Austin, TX – February 7, 2007 – Verde Energy, an online marketplace providing commercial and residential customers with competitive bids on solar power, solar thermal, wind power and other renewable energy projects, has teamed up with Trees for the Future in an effort to offset carbon emissions through community-based reforestation and agroforestry projects.

Under Verde Energy’s tree planting program, a tree is planted for every customer who visits www.verdeenergy.com and uses the service to receive free project consultation from knowledgeable Verde staff and competitive project quotes from prescreened renewable energy professionals.

“The global challenges we now face require business practices that place a premium on a healthy environment,” said Rob Powell, CEO of Verde Energy.  “With today’s announcement, Verde Energy is finding another way to rise to the challenge of protecting an environment that we all share.”

Since 1988, Trees for the Future has helped thousands of communities in Central America, Africa, and Asia improve their livelihoods and their environment by planting nearly 50 million trees in agroforestry and reforestation projects. Each year these trees remove over one million tons of CO2 from the atmosphere.

“We applaud Verde Energy’s initiative to help reduce human impact on the environment through their promotion of renewable energy and their investment in restoring forestry systems through our Plant-A-Tree program,” said Dave Deppner, TFTF founder and executive director.

In addition to removing carbon emissions from the atmosphere, trees perform other vital services for the environment. Trees filter water systems, moderate weather and rainfall, regulate exposure to solar radiation, generate nutrient rich soils, and provide wildlife habitat.

About Verde Energy
Verde Energy helps commercial and residential customers obtain competitive project bids and expert installation for solar power, solar thermal, wind power and other renewable energy systems from trusted local professionals nationwide.  Visit us at www.verdeenergy.com.

About Trees for the Future
Trees For The Future is an organization that has been the steward of planting trees throughout the world since the early 1970's. Through a people to people action plan, we restore tree cover to the world's most degraded lands. Planting trees helps keep people productive on their lands, preserving their traditional livelihoods and cultures for generations to come.  Our mission and history demonstrate how dedicated we are to sustainable agroforestry.  You can learn more about us by visiting www.plant-trees.org.