Recording a Renewable Record: Kelley Stoltz
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 03.10.06
Sub Pop Records recording artist Kelley Stoltz produced a music-industry first. Teaming up with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF), and the Green-e program of the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS), Stoltz's newest album, Below the Branches, is the first album to incorporate the Green-e label on its product packaging, signifying that the album was recorded using 100-percent renewable energy. "I've never been one to write a political song, but I can let people who buy my album know that I care a lot about the environment and possibly influence them to think about what they can do by labeling my album with the Green-e logo,” said Stoltz. “Using renewable energy to offset the electricity I needed to power my guitar amps and my recording machines was a simple and effective way for me to do something about my impact on the environment. Green-e certifies that I am buying 100 percent renewable energy. Hopefully, people will see their logo; check into what they do, and make renewable energy a part of their lives, too."
Green-e claims to be the leading voluntary certification program for green power products in the U.S. Similar in concept to the “organic” label set forth by the USDA, products bearing the Green-e logo and “Made With Renewable Energy” label immediately informs consumers that the product was manufactured using an environmentally friendly source of energy. This labeling concept is applicable to any product or service that meets the Green-e Renewable Energy Certification Program guidelines.
Said Sarah Krasley, communications and marketing coordinator at CRS, “ Kelley tracked his energy use and offset all of it through the purchase of CoolerFuture(tm) Green Tags from BEF. This ensures that every kilowatt-hour of electricity drawn from the grid to power Kelley’s equipment is replaced with an equal amount of non-polluting renewable energy.”
Green-e is a program of the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS), a national nonprofit organization that makes it easier for people and organizations to use renewable energy. CRS designs and operates national and international programs that support the increased supply and use of renewable energy resources such as wind, solar, biomass, geothermal and low-impact hydroelectric power. ::CRS press release, ::Kelley Stoltz.
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Nice move, and hopefully other artists will follow. If I recall correctly, Stoltz issued his first record himself, on vinyl, using recycled old lp jackets decorated anew.