Seattle City Light and Starbucks Coffee Company (Nasdaq:SBUX) announced today Starbucks participation in the Climate Wise Program in its continuing effort to initiate environmentally friendly business practices. Starbucks is the first coffee retailer nationwide to join the program.

Climate Wise is a national voluntary program sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency and administered locally by Seattle City Light. Through Climate Wise, City Light forms alliances with customers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Program strategies range from encouraging employees to use public transportation to designing new facilities for optimal energy use.

"Although energy efficiency and energy awareness opened the door to talking with City Light about the program, it is really a much broader effort," said Paula Coutz, Starbucks energy and resources manager. "The program incorporates water use, alternative commutes and transportation issues as well as industrial energy use." City Light takes the lead on energy reductions and coordinates with other city departments for water, waste and transportation strategies.

"Joining Climate Wise is an opportunity to further broaden our environmental commitment," said Coutz. "City Light's expertise on energy management and conservation will help us create and implement better solutions for sustainable environmental practices in all facets of our business." *(Starbucks will be a featured speaker at a Climate Wise Forum on July 14, hosted by the Boeing Company and open to manufacturing and industrial companies).

Jack Brautigam, Climate Wise program manager for City Light, comments, "We are excited about Starbucks joining the program. More and more it is obvious that environmental performance goes hand-in-hand with economic performance." He notes Starbuck's active support of environmental programs worldwide with efforts ranging from composting coffee grounds and recycling at the store level all the way to supporting environmentally sound methods of growing coffee.

Seattle City Light is widely recognized for leadership in energy conservation and energy management. Acclaimed in the early 1980's for pioneering efforts in energy conservation, the utility has maintained a consistent program for over 20 years. In 1994, Seattle City Light was named, in a study commissioned by the Department of Energy, as having one of the top 5 conservation programs in the nation.

Starbucks Coffee Company is the leading retailer, roaster and brand of specialty coffee in the world. In addition to its retail locations in North America, the United Kingdom, the Pacific Rim and the Middle East, Starbucks sells whole bean coffees through its specialty sales group, direct response business, supermarkets and online at www.starbucks.com. Additionally, Starbucks produces and sells bottled FrappuccinoŽ coffee drink and a line of premium ice creams through its joint venture partnerships and offers a line of innovative premium teas produced by its wholly owned subsidiary, Tazo Tea Company.