Rocky Mountain Power thanks customers for 'true energy’ behind green power award

Committed, knowledgeable customers are helping to drive renewable energy development in Utah and the West. That's why Rocky Mountain Power is thanking every customer who played a part in winning a major national award this month.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy recognized Rocky Mountain Power’s Blue Sky program as the 2007 Green Power Program of the Year. The award cites the utility for its commitment to advancing the development of the nation’s green power market.

“Our Blue Sky renewable energy program is a winner because of our far-sighted customers such as BD Medical, Kennecott Land, Alta Lodge, the George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Medical Center, Wild Oats Markets, Staker and Parson Companies, and many other customers – both residents and businesses,” said Richard Walje, president of Rocky Mountain Power. “We’re thrilled to accept this award on behalf of our customers because they make Blue Sky happen.”

Rocky Mountain Power partners with Utah Clean Energy, a local non-profit, to spread the word about the availability of the Blue Sky program and the benefits of participating. Through these collaborative efforts, Blue Sky has gained enormous popularity in Utah, helping to drive local and regional renewable energy development.

“We are pleased to have the opportunity to partner with Rocky Mountain Power to get the word out about the Blue Sky program,” said Sarah Wright, Director of Utah Clean Energy. “Through the years, we have witnessed a growing demand for clean, inexhaustible energy resources, and the Blue Sky program offers a great way for Utahns to bring more renewable energy on-line.” 

Customers of all sizes and types appreciate the simple way Blue Sky allows them to avoid putting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, to support development of renewable energy and to encourage their neighbors to do the same.

Rocky Mountain Power’s Blue Sky renewable energy program received the national honor Oct. 22 at the 2007 Green Power Leadership Awards event in Philadelphia.

• The program placed first among more than 100 nominations in the competition as the result of major customer milestones reached last year.
• More than 58,000 customers-- residential and business-- have signed up for Blue Sky’s renewable electricity in the six-state area. In the Rocky Mountain Power’s service area, Blue Sky has more than 25,000 customers.
• During the 2006 calendar year, Blue Sky purchases accounted for 336 million kilowatt-hours of electricity generated using renewable resources. That’s equivalent to the power produced by 78 wind energy turbines in a year. Together, these purchases mean that Blue Sky customers have avoided putting 672 million pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, a significant environmental benefit equivalent to taking 57,523 cars off the road for a year or planting 67.2 million trees.
• More than half of the 12 Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Communities nationwide are in Blue Sky territories. They include the Moab/Castle Valley, Park City and Alta in Utah and three towns in Oregon.
• Utah communities that support renewable energy through the Blue Sky program include Alta, Castle Valley, Cedar Hills, Moab, Ogden, Park City, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Springdale and the residential communities of Sundance and Kennecott Land’s Daybreak community.
  

Rocky Mountain Power’s Blue Sky program provides customers with a simple and convenient way to purchase renewable energy and support new renewable energy development, including community-based renewable energy projects in the region. Customers can buy Blue Sky in 100-kilowatt-hour blocks for $1.95 each, in addition to their regular monthly electricity bill. Business customers can save on larger purchases. Enrollment is optional and customers can increase their participation or withdraw from the program at any time.

 “The George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Medical Center is one of many large organizations in the Salt Lake Valley, but one of the first in the Department of Veterans Affairs to participate in furthering wind generation of electricity by purchasing blocks of renewable power through the Blue Sky program,” said James R. Floyd, Director, VA Salt Lake City Health Care System. By matching 100 percent of its electricity use to renewable energy sources, Rocky Mountain Power estimates that the VA Medical Center, a Visionary level Blue Sky partner, is helping to avoid more than 4.1 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions annually. This creates environmental benefits equivalent to not driving more than 4.4 million miles each year or planting 814 acres of trees.

Customers who want to sign up for Blue Sky can call Rocky Mountain Power at 800-769-3717 or  click here .