Viridian Energy Begins Third Reforestation Effort in Brazil

NORWALK, Conn., May 04, 2012 -- Viridian Energy, a leading provider of affordable, green energy, is returning to the Amazon rainforest Saturday, May 5, to begin their third tree planting excursion to Brazil. The biannual journeys are part of Viridian's Amazon Preservation Project, an ongoing initiative launched in March 2011. A group of 29 Viridian Energy independent sales Associates, corporate leaders and guests will spend five days planting indigenous plants and trees in deforested areas of the Mamori region of the Amazon.

Deforestation in the Amazon is responsible for as much as 10% of the current global greenhouse gas emissions. Deforestation also threatens the existence of many animal species, and displaces indigenous communities and native villages. Through the Amazon Preservation Project, Viridian is creating a positive, measurable environmental, social and economic impact in the Mamori region.

"Viridian's commitment to identify environmental needs, and plan sustainability projects throughout the world is a natural extension of our core mission and vision," said Cami Boehme, SVP of brand communications for Viridian Energy and executive host of this spring's journey. "Last year we started this project in Brazil. No matter where we live, all of us are impacted by the deforestation in the Amazon region. Viridian takes seriously its commitment to environmental sustainability. We are also seriously committed to finish what we started, and will not stop until the end goal is achieved. In this case restoring, replanting and preserving this region of the Amazon."

This trip reinforces Viridian's mission of local change, global vision. By traveling to Brazil bi-annually until Viridian meets its goal of planting 5,000 trees the company will be able to restore, protect, and preserve a portion of the Mamori region, making a significant positive impact on the indigenous communities, native villages and globally.

Viridian's first trip to the Mamori region of Brazil in March 2011 marked the beginning of the company's '7 Continents in 7 Years' corporate pledge in which Viridian undertakes a major sustainability project on each of the seven continents over a period of seven years. As an ongoing effort to support the work Viridian completed in its first visit to Brazil, Viridian returned to the region in November of 2011 and will return biannually over the next decade. The next trip is planned for November 2012.