| business beat |
| The Power of Green |
 Earth Day is one of the few non-religious, non-political/historical observances we celebrate here on Earth. It's good to pay homage to the resources that enable us to live, and to appreciate and acknowledge the environment that we tend to take for granted. Earth Day is April 22, 2005; look for media attention to focus on our island home for that one day. Journalists and infotainment channels have been scrambling to find something "earthy" to write about.
Here at Semaphore, we don't have to worry about that, thanks to the work of many of our clients. We'd like to focus on one group this month: the state's electric cooperatives and their Green Power program initiatives.
Working with Santee Cooper, the state-owned utility that is their source of power, these distribution cooperatives are offering their member-owners Green Power - an affordable, clean program that harnesses an alternative fuel source to help provide electricity across South Carolina. The program collects methane gas at the Lee County Landfill SC, LLC, and Horry County Solid Waste Authority Landfill - gas that otherwise is released into the atmosphere and possibly contributes to global warming. Green Power reduces enough methane emissions to equal the environmental impact of planting nearly 47,000 acres of trees.
One of the reasons Green Power was developed is to address an increasing consumer concern about safe and renewable energy sources. Close to 1,300 electric cooperative members have signed up for Green Power, and by doing so are investing in South Carolina's future. For a few extra dollars a month, they are helping their co-ops gather this renewable fuel source and keep it going into the future. There is even more good news on the way, since landfills in Lee, Anderson and Richland counties are projected to start generation this year.
 Also, expect to see some great media materials coming out about this partnership of Santee Cooper and South Carolina's electric cooperatives. Semaphore has been enthusiastically creating ads, brochures, web links and much more to support this worthwhile program. We chose to focus on an image that is sensitive to changes in the environment, easily recognized, likeable, and of course, green! Get it? Get it? The Green Power tree frog will appear throughout these new campaign materials, and we know "Louie Green" will appeal to all ages.
Semaphore is proud to be a part of this effort, and we salute our clients who make the effort to recycle, reuse and reduce whenever they can. Studies show that "green" matters more than ever to your markets, and it's time to let your customers know it matters to you!
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