Staples Takes Advantage of Customer Choice Benefits

March 2004

Staples, Inc. uses a variety of retail electricity suppliers across the U.S., including three of the Alliance for Retail Choice members: Strategic Energy, Constellation NewEnergy, and Green Mountain Energy. In an interview with the Alliance for Retail Choice, Bob Valair, the director of energy management at Staples, shared his thoughts on retail energy.

"Competition is always healthy. [Retail energy competition] gives choices to customers and reduces our energy cost. We can then pass the cost savings onto the customers. It's win-win situation for both."

Electricity choice has focused Staples on the full set of opportunities it has to lower its electricity and other energy bills. It now implements comprehensive energy management systems it first tested in competitive markets in facilities across the country, both in competitive and fully regulated markets.

Customer Choice Bolsters Development of Texas Wind Farm

In April, The Green Mountain Energy Wind Farm at Brazos will dedicate its 160 megawatt wind farm in Texas, which will supply energy to customer in Dallas- Ft. Worth, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio. The wind farm is the first built in Texas since the state gave customers the right to select their Retail Electric Provider beginning in January 2001.
"This is a great example of the power of choice, said Paul Thomas, CEO of GME. "The Success of the Texas Market, coupled with the demand created by our loyal customers, has resulted in the development of the first Green Mountain Energy wind farm in Texas."

This project also underscores the growing demand for environmentally friendly renewable energy choices in Texas.

Click here to learn more about The Green Mountain Energy Wind Farm at Brazos