimum percentage of their electricity needs.
According to the EPA, Hillwood’s green power purchase of more than 65 million kilowatt hours (kWh) is equivalent to avoiding the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of more than 9,000 passenger vehicles per year, or the equivalent amount of electricity needed to power more than 7,000 average American homes annually.
“This deal is part of Hillwood’s ongoing effort to be environmentally progressive in our developments and offices, not only in North Texas but across the country” said Ross Perot Jr., chairman of Hillwood. “Current Energy has been a tremendous asset in assessing Hillwood’s needs and in securing the best possible partner in TXU Energy to provide renewable sources for our developments in North Texas.”
Beginning in February 2008, TXU Energy started providing 100-percent renewable power to Hillwood’s largest North Texas properties. These properties include AllianceTexas, a 17,000-acre development 15 miles northwest of DFW International Airport, and Victory Park, a 75-acre development near downtown Dallas.
“We are pleased to provide Hillwood’s largest properties with a source of 100-percent renewable energy,” said John Detzel, vice president of large business markets for TXU Energy. “TXU Energy is spearheading innovative renewable energy products and solutions for our customers across Texas, and we praise Hillwood for its commitment to renewable energy and to improving our environment.”
Hillwood’s 2008 renewable power contract is projected at 65 million kilowatt hours. Under this contract, TXU Energy will secure certified renewable resources to cover this usage. Renewable energy resources rely on fuel sources that restore themselves, such as wind, solar, hydro, biomass and/or landfills.
Current Energy’s Power Brokers, the company division that provides energy procurement and consulting services, served as the lead adviser on this transaction.
“We’re seeing more corporations look to enhance their social responsibility by reducing the environmental impacts of traditional electricity use,” said Josh Stern, a principal partner of Current Energy and founder of Power Brokers, which consulted on all aspects of the Hillwood contract, from plan analysis to bid solicitation to negotiations. “Together with TXU Energy, Current Energy has packaged a unique contract for Hillwood to meet its specific corporate needs and aggressive desire for 100-percent renewable energy in 2008. We are proud to have facilitated an energy procurement deal of this size and magnitude to benefit the environment.”
Since inception in 2001, Current Energy’s Power Brokers division has procured more than $750 million in power. Today, Power Brokers ranks in the top three energy consulting companies in Texas, based on number of transactions.
About Current Energy
Current Energy, headquartered in Dallas, is a one-stop comprehensive resource for energy efficiency solutions. Current Energy helps residential and commercial customers manage energy consumption, save on energy bills and contribute to the sustainability of the planet. The company was founded in 2001, anticipating the impact that energy deregulation would have on companies. Since then, the company has grown to include two divisions – Current Energy Commercial and Current Energy Residential, which operates the world’s first energy efficiency store™. Current Energy was recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy in the fall of 2007 with an Energy Innovators Award. For more information, visit http://www.currentenergy.com/.
About Hillwood
Hillwood (www.hillwood.com), a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate developers in the country and the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. The company’s developments currently house facilities for more than 85 companies listed on either the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private firms. Hillwood is best known for its development of the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas project, located 15 miles northwest of DFW Airport, the 2,000-acre AllianceCalifornia near Los Angeles in San Bernardino, and the $420-million American Airlines Center and Victory district near downtown Dallas.
About TXU Energy
TXU Energy, a subsidiary of Energy Future Holdings Corp., is a market-leading competitive retailer that provides electricity and related services to more than 2.1 million electricity customers in Texas. TXU Energy offers a variety of innovative products and solutions, allowing both its residential and business customers to choose options that best meet their needs, including 24/7 customer service, competitively priced electricity service plans, innovative energy efficiency options, renewable energy programs and other electricity-related products and services. For more information, visit http://www.txuenergy.com/
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For Current Energy media inquiries, please contact:
Elizabeth Cornelius
972-716-0500 ext. 26
For Hillwood media inquiries, please contact:
Dave Pelletier
817-224-6044
For TXU Energy media inquiries, please contact:
Sophia Stoller
972-868-8336