EAS Energy East Corp

PORTLAND, Maine, April 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- A heightened commitment to environmental sustainability has helped Energy East Corporation drive down its carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions from more than 200,000 tons in 1999 to just over 100,000 tons in 2007. This reduction is the equivalent of planting more than 13 million trees or taking nearly 17,000 cars off the road. "Our people deserve the credit for achieving these outstanding results," said Richard Benson, senior vice president and chief administrative officer at Energy East. "Their commitment and ideas were the catalyst for this comprehensive enterprise-wide effort." The reduction in CO2-equivalent emissions is largely the result of: -- A concerted effort to cut sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) emissions. SF6 is a non-toxic gas used as an insulator and arc extinguisher in high-voltage substation circuit breakers and switch gear. One ton of SF6 has the same warming effect as 24,000 tons of CO2. -- Aggressive leak detection and repair programs at our natural gas companies to minimize methane emissions. One ton of methane has the same warming effect as 20,000 tons of CO2. -- Fuel efficiency improvements for fleet vehicles. This improvement has come, in part, by putting in service dozens of Ford Focus partial zero emissions vehicles and Ford Escape hybrid vehicles across the Energy East companies. -- Increased overall energy efficiency in buildings. "Global climate change is a reality that requires a shift in thinking and meaningful changes in how we conduct business," Benson said. "Environmental considerations have certainly taken on a new level of importance, and Energy East has adopted a clear position to address climate change issues." Energy East's environmental commitments are to: -- Continue to monitor and reduce our carbon footprint. -- Engage our supply chain in supporting sustainable business practices. -- Initiate projects designed to achieve continuous improvements in operational efficiency. -- Communicate environmental performance information on a regular basis. About Energy East: Energy East Corporation (NYSE:EAS) is a respected super-regional energy services and delivery company serving about 3 million customers throughout upstate New York and New England. By providing outstanding customer service and meeting customers' energy requirements in an environmentally-responsible manner, Energy East will continue to be a valuable asset to the communities we serve. Energy East's operating companies are Central Maine Power (CMP), Connecticut Natural Gas (CNG), New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG), Rochester Gas and Electric (RG&E) and Southern Connecticut Gas. DATASOURCE: Energy East Corporation CONTACT: Clayton Ellis of Energy East Corporation, +1-607-762-7336 Web site: http://www.energyeast.com/

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