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Green Mountain Power Becomes First Utility to Receive B Corp Certification

Vermont-based Green Mountain Power (GMP) has become the first utility in the world to become a Certified B Corp, according to a recent announcement.GMP says it is helping to lead a transformation that is delivering cutting edge energy products and services to help Vermonters save money by using less energy. This year GMP even lowered rates for customers.B Corps are companies that believe business can be a force for good and are certified by the nonprofit B Lab to meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency.

By Mike Hower | Published 10 years ago | About a 2 minute read

Vermont-based Green Mountain Power (GMP) has become the first utility in the world to become a Certified B Corp, according to a recent announcement.

GMP says it is helping to lead a transformation that is delivering cutting edge energy products and services to help Vermonters save money by using less energy. This year GMP even lowered rates for customers.

B Corps are companies that believe business can be a force for good and are certified by the nonprofit B Lab to meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency.

There are 1,165 B Corporations in 37 countries, including 21 in Vermont. To receive a B Corp certification, GMP had to show its record of accomplishment and ongoing commitment in four areas: environment, employees, community and governance.

The 21 Certified B Corps in Vermont are: Vermont Creamery, Business Culture Consultants, Image Outfitters, Cabot Creamery Co-Op, Merritt & Merritt & Moulton, Morris Consulting, Rhino Foods, Advance Humanity, Coffee Enterprises, Ben & Jerry's, Forward Philanthropy, Gardners Supply, King Arthur Flour Company, Sustain, SunCommon, New Chapter, Chroma, Clean Ethics, Seventh Generation, Clean Yield and Green Mountain Power.

In October, Washington, D.C.-based clean energy company Arcadia Power became the first nationwide clean energy B Corporation after meeting the rigorous social, environmental and legal standards of B Lab. Driven by a mission to democratize clean energy, Arcadia Power allows businesses and individuals to upgrade their offices or homes to 100 percent clean energy without any additional equipment, for just a 1.5 cents per kWh premium. The company’s proprietary software connects online utility accounts with a clean energy purchasing platform, imports all the energy data, and displays it in a web dashboard with information on rewards, savings and impact.

Since 2012, B Lab has used its annual “Best for the World” list to honor B Corporations across 20 countries and 25 industries for redefining success in business. This year, Sungevity and Trillium Asset Management were among the 67 businesses to make the list. To be recognized, firms each had to earn an overall score in the top 10 percent of all certified B Corporations on the B Impact Assessment, a comprehensive assessment a company's impact on its workers, community and the environment.

Mike Hower

Founder & Principal Consultant, Hower Impact

Mike Hower is the founder of Hower Impact — a boutique consultancy delivering best-in-class strategic communication advisory and support for corporate sustainability, ESG and climate tech.

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Mike Hower