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Morgan Lewis and Leech Tishman Choose Wind Power

Thursday, November 8, 2012 17:54

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(Before It's News)

Pittsburgh-based law firms Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP and Leech Tishman recently became the first local law firms to purchase renewable energy credits equal to their Pittsburgh offices’ annual energy usage. Their employees and offices now operate supporting 100% Pennsylvania wind energy. The renewable energy credits, purchased through Pittsburgh’s EverPower Wind Holdings, Inc., support both green energy and local job creation.

“Green energy is creating jobs in western Pennsylvania,” said Jim Spencer, President and C.E.O. of EverPower. “The commitment by these top notch law firms contributes to the quality of the air we breathe and the strength of our economy.”

EverPower, originally founded in New York City, now counts Pittsburgh as its corporate headquarters having grown from four to thirty-five employees in its Strip District based office. The company operates four wind facilities including two in Pennsylvania’s Cambria County: Highland and Highland North Wind Farms. An additional seven projects are under development including two under construction in Pennsylvania’s Cambria and Somerset counties.

“EverPower made our decision to become green affordable and easy,” stated Marlee Myers, partner at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP’s Pittsburgh office. “Our employees are excited and we’re excited to let our clients know when they walk in our office.”

EverPower leads an industry effort called ChoosePAWind.com. The effort is designed to increase awareness of Pennsylvania’s wind industry and inform energy buyers about the options available to choose clean, renewable energy developed right in Pennsylvania. The organization works with businesses, non-profit organizations and even local governments on transactions such as these. ChoosePAWind was launched early in 2012 and lists nine organizations that consumers and businesses can contact to support Pennsylvania wind projects through their energy consumption.

“The choice to purchase Pennsylvania wind is an affirmation of our firm’s dedication to responsible development of Pennsylvania’s energy resources,” stated Kenneth C. Foltz, Sr., partner at Leech Tishman and leader of the firm’s Green Initiative. “Not only will this commitment help reduce our environmental impact, but it also supports the growing Pennsylvania wind industry employing thousands of workers across the Commonwealth.”

The commitments by Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP and Leech Tishman are also being recognized by the American Bar Association’s (“ABA”) and Environmental Protection Agency’s (“EPA”) Law Office Climate Challenge. They received this recognition when they agreed to purchase renewable energy credits from Pennsylvania wind farms, equal to 100 percent of their Pittsburgh offices’ annual energy use, and implemented numerous other sustainable office initiatives.

The ABA – EPA Law Office Climate Challenge was created in March 2007 by the American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy and Resources (SEER) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and is co-sponsored by the ABA Law Practice Management Section. The goal of this program is to encourage environmental practices including switching to green power and participating in EPA’s Green Power Partnership program. As stated on the Law Office Climate Challenge website, the program covers four areas: “Conserve energy. Support renewables. Stop wasting all that paper. Do something about global warming.”