Whole Foods Market&reg, Kansas Is Powered By 100% American Wind™ World’s Leading Natural and Organic Grocer Chooses Wind Power for 100% of Electricity Use

(PRWEB) July 22, 2005

Over 75% of the electricity generated in Kansas comes from burning coal. According to the EPA, burning fossil fuels to produce our electricity is the number one source of industrial air pollution. Part of the wind power Whole Foods Markets is purchasing will come from the Gray County Wind Farm in Kansas. Using more wind power and burning less coal improves local air quality in Kansas and reduces the major pollutants responsible for climate change.

“We purchase wind power to show our shoppers and team members that we ‘walk our talk’ with dedication to our green mission to be a leader in environmental stewardship,” said Rebecca Miller, Store Marketing Director. “In keeping with our ‘Whole Planet’ philosophy, Whole Foods Market made the commitment to investing in the growth of wind power.”

The Kansas City store joins Colorado and New Mexico, where all Whole Foods Market stores use wind power. Together, these stores are purchasing 24.9 million kWh of wind power preventing over 34 million pounds of CO2 pollution each year. This has the same environmental impact as not burning 9,313 tons of coal or taking 7,000 commuters off the road.”

In 2004, Whole Foods Market was awarded the national Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Leadership Award for their efforts to support wind power. Today’s purchase is the first time Kansas has been a part of this ground-breaking effort.

Whole Foods Market is purchasing wind power from Renewable Choice Energy, in the form of renewable energy certificates. Renewable Choice Energy is a leading national provider of wind power, selling renewable energy certificates from wind farms across the country.

About Whole Foods Market®

Founded in 1980 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market (http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com) is the world’s leading natural and organic foods supermarket and America’s first national certified organic grocer. In fiscal year 2003, the company had sales of $3.1 billion and currently has more than 160 stores in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The Whole Foods Market motto, “Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet”™ captures the company’s mission to find success in customer satisfaction and wellness, employee excellence and happiness, enhanced shareholder value, community support and environmental improvement. Whole Foods Market, Harry’s Farmers Market®, and Fresh & Wild® are trademarks owned by Whole Foods Market IP, LP. Whole Foods Market employs more than 30,000 team members and has been ranked for seven consecutive years as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work for” in America by Fortune magazine.

# # #