Kotimaan Energia introduces the Green Choice, an additional service with which consumers can use 100% renewable electricity in the form of hydropower, solar power, and wind power. Moreover, Kotimaan Energia donates €5 per year for each Green Choice contract to the John Nurminen Foundation’s Baltic Sea protection projects.

– Eutrophication is the greatest and most visible environmental problem affecting the Baltic Sea, and it touches on us all. Every one of us can make a difference in the status of the sea with his/her choices. We want to actively support sustainable development and the use of renewable energy. The John Nurminen Foundation is a wonderful partner for us, as they work hands-on for saving the Baltic Sea, says Kiti Ryytty, Product Manager at Kotimaan Energia.

– Similar additional services that support environmental values have been extremely well received in the other companies of our Group, which is why we wanted to introduce a service concept based on environmental actions also to the Finnish market.

The Clean Baltic Sea projects of the John Nurminen Foundation focus on reducing the nutrient load of the sea efficiently and concretely.

– The Baltic Sea is a shallow basin with low volumes of brackish water: as such, it is highly vulnerable. Reducing phosphorus discharges is key, particularly for the occurrence of blue-green algae blooms. The more soluble phosphorus there is in the sea, the more there is for blue-green algae to feed on. We have our work cut out for us for years to come, but fortunately we can also rejoice in results that can already be seen.  The annual phosphorus load of the Gulf of Finland alone has been reduced by as much as 75% during the past ten years, explains Minna Korpela, Fundraising Director at the John Nurminen Foundation.

Solar and windpower alongside hydropower

With the Green Choice additional service, Kotimaan Energia focuses on green electricity production methods by introducing solar and wind power to its offering, alongside hydropower. 50% of Green Choice electricity is solar and wind power, and 50% Norwegian hydropower with a Guarantee of Origin. The origin of hydropower can be traced back to the power plant level. This means there is no link to the Finnish hydropower plants that are problematic to migratory fish. For the John Nurminen Foundation, it is very important that the endangered salmon and trout stocks of the Baltic Sea are preserved.

– According to research results, people are more and more interested in green electricity. Solar power is the most interesting of the different types of renewable energy, Ryytty sums up current electricity production trends.

More information

Kotimaan Energia, Kiti Ryytty, Product Manager, kiti.ryytty@kotimaanenergia.fi

John Nurminen Foundation, Minna Korpela, Fundraising Director, Tel. +358 40 508 6015, firstname.lastname@jnfoundation.fi

Kotimaan Energia
Kotimaan Energia is part of the Norwegian Hafslund Group. Hafslund, established already in 1898, is the largest distribution network owner in Norway, and a significant producer of renewable energy with more than one million customers in the Nordic Countries. The Hafslund Group comprises also e.g. Norges Energi, Sveriges Energi and Göta Energi. www.kotimaanenergia.fi

John Nurminen Foundation
The mission of the John Nurminen Foundation, established in 1992, is to save the Baltic Sea and its heritage for future generations. The objective of the Foundation’s Clean Baltic Sea projects is to improve the status of the Baltic Sea with concrete measures that reduce the nutrient load and environmental risks faced by the sea. The Clean Baltic Sea projects are financed with private donations and public funding. www.puhdasitameri.fi, www.johnnurmisensaatio.fi