The Council comprises leading companies and industry trade associations. The organization advocates policies that promote the nation s economic, environmental and national security goals. Members of the Council represent companies on the cutting edge of efficient, economic and environmentally sound technologies, such as fuel cells, solar power, cogeneration, wind power and natural gas combined-cycle systems. At the end of the year 2000, there were 20 state-level funds in 14 states that shared this objective. These funds receive their money in one of two basic ways.
Some funds get a non-bypassable charge assessed on each customer's electric bill.
Other funds receive their money in lump sums as the result of an arrangement with the local electric utility. The Cleaner and Greener Environment Program helps individuals, organizations, and businesses have a direct impact on reducing pollution. These programs are licensed to vendors and other parties to help their customers make purchase decisions. The earth s climate is predicted to change because human activities are altering the chemical composition of the atmosphere through the buildup of greenhouse gases primarily carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons. The heat-trapping property of these greenhouse gases is undisputed.