Business & Finance
Tue, August 21, 2012 
HOUSTON--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--According to the Texas Forest Service, as many as half a billion trees may have died across the state from the effects of the 2011 drought alone. In an effort to help raise funds to plant and maintain trees in Texas, Reliant has joined with eVgo in its EVs for Trees campaign -- both companies are subsidiaries of NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NRG).
"Last year, Texas was hit with two of the most extreme weather occurrences in the history of the state, the effects of which can still be seen in our local parks"
Reliant will donate $25 to the Texas Trees Foundation or Trees for Houston each time a Reliant customer test drives a 100% electric Mitsubishi aia or Nissan LEAF in North Texas or Houston between now and December 1st at participating EVs for Trees dealerships. The participating dealers will also donate $25. If a Reliant customer test drives both EVs featured in the program, a total of $75 will be donated to the local tree planting organization.
aLast year, Texas was hit with two of the most extreme weather occurrences in the history of the state, the effects of which can still be seen in our local parks,a said Manny Rodriguez, Vice President of Sponsorships & Charitable Giving, Reliant. aParticipating in the EV for Trees program allows us to help our community while encouraging customers to learn more about electric vehicles and their benefits, both to the environment and the customeras pocketbooks as EVs are much cheaper to operate and consumers no longer need to spend all that extra cash on gas.a
Reliant customers interested in participating in the program can download an EVs for Trees test drive voucher online at [ www.EVsforTrees.com ]. No purchase is necessary; participants can simply take the voucher to a participating dealer.
aElectric vehicles deliver great economic, health and environmental benefits by providing reduced operational costs as well as zero tailpipe emissions,a said Arun Banskota, President of eVgo. aThrough the EVs for Trees program, Reliant customers can experience first-hand the excitement of driving an EV and at the same time contribute to a greater cause by helping re-plant trees and improve air quality in their Texas communities.a
For a complete list of local dealerships participatingin the EVs for Trees program, visit [ www.EVsforTrees.com ].
About Reliant:
Reliant provides electricity, energy services and smart energy solutions to more than 1.5 million retail customers including homes, businesses, manufacturing facilities, government entities and institutions in Texas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. As part of NRG (NYSE: NRG), Reliant is backed by a Fortune 500 company that is at the forefront of changing how people think about and use energy. NRG is a pioneer in developing cleaner and smarter energy choices for its customers, and its diverse power generating facilities can support over 20 million homes nationwide. For more information about Reliant products and services, visit [ www.reliant.com ]. Connect with Reliant on Facebook at facebook.com/reliantenergy and on Twitter @reliantenergy.
About eVgo:
eVgo is creating the nationas first privately funded, comprehensive electric vehicle ecosystem. The eVgoSM network gives EV owners new freedom and range confidence via home charging and fast-charging stations conveniently located at major retailers, employers and along highways across eVgo cities. eVgo allows EV owners to avoid paying large up-front costs for a home charger and provides unlimited use remote charginga"all for one low monthly fee. To find out more, or to join the eVgo network, visit [ www.eVgoNetwork.com ].
Photos/MultimediaGallery Available: [ http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50383698&lang=en ]
