For years, Grammy Award-winning musician Sheryl Crow has been spreading the word about environmental awareness through activism and song. Now she will be joined by a team of green minded public and private sector partners as she makes her way to the Granite State as part of her 2010 tour.

Crow, joined by 2009 BMI Pop Award Songwriter of the year Colbie Caillat, will headline this year’s Greenerpalooza III concert on August 12th at 8 p.m. at the Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion.

Co-sponsored by Public Service of New Hampshire and Citizens Bank in coordination with the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development and media sponsor New Hampshire Business Review, Greenerpalooza III is a celebration of New Hampshire’s energy efficiency efforts. Over 5,000 concert goers will not only get to enjoy a concert from a multi-platinum artist, they will also be able to visit a special eco village on the Meadowbrook midway where vendors will be extolling the virtues of wind and solar power as well as other alternative energy sources.

“Greenerpalooza has been great at opening people’s eyes to the potential of a greener, more sustainable future,” said New Hampshire Division of Economic Development Communications & Legislative Director Steve Boucher. “By using the unifying force of music, we are able to help citizens to become more energy efficient, learn about new technologies and share a positive environmental message with their neighbors.”

Show headliner Sheryl Crow is no stranger to promoting and endorsing a green lifestyle. She is a founding member and one of the driving forces behind the Green Music Group, a coalition of musicians, industry leaders, and fans working to inspire widespread environmental action. Crow recently encouraged her fans to accept the Green Music Group Challenge, an earth friendly call-to-action that asks music fans to send an email to legislators expressing support for effective, fair environmental legislation.

“Sheryl is an excellent choice for this year’s Greenerpalooza event based on her strong record of supporting environmentally friendly initiatives,” said Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion Marketing Director Chris Lockwood. “She is an artist who isn’t afraid to take a stand and to live the message that she sends through her music. She’s truly dedicated to spreading the word that taking care of the planet is everyone’s responsibility.”

Greenerpalooza III has brought new partners into the fold for this year’s offering. Citizens Bank, a lending institution that has demonstrated a commitment to the community through its Champions in Action initiative as well as other charitable endeavors, has signed on as a co-sponsor, believing that encouraging sustainability fits in well with their corporate mission.

“We believe that a bank should contribute to the growth and vibrancy of its communities, said Cathleen A. Schmidt, president of Citizens Bank.  “We are excited to partner with the NH Division of Economic Development, Public Service of New Hampshire and other like-minded companies, to showcase eco-friendly initiatives at Greenerpalooza.  Attendees will have the chance to learn about our Green$ense incentive program, and how small everyday activities such as reducing paper-based transactions can have a tremendous impact on the environment and the world we live in.”

Also new to the event this year is the addition of the “Granite Green Team,” a virtual “green army” of volunteers who will collect recyclables at Meadowbrook concerts and distribute wild-flower seed cards that have an on-line voucher to plant a tree in an area in need of reforesting. The seed cards can be planted after the voucher is redeemed. A team of 4-6 representatives from Public Service of New Hampshire, the Division of Economic Development, Citizens Bank and social media partner Epiphanies, Inc. will each attend a show during the 2010 season and encourage concert goers to dispose of recyclables responsibly and to observe eco awareness in their daily living.

“This is a great new twist to Greenerpalooza,” said Pat McDermott, Public Service of New Hampshire’s Economic & Community Development Manager. “Recycling and making energy-efficiency improvements are simple, cost-effective ways to make a big difference in protecting the environment. Since 2003, our customers have reduced air emissions by more than 3.1 million tons by participating in PSNH’s portfolio of energy-efficiency programs. That’s equivalent to the annual emissions of more than 579,000 cars.”

Volunteers will all be clad in special t-shirts designed by Michael McGloin of Keene-based The Mountain, creators of the multi-million selling “Three Wolf Moon” shirt. The shirts feature a lushly growing tree with a guitar for a base and limbs extending from a recycling sign as birds fly off in the distance. 

“The design is a depiction of things that we typically associate with green living and shows the beauty of what can happen when work towards a better, more Earth-friendly future,” McGloin said. “We at The Mountain incorporate environmental friendliness into our business practices and are excited to be part of this team of people trying to make a positive difference.” 

Tickets to the Sheryl Crow and Colbie Caillat concert, which include entry into the eco-village, are available online at www.meadowbrook.net. To learn more about the latest happenings with Greenerpalooza, visit the newly created Greenerpalooza III Facebook page at www.facebook.com/greennh.