Forecast Newsletter

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forecast
renewable energy update
FALL 2010
This issue
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Community-based renewable
energy projects
Only the best for the best
Putting down roots
Portland is up to
the challenge
Green power communities
Doing your part
Oregon
Albany
• Calapooia Brewing
• Sybaris Restaurant
volume 12
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issue 1
Customer profile
Pendleton family slashes carbon
footprint – and electricity bill
New Blue Sky
Business Partners:
As a benefit of enrollment
in Blue Sky, businesses can
choose to be a part of the
business partner program.
Depending on your average
monthly electricity usage and
renewable power purchase
commitment, we can recognize
your business through press
announcements and identify
your business in our Blue Sky
promotional materials,
which may include paid
advertising. Find out more at
pacificpower.net/blueskybiz.
We welcome the following
new Blue Sky business
partners and thank them for
supporting renewable energy
through the Blue Sky program.
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When Ken and Sally Abbott received their $9
electricity bill this month for their 2,500-squarefoot home in Pendleton, they knew they had
made the right decision in 2009 to install a 2.3
KW photovoltaic system on their rooftop. For the
Abbotts, who normally paid $50 per month for
electricity in the summer, it was a solar workshop
flier that opened them up to the limitless energy
resource and eventually made them the first
family to be converted to green power by the
city-sponsored Solarize Pendleton program.
Going solar has been made affordable for
Pendleton homeowners and businesses thanks to
a range of economic incentives offered by Solarize
Pendleton, the city’s solar discount program
created in partnership with Energy Trust of Oregon,
LiveLight Energy, SolarWorld and Solar Oregon.
Through this neighborhood project, the Abbotts
paid only $2,000 for equipment and installation,
reduced from the original cost of $14,000. The
actual return on investment will depend on the
rates for electricity in the coming years but with
the dramatic decrease in the monthly utility bill, it
will not be long before their system pays for itself.
With finances out of the way, the next step for
the Abbotts was a home assessment process. Their
two-year old house was determined to be a perfect
fit for solar, with its new roof free from obstruction
of trees or hills.
“Then it was the installation, which was
extremely quick and easy,” says Ken Abbott. “The
integrator from LiveLight also advised us on other
energy conservation measures like adjusting the
temperature for our water heater.”
For Blue Sky members who are interested in
moving to solar power and helping Oregon become
a greener state, the Abbotts have a few tips:
• Keep an eye out for financial incentives available
in your community; they sometimes come in the
form of a simple flier.
• Not sure if you’re a good fit? At least get an
assessment from a professional and see if it
makes sense for you.
• If there is an educational opportunity to learn
about solar, go for it. Not only will you get your
questions answered, you may also learn other
ways to reduce your environmental footprint.
Links:
Oregon Solar Incentive Program
Net metering
LiveLight Energy
SolarWorld
Solar Oregon
Solarize Pendleton
Energy Trust of Oregon
Bend
• 900 Wall Restaurant
• A Greener Cleaner (all locations)
• Angel Thai Cuisine
• Bend Machinery, Inc.
• Brian’s Cabinets
• Brother Jon’s Public House
• Cascades Theatrical Company
• Central Oregon Pediatric’s
Association
• Creative Experiences Salon
• Decoy Bar & Grill
• E2 Powered, LLC
• Hydro Flask
• Progressive Screen Printing
• PV Powered
• Suttera, LLC
• The Oxford Hotel
• VOCALBOOTH.COM
Boardman
• Threemile Canyon Farms
(continued on next page)
Blue Sky program updates
Only the best for the best
Community-based renewable
energy projects
It’s obvious that
savvy Blue Sky
customers such as
yourself are well
aware of the moneysaving benefits to conserving energy use.
However, did you know that supporting
renewable energy has benefits all its own?
Visit the page on the Pacific Power website
that is “Just for Blue Sky customers” to
access coupons and discounts for Blue Sky
customers across Pacific Power’s service
area, learn more about our wind farm tour,
request a Blue Sky yard sign and more!
Don’t forget, Blue Sky business partners are
everywhere so check for coupons in your
city, and look for coupons for the cities you
might be visiting.
Did you know that when you choose the Blue Sky
Block renewable energy option, you support
newly developed wind generation equal to your
block purchase? You may also help support the
development of community-based renewable
energy projects.
These projects are in addition to the renewable
energy supported in the region through monthly
block purchases. To see a list of projects that
have received funding since 2006, please visit
pacificpower.net/blueskyprojects. We will also
be announcing our 2010 award winner soon.
Get the news as soon as it happens by following
us on Facebook.
Habitat project update
Putting down roots
over the years, the trees will grow and eventually
drop woody debris into the stream.” Logs provide
habitat and help redirect water, which creates even
more habitat.
Dallas
• Fairview Farm, LLC
Glendale
• Swanson Group Mfg., LLC –
Glendale Plywood & Veneer
• Swanson Group Mfg., LLC –
Glendale Sawmill
Grants Pass
• Clean Forest Project
• Hughes, Rote & Brouhard
Joseph
• Wallowa State Park
Medford
• Asante Health Systems
• Harry & David
• Providence Medford Medical Center
• Sierra Pine Medite
• Timber Products Company
Philomath
• Sunwize Technologies
Portland
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Friends of Trees
Garnish
Great Wine Buys
Rebuilding Center of United Villages
Sapa Profiles, Inc.
Redmond
• A Greener Cleaner (all locations)
• Eberhard’s Dairy Products
Roseburg
• Umpqua Dairy
Blue Sky Habitat funds are helping to restore the North Fork
Klatskanine River near Astoria. Over time, 3,500 recently planted
trees will protect the riverbank, provide shade and improve water
quality for salmon and other native fish.
People say you can’t go home again, but don’t
tell salmon that. Born in fresh water and living as
adults in the ocean, they’re destined to swim back
to the stream of their origin, reproduce and die.
Returning to their roots is simply in their nature.
But salmon and other native fish need other
roots to thrive, too – ones that anchor trees to
stream banks, reducing erosion, improving water
quality and providing shade.
Thanks to a restoration project funded in part
by a $5,000 grant from Blue Sky Habitat customers,
that’s exactly what they’re getting along the North
Fork Klatskanine River near Astoria.
Using aerial photographs to identify river
reaches historically cleared of trees for agriculture,
Columbia River Estuary Study Taskforce staff
worked in cooperation with private landowners
to plant 3,500 Sitka spruce and western red cedar
saplings at 12 sites along the river.
“We planted conifers because they grow
here naturally,” said project coordinator Regina
Southworth. “Their roots help stabilize soil and,
Credit: © Jim Yuskavitch
• Benton Soil & Water
Conservation District
• Corvallis Brewing Supply
• Gracewinds Music
• Living Earth Bakery
• Sunbow Farm
• Town & Country Realty
• The Kid Shop
Credit: © Jim Yuskavitch
Corvallis
Regina Southworth, Columbia River Estuary Taskforce project
coordinator, examines a recently planted sapling along the North
Fork Klatskanine River near Astoria.
Workers from AmeriCorps and area youth
crews planted the trees last year, and Southworth
was impressed with their efforts. “They planted
up to 300 trees in one day,” she said. “It will take
about 50 years for these saplings to fully restore
the riverbank, so it’s key to plant as many as
possible today.”
Blue Sky Habitat customers contribute
an additional $2.50 each month to fund habitat
restoration for native salmon and fish in Oregon.
The funds are administered by The Nature
Conservancy.
White City
• Carestream Health, Inc.
Washington
Sunnyside
In the community
Green Power Communities
in Oregon
Portland is up to the Challenge
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) recognizes a community as a Green
Power Community when it stands out as a
leader in its support of renewable energy.
First, the local government must become
a Green Power Partner by purchasing a
significant amount of green power. Then,
the community must support renewable
energy equal to a qualifying percentage of
its annual electricity use.
On September 20, the EPA also launched
the Green Power Community Challenge,
a year-long challenge to encourage cities,
towns, villages, and Native American tribes
to support renewable energy.
• WA State Employment
Security Department
Walla Walla
• WA State Employment
Security Department
Yakima
• WA State Employment
Security Department
For the complete list, please visit
pacificpower.net/partners.
The City of Portland has joined Pacific Power and
PGE to spark a citywide green power challenge
encouraging residents and businesses to support
renewable energy. The challenge kicked off
August 1, 2010, with the goal of 1,000 new sign-ups
by September 30, 2010. At press time, Portland is
well on its way to achieving that goal.
The City of Portland is leading the way by
not only generating green power on-site, but also
supporting Blue Sky renewable energy to offset
the electric usage associated with the Portland
Streetcar and other sustainable efforts. And, more
than 100,000 Portland households are already
making a difference by participating in their utility’s
renewable energy program.
In addition to challenging residents to support
renewable energy, Portland is striving to become
the top-ranked EPA Green Power Community
in the nation.
Of the 31 communities listed on the EPA
Green Power Community website, nine
are in Pacific Power service territory and
18 are in California, Oregon or Washington
– including all the communities listed in
the top 10. Communities in Pacific Power’s
Oregon service area – Corvallis, Bend,
Hood River, Lincoln City, Pendleton,
Jacksonville, Cottage Grove, Cannon Beach
and Philomath – have combined annual
support of more than 177,304,540 kilowatthours of renewable energy.
Doing your part
Do you want to start a challenge?
Encourage your company, organization, friends
or family to take the challenge and start making
a difference by supporting Blue Sky renewable
energy today. If you’d like to explore working
© 2010 Pacific Power
together, please let us know and we’ll provide you
with support in reaching out to your membership
or employees. Contact us for more information at
bluesky@pacificorp.com.