Veolia Energy Joins with Penn to Support the University’s Climate Action Plan

Veolia’s multi-million dollar investment in energy infrastructure increases efficiency and reduces annual carbon emissions by the equivalent of 70,000 cars removed from the streets

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Veolia Energy North America, a leading operator and developer of efficient energy solutions, today announced the completion and commissioning of two new, natural gas-fired rapid-response boilers, as part of the company’s recently extended steam supply agreement with the University of Pennsylvania (Penn). The rapid-response boilers replace an older, less-efficient oil-fired boiler, increasing the overall efficiency of Veolia Energy’s steam service in the central business and university city districts of Philadelphia, and significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As part of its extended 20-year energy agreement with Penn, Veolia Energy has expanded the scope of services to include innovative conservation and operational improvement initiatives.

“We are very pleased to complete these system-wide investments, including a major upgrade in natural gas transportation infrastructure, as part of our extended agreement to deliver efficient energy solutions to the University of Pennsylvania, which was the first Ivy League signatory to the Presidents’ Climate Commitment”

“We are very pleased to complete these system-wide investments, including a major upgrade in natural gas transportation infrastructure, as part of our extended agreement to deliver efficient energy solutions to the University of Pennsylvania, which was the first Ivy League signatory to the Presidents’ Climate Commitment,” said William J. DiCroce, president and CEO of Veolia Energy North America. “Veolia Energy shares this commitment to the environment, and we are delighted to help reduce the carbon footprint of both Penn and the greater City of Philadelphia. Large campuses are a perfect fit for our solutions and expertise, and the improvements and upgrades that we have made will deliver substantial environmental benefits to the University of Pennsylvania and our customers throughout Philadelphia.”

Through its research, teaching, and operational practices, Penn is dedicated to promoting a sustainable culture and implementing environmentally conscious policies. The agreement with Veolia Energy complements Penn’s strategy to reduce its carbon footprint through renewable energy purchases and increased efficiency of the University’s operations and campus wide steam distribution network.

“Veolia Energy is delighted to contribute to the City of Philadelphia’s plans to become the greenest city in the United States of America by 2015, and to switch from oil to clean-burning natural gas,” said Michael J. Smedley, Veolia Energy’s vice-president for the Mid-Atlantic region. “The innovative agreement between Veolia Energy and the University of Pennsylvania is a significant achievement that represents another step forward toward the achievement of the GreenWorks vision of our Mayor, Michael A. Nutter, to enhance the quality of life of the residents of Philadelphia.”

In Philadelphia, Veolia Energy’s district energy network serves more than 500 buildings in the central business and university city districts from three steam production facilities and one chilled water facility. One of Veolia Energy’s three Philadelphia steam production facilities is a 163-megawatt combined heat and power (CHP) facility, an efficient plant that recycles the waste heat from its power generation process into useful thermal energy, to heat Philadelphia’s downtown district. The simultaneous production of electric power and steam significantly reduces both the resulting air emissions and the total amount of fuel burn that would otherwise be required from the separate production of these two forms of energy.

About Veolia Energy North America

Based in Boston, MA, Veolia Energy North America is a leading U.S. operator and developer of energy efficient solutions. Veolia Energy operates and maintains the largest portfolio of efficient district energy networks in North America. Veolia Energy Solutions operates and maintains commercial and manufacturing energy infrastructure with guaranteed savings; designs, builds, operates and maintains socially responsible, local energy production assets such as combined heat and power (CHP) and renewable energy plants; and provides energy consulting and engineering services. Visit the company’s Web sites at www.veoliaenergyna.com and www.veolianorthamerica.com.

About Veolia Environnement

Veolia Environnement (Paris Euronext: VIE and NYSE: VE) is the worldwide reference in environmental solutions. The company has operations all around the world and provides tailored solutions to meet the needs of municipal and industrial customers in the complementary segments of water management, waste management, and energy management. Veolia Environnement recorded revenue of $38.4 billion in 2011 and was ranked second in the worldwide utilities sector in Newsweek magazine’s Green Rankings 2012. www.veolia.com.