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Press CenterMidwest Renewable Energy Tracking System (M-RETS) awarded to APX, Inc.Five Upper Midwest States plus Manitoba select the APX environmental market infrastructure Santa Clara, CA - April 6, 2007 - APX, Inc., a leading infrastructure provider for North American environmental and energy markets, is pleased to announce that it has been selected as the technology provider and administrator of the Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System (M-RETS). The geographic scope of the environmental market served by M-RETS includes Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, and the province of Manitoba. The term of the M-RETS contract awarded to APX is four years and the system will become operational in the summer of 2007. Several other states and provinces in the region are also expected to join the program. "We are pleased to partner with APX to facilitate renewable energy and its trading, and track its generation and use," said T. Graham Edwards, President and CEO of the Midwest ISO. The Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator, Inc. (Midwest ISO), which operates the wholesale power grid for 15 states and the province of Manitoba, will provide the generation data around renewable energy use in the six jurisdictions. This data will be used to issue renewable energy certificates. The purpose of M-RETS is to support and stimulate a regional trading market and to help participants meet their renewable energy standards and objectives. This innovative project will ensure that goals are achieved in establishing a more balanced energy portfolio for the region. Like many market-oriented systems, renewable energy credit tracking and trading helps keep costs of developing renewable energy down and encourages renewable energy generation. It will also provide the states an ability to further reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. "The APX environmental market infrastructure has evolved over the last 7 years to become a rich toolkit to assist states and regions in managing environmental policies," said Tom Lewis, APX Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Some regions currently track all power generation, all fuel types, all greenhouse gas emissions, and energy efficiency certificates as well. The APX technology gives policy makers a wide set of options for the future, especially important with further greenhouse gas legislation on the horizon. We are pleased to have been selected for M-RETS, and look forward to supporting regional environmental goals in the Upper Midwest." Four jurisdictions in the Upper Midwest, including Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Manitoba, currently have policies requiring or encouraging the development and use of renewable resources. M-RETS will provide a tool for these jurisdictions to collect data on renewable energy production and provide a mechanism for monitoring their respective goals. It will also promote trading credits with neighboring jurisdictions in the region to help in meeting policy requirements. Background on the development of M-RETS The Great Plains Institute, on behalf of Powering the Plains and the Izaak Walton League of America, worked with legislators and regulators to draft legislative authorities that will permit cross-border trading of renewable credits. Industry, regulators and other project participants were engaged to secure passage of legislative authority for Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and to allow M-RETS implementation to move forward. With technical assistance from the Center for Resource Solutions, a Technical Review Committee drew on experiences from other regions' tracking systems and input from a series of regional stakeholder workshops to recommend system designs for M-RETS. They proposed these designs to the region's utilities commissioners and provincial authorities in Manitoba and convened individuals from key institutions with an interest in the system functionality, financing and administration. About APX, Inc. Contact:
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