WALLA WALLA, Wash. — Earthlight Bookstore’s recent 10-block purchase of Pacific Power’s Blue Sky wind power not only is contributing to a cleaner environment, it is contributing to a growing renewable energy market.

"People talk about wanting more clean, renewable energy, but if they really want to do something about it, I’d suggest they participate in Blue Sky," said David Cosby, 30-year owner of Earthlight Bookstore, located at 321 E Main St. in Walla Walla.

More than 500 Washington Pacific Power customers currently are participating in the Blue Sky wind power program. The utility launched Blue Sky in 2000 to give customers a choice in how their energy is produced, and to allow them a part in creating demand for renewable energy resources. Residential and business customers can support wind energy in 100-kilowatt-hour block increments for $1.95 each, in addition to their regular monthly electric bill.

Earthlight Bookstore’s Blue Sky purchase represents 29 percent of its total power usage, earning it the distinction as Washington’s first champion-level Blue Sky customer. With this purchase, they have also met the Northwest Clean Energy Challenge, which urges commercial, industrial and government electricity users to make meaningful commitments in their green power purchases.

"Helping to bring more renewable power into our region fits my personal philosophy, and I’m very happy to put my money where my mouth is," Cosby said.

Since the inception of the program, Blue Sky customers have supported the generation of 51,000 megawatt-hours of wind energy that have been added to the system. The environmental benefit of these Blue Sky purchases is equivalent to removing more than 6,000 cars from the road for a year.

Cosby was sold on Blue Sky by the advocacy efforts of Jaimes Valdez, a community outreach coordinator for Renewable Northwest Project (RNP). RNP is a nonprofit organization promoting renewable energy projects and policies in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana.  

"The more we can promote the use and development of wind power in this area, the better it will be for the environment and the local economy," explained Valdez. "I’m working to create awareness of how wind power contributes positively to the community and to drum up support for what is becoming an important area resource."

Renewable energy, such as wind, solar and geothermal, has little-to-no emissions and the supply is unlimited. Wind power produces no air pollutants, wastewater, smog or acid rain. It also helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Therefore, it’s no surprise that the market for renewable power continues to grow, thanks in part to the support of Cosby and others. Last week, ground was broken in nearby Milton-Freewater, Ore., for the construction of a new, 41-megawatt wind farm. Scheduled for completion before year’s end, the Combine Hills Wind Turbine project will generate enough clean, renewable energy to power nearly 12,000 average households each year. A critical component of the deal was Pacific Power’s agreement to purchase all of the energy produced by the wind plant for its customers.

"Buying just one block of Blue Sky each month for a year has the same positive environmental impact as planting a third of an acre of trees or not driving a car for 1,800 miles,*" explained Bill Clemons, Pacific Power’s regional community manager.

"Pacific Power is making its own renewable power investments over and above Blue Sky purchases," Clemons said. In its recently published Integrated Resource Plan, the company said it plans to add 1,400 megawatts of new wind and geothermal generation in the next 10 years.

To sign up for Blue Sky, call 1-800-842-8458 or e-mail bluesky@pacificorp.com . Customers can sign up on line at www.pacificpower.net/goto/renewablepower.

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*Calculations based on an independent analysis completed by the Northwest Power Planning Council and EPA data.

About Blue Sky

Pacific Power launched Blue Sky in 2000 to give customers a choice in how their energy is produced, and to allow them a part in creating demand for renewable energy resources. Pacific Power cannot guarantee that electricity from a particular facility will flow directly to a customer’s home or business. However, the company will deliver to the regional grid an amount of renewable energy equal to the amount of a customer’s block purchase. All Blue Sky purchases help support renewable energy generation.

About Renewable Northwest Project

A broad coalition of public-interest organizations and energy companies formed the Renewable Northwest Project in 1994 to promote renewable energy development in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana. Since its inception, RNP has been a forceful advocate for basing the region's energy future on clean, renewable resources, such as solar, wind and geothermal. For more information on how your business can befefit by purchasing green power, contact Jaimes Valdez directly at509-301-8876 orjaimes@rnp.org .

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