What happens to your favorite, socially responsible ice cream maker when a multinational corporation sets its sights on acquiring it? That is exactly what happened in the case of Ben & Jerry’s, and they had no legal options but to sell to the highest bidder — even if that company’s values didn’t align with their social mission.

So, how do socially responsible businesses hold themselves responsible to their stakeholders when corporate structures put shareholders and financial profit first? Enter Benefit Corporations and Certified B Corporations.

By providing legal structures that increase transparency, accountability, and performance, Benefit Corporations and B Corps are changing the way we do business.

Certified B Corporation vs. Benefit Corporation

There are two ways for companies to participate in the B Corp movement: Certified B Corporations are 3rd party certified by non profit B Lab and Benefit Corporation is a legal status administered by the state.  “B Corp” generally refers to either of these types of organizations.

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There’s nothing like reaching the top of the mountain or crossing the finish line. But what are you breathing while doing it? Take the pledge to support wind power at home and join a movement of people who are committed to a sustainable, healthy future.

Plus, your pledge qualifies you to win prizes including:

• A Specialized Bike
• A ChicoBag DayPack loaded with a Klean Kanteen and other goodies
• Charm City Run Gift Card

This year, The Philly Farm & Food Fest is powered by 100% local Pennsylvania wind. And, your home can be too!

Clean Currents is the region’s only Certified B Corp green energy company. The Fest team loves them because they give back to the community, but you’ll love them because you can get 100% local wind power at home.

To celebrate all things local, Clean Currents is buying your ticket* to the Fest when you sign up for wind power at home before April 12th.

*24 -48 hours after you sign up, Clean Currents will send you an email with instructions for how to redeem your complimentary ticket to Philly Farm and Food Fest. You’ll just enter a promotional code to get tickets you can print at home – so easy!

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These Businesses Mean Green

We encourage you to support our diverse wind powered customers. You can grab a coffee, shop for food or home goods, get a haircut, and go out for dinner all while supporting companies that have made a conscious effort to green their operations by switching to Wind Power through Clean Currents.

*The map below shows just a few of our commercial wind powered customers throughout the region

You can join the Clean Currents Green Community by switching your HOME or BUSINESS to clean, affordable wind power.

The following is a directory of our wind powered business customers:

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This is the year Maryland can take a step forward towards a clean energy future and the Offshore Wind Bill is one giant leap in the right direction. Clean Currents fully supports this bill and we applaud Governor O’Malley’s leadership in working to bring it to this point.

I call on other energy suppliers that supply green power to join us in standing firm with our colleagues in the environmental, faith, labor and business advocacy world in support of offshore wind power in Maryland. You can’t be authentic if you sell wind power on the one hand, but do nothing to support, and sometimes actively oppose, the development of wind off Maryland’s coast. I offer Clean Currents’ help to educate the public about the importance of this bill and the importance of Maryland taking it’s next big step towards a cleaner, greener, future free of the threat of climate change and air pollution.

Wind Power Provider Recognized as Leading Edge Green Business

Clean Currents announced today that it has won Green America’s People & Planet award, recognizing America’s best green businesses with innovation in clean energy. Winners are granted $5,000 to invest in their green initiatives. Clean Currents was selected as a winner of this award for their Green Neighborhood Challenge program (GNEC).  GNEC gives community groups and non-profits an opportunity to raise funds for green projects while increasing support for clean energy.

“We are honored to have won the People & Planet Award as it reinforces one of our main goals: to link green-minded businesses, individuals, and organizations together to build more sustainable communities. Thanks to Green America, we can further our Green Neighborhood Challenge program by energizing neighborhoods around clean energy and green projects to build a cleaner, greener future together,” commented Gary Skulnik, Clean Currents President.

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The holidays are a time of joy, good cheer, and excess. From Aunt Muriel’s indulgent cake to gifts galore and lights everywhere, it’s easy to set aside your environmental standards. We make it easy for you to lower your impact — and your electricity bill — this holiday season with 5 easy steps.

1. LED holiday lights: Let’s be honest – a Christmas tree isn’t finished until it’s bright enough so you can see it from space. That said, holiday lighting in the US consumes the equivalent electricity consumption of 500,000 homes in one month. Invest in LED lights – they use only 10% of electricity needed to light incandescent bulbs and last 10 times longer. And, they don’t get hot – reducing the risk that your tree will go up in flames.

How to: Recycle your incandescent lights at holidayleds.com and receive 25% off your purchase of LED lights. Or, drop off your old lights at area MOM’s Organic Market. Grab LED lights at ACE Hardware, Target, and other major retailors. See how much energy your lights use with this fun calculator.
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Back at the B-Corp Champions Retreat, we met Jason Bradford of Farmland LP. After chatting about sustainable food and the future of US farmland, we were hooked on the mission of Farmland LP. We sat down with Jason to learn more about Farmland LP and their unique model that cultivates farmland sustainability.

Jason Bradford with Mac Stewart of Vitality Farms.
Vitality Farms leases Farmland LP land in Oregon to raise sheep and cattle.

Clean Currents: What does Farmland LP do and why is it important?

Jason Bradford: Farmland LP buys farmland and converts it to certified Organic, sustainably managed farmland as an investment fund, similar to a REIT.  We specialize in sustainable agriculture and integrating crop and pastured livestock rotations.  Our goal is to play a role in the transformation of the food system while benefiting the environment, supporting quality jobs, producing healthy food, and returning a financial profit for our investors.

Organic food sales in the U.S. have been growing between 15-20% per year since 1990 and yet the rate of conversion of U.S. farmland is lagging far behind.  Organic food is therefore more likely to be imported, and yet people also want local food.
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Join us for a webinar on the state of wind power in the US, November 7th

Recently, we’ve seen headlines like the east coast has enough offshore wind potential to power one third of the country and twice as many coal power plants will be decommissioned by 2016 as originally estimated. Sounds pretty good for the wind industry, but what about the questionable renewal of the Production Tax Credit? And how will the upcoming election change the future of wind power?

Join Clean Currents for a webinar on the wind power potential in the US – where we are now, and where we’re headed – presented by Stan Calvert. Stan Calvert brings 30 years of experience in advancing renewable energy research and policy to this presentation. Currently with NeoNiche Technologies, Stan worked with Department of Energy for 20 years. He will share his expertise on wind power potential in the US and what it means for our future.

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Hurricane Sandy is decending on the East Coast today, bringing wind, rain, snow and storm surges. Here are some resources to help you stay safe.

1. Stay safe and dry!

2. Report power outages to your power distributor (Pepco or BGE).

PEPCO and BGE maintain power lines and distribute your power, even when you are a Clean Currents customer. Check their websites or call them for up to date information about your power should it go out. Click here for BGE. Click here for Pepco.

3. Stay up to date with current weather conditions. Check your local news, Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang, and the Weather Channel for current news on Hurrican Sandy.

Last week, Clean Currents hosted the first ever Wind Powered Baltimore Week to celebrate Baltimore’s dedication to renewable energy. We hosted events like mixers and happy hours, wind powered businesses offered up deals and discounts, and we rounded everything out with an ice cream social the likes of which have never been seen before.

We kicked off the week in style, with a mixer at the Black Olive, overlooking the beautiful Baltimore Harbor. The following evening, we were joined by Abigail Hopper, MEA Acting Director, Maryland Senator Catherine Pugh, and many more to acknowledge Baltimore’s commitment to a clean energy future.  Hosted at Woodberry Kitchen, attendees heard inspiring messages from Ms. Hopper, Senator Pugh and Spike Gjerde, co-owner of Woodberry Kitchen.

Abigail Hopper shared, “Wind energy brings numerous benefits to the State, including homegrown clean energy, sustainable jobs, reduced public health costs, lowered greenhouse gas emissions and significant progress towards meeting our renewable energy portfolio standard.  Wind Powered Baltimore Week recognizes Baltimore businesses that are committed to Maryland’s renewable energy future.”

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When my sister, Jodi, was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer I couldn’t sit still. I went to Mexico and climbed an 18,500 foot mountain – Pico de Orizaba. On the descent with my friend Eric Kronthal, I came up with the idea of raising money through mountaineering to fund important breast cancer research. And so, Climb for Hope was born.

Six years later, over 100 beginner climbers summited mountains on 4 continents, and CFH has donated over $600,000 to Johns Hopkins University for a vaccine under development. This vaccine addresses some of the most aggressive and lethal forms of breast cancer, and CFH has helped speed up Dr. Leisha Emens work by more than 6 months, potentially saving thousands of lives. One day, this vaccine could be used preventatively in high-risk women.

My sister lost her long battle to breast cancer at age 45. To ensure Jodi Buerger’s name would live on, we changed the organization’s name to Jodi’s Climb for Hope. Now, she will be synonymous with great work because in Jodi’s words, “I want my daughter to grow up in a world without that disease.”

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, Clean Currents is donating $25 to Jodi’s Climb for Hope for each household that switches to wind power. Learn more about Jodi’s Climb for Hope and what you can do to support the fight against breast cancer.

Clean Currents Assembles Local Non-Profits in Sixth Round of Successful Wind Power Purchase

Clean Currents, a leading green energy provider in the Mid-Atlantic, announced the successful execution of the sixth Nonprofit Energy Alliance purchase, a green electricity purchasing cooperative arranged by The Nonprofit Roundtable, Nonprofit Montgomery, and the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County.

By working with Clean Currents, the eighteen area nonprofits in the energy alliance were able to leverage collective buying power to take advantage of lower electricity rates.  Collectively, the eighteen nonprofits purchased 3.9 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of wind power, with an aggregate savings compared to standard rates through their local utilities of approximately $25,000 per year.  The fourteen participants renewed their commitment from past rounds: CentroNía; Latino Economic Development Corporation;  Mary’s Center for Maternal and Child Care; Metro TeenAids; DC Scores; Vesta, Inc.; A Wider Circle; Joe’s Movement Emporium; Warner Memorial Presbyterian Church; Emmanuel United Methodist Church; Great Hope Homes; Montgomery Housing Partnership; Washington Revels, Inc. and Friends of the Library, Montgomery County, MD. In addition, four new organizations joined NPEA VI: Advocates for Justice and Education; First Baptist Church of Ken-Gar; Washington School of Photography; Whitman-Walker Health.

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Last week, Gary and I had the opportunity to attend the 3rd Annual B Corp Champions Retreat in Half Moon Bay, California. B Corp certification is a voluntary certification socially minded companies can use to report on and improve their impact on employees, their community and the environment. We became a B Corp in 2010. We went out to this year’s retreat, our second, with our friends from Nana Design, another MD socially responsible business who we recruited to join the B Corp movement this year.

The community of B Corps has grown in the last year (630 companies and counting) and the retreat was a much larger group than last year. It is incredible to spend a few days among such an inspiring group of businesses. We all share the belief in the power of the private sector to do good not only because we can but because it is our responsibility to our communities and the world. The retreat is not like another conference, where you sit in over-air-conditioned rooms and struggle to stay awake. In fact, we spent most of the retreat in a big tent outside with a nice ocean breeze talking, listening to stories, brainstorming, and doodling with scented markers. There was even an impromptu song at the end there…
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Taharka Brothers makes handmade ice cream with a mission. Creating change and connecting with the community is at the heart of the company’s soul as Taharka Brothers was one of the companies to file for Benefit Corporation status in Maryland.

Switching to wind power was a natural choice. As Darius Wilmore with Taharka Bros. explained to us, “Sustainability is important to our business because it’s important to the overall health of our economy, society and planet – it’s the responsible thing to do.” The company uses their purchasing power to create change. Taharka Brothers has built personal relationships with the farmers in Haiti where they source ingredients and uses Facebook to educate consumers about the lives of those behind the ingredients. You will also find local ingredients in their ice cream as they are strong believers in supporting the local economy. On a recent visit, we discovered a large bag of Michele’s Granola waiting to be combined into the next magical creation.

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On October 1st, 2012 a diverse range of community groups in Maryland and Washington, D.C. launched their 60-day Green Neighborhood Challenge (GNEC) campaigns to educate and inspire members of their communities to switch to wind power at home. Participating groups receive a $30 donation from Clean Currents for every associated household that switches to wind power. The donations earned through GNEC fund local greening initiatives that directly benefit participating communities.

The Silver Spring YMCA launched their GNEC campaign October 1st at a Healthy Living Workshop for Latino mothers and their children. “Part of healthy living is living　in a way that keeps our community and planet healthy” Says Patricia Coronado, Director of Membership for the Silver Spring YMCA.

Other groups that launched their GNEC campaigns this week include the Washington Waldorf School in Bethesda, MD, Seaward Academy in Washington, D.C., the Calvert Hills Neighborhood in College Park, MD, and The Zenith Apartments managed by Bozzuto in Baltimore City.

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