August 1, 2002 (Newstream) -- Ben & Jerry’s announced today that it will fight global warming by offsetting one year’s carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from its Vermont ice cream production facilities - while supporting the construction of a new wind turbine on the rolling grasslands of South Dakota. Ben & Jerry’s action will have the same impact on global warming as avoiding 10 million miles of car driving.

Ben & Jerry’s has secured the CO₂ offsets through NativeEnergy’s WindBuilders^sm Business Partner program - a novel initiative that enables individuals and businesses to support new wind farm construction through the advance purchase of long-term streams of renewable energy credits, including the associated CO₂ offsets. Revenue from Ben & Jerry’s purchase will support construction of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Wind Turbine Project - the first Native American owned and operated large-scale wind turbine in the country - which is expected to be operational by November, 2002.

Through its purchase, Ben & Jerry’s will secure 5,000 tons of CO₂ - enough to offset the 2002 estimated CO₂ emissions produced by its manufacturing and office facilities in Vermont. Ben & Jerry’s will then donate the CO₂ offsets to Clean Air - Cool Planet, a New Hampshire-based environmental organization working to promote practical solutions to global warming. Clean Air-Cool Planet will “retire” the CO₂ offsets to ensure that Ben & Jerry’s CO₂ emissions are neutralized.

"Ben & Jerry’s energy goals include efficiencies and technology opportunities, along with valuable offsets,” says Andrea Asch, Ben & Jerry’s Manager of Natural Resources. “NativeEnergy’s WindBuilders^sm Business Partner program is a unique opportunity for Ben & Jerry’s to offset its CO₂ footprint in a way that helps build a new wind turbine and create important social and economic benefits for the Rosebud Sioux Tribe.”

According to Pat Spears, President of the Intertribal Council on Utility Policy, the Tribe sees “utility scale renewable energy generation as a ’no-regrets’ sustainable homeland economic development strategy, with a positive impact on CO₂ emission reduction. And the Rosebud Wind Project is leading the way in bringing tribal utility scale wind power on line.”

As a brand, Ben & Jerry’s has teamed up with Dave Matthews Band, and SaveOurEnvironment.org, a collation of the nation’s most influential environmental advocacy groups to help stop global warming. Together, we’ve created One Sweet Whirled. It’s not just a new flavor, but rather a campaign that’s out to inspire some serious changes in the way we impact our world.

Leading by example

"Ben & Jerry’s has never been short on creativity,” says Adam Markham, Clean Air-Cool Planet’s executive director. “By drawing attention to the cool benefits of wind power, they’re giving folks their favorite flavors and finding innovative business strategies that battle global warming.”

Burning fossil fuels to generate electricity is the largest industrial source of CO₂ emissions in the U.S. New wind farms fight global warming by reducing the amount of electricity otherwise needed from power plants that burn fossil fuels.

According to NativeEnergy’s President and CEO, Tom Boucher, “Ben & Jerry’s commitment to the environment and ability to sponsor awareness-building events such as the June 22nd festival is extremely important. Once folks understand the challenge we all face, they can do their part in the fight against global warming and climate change.”

About Ben & Jerry’s

Ben & Jerry’s produces a wide variety of super premium ice cream, ice cream novelties, low fat ice cream, low fat yogurt, and sorbet, using Vermont dairy products and high quality, all-natural ingredients. Ben and Jerry’s products are distributed nationwide and in selected foreign countries in supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, franchise Ben & Jerry’s scoop shops, restaurants, and other venues. Ben & Jerry’s, a wholly-owned autonomous subsidiary of Unilever, operates its business on a three-part mission statement emphasizing product quality, economic reward and a commitment to the community. Ben & Jerry’s contributes a minimum of $1.1 million annually* through corporate philanthropy that is primarily employee led. Contributions made via the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation in 2001 totaled over$1.4 million. Additionally, the company makes significant product donations to community groups and nonprofits both in Vermont and across the nation. The purpose of Ben & Jerry’s philanthropy is to support the founding values of the company: economic and social justice, environmental restoration and peace through understanding, and to support our Vermont communities.

*annual contribution is adjusted upward to allow for sales growth and inflation

About NativeEnergy

Founded in 2000 and based in North Ferrisburgh, Vt., NativeEnergy offers individuals and businesses simple, effective, and verifiable ways to fight climate change and global warming by helping to build new wind farms. NativeEnergy’s patent-pending business process offers a convenient alternative to buying green electricity and is dedicated exclusively to driving the construction of new wind farms to create new environmental benefits. Visit www.nativeenergy.com

About Clean Air - Cool Planet

Based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Clean Air - Cool Planet inspires coordinated action among citizens, businesses, educational institutions, and government and community leaders throughout the Northeast to achieve reductions in greenhouse gases. CA-CP published “Cool Solutions for Global Warming: 24 Success Stories from the Northeast,” highlighting case studies describing innovative projects and their outcomes in all eight northeastern states. Visit www.cleanair-coolplanet.org.