RMP On Line Archive

August 12, 2010

10 Years Later, Blue is the New Green

A decade after its launch, more than 31,000 Rocky Mountain Power customers in Utah, Wyoming and Idaho are supporting renewable energy development through our Blue Sky program. And they’re making a huge difference!

Over the past 10 years, our Blue Sky customers have helped avoid 466,139 tons of carbon dioxide from being emitted into the earth’s atmosphere; creating environmental benefits equivalent to planting nearly 11 million trees or not driving 947 million miles.

This is separate from the cost-effective renewable energy used to serve customers as part of our resource mix. (We’re the second leading utility owner of wind energy resources in the nation!)

Not familiar with Blue Sky? Here’s how it works.
Blue Sky is sold in 100-kilowatt-hour blocks for $1.95 per month. When a customer enrolls in Blue Sky, Rocky Mountain Power purchases Green-e Energy-certified renewable energy certificates on their behalf from wind energy facilities in the West. This helps build a market for renewable energy - ensuring that more green energy is produced and distributed on the regional power system.

Blue Sky funds also help support the development of smaller projects in local communities that can include wind, solar, geothermal, low-emission biomass or other certified renewable energy sources.

Check out our Blue Sky videos to see what customers have to say about the program.

Since 2006, we’ve awarded Blue Sky funding to support a total of 53 community-based projects (primarily solar and wind) in Utah, Wyoming and Idaho. Recently completed projects include solar panels at the Columbus Center in South Salt Lake, Utah and at the University of Wyoming’s Agricultural Resource and Learning Center in Casper, Wyoming (pictured below).

Over the years, we’ve worked with communities on Blue Sky Challenges to increase program participation by residents and businesses. In fact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency named Utah’s Moab /Castle Valley area as the nation’s first EPA Green Power Community in 2004 as a result of Blue Sky participation. Since then, three other communities served by Rocky Mountain Power also have received that designation.

Some of the first communities to get involved with Blue Sky are taking steps to celebrate the program’s 10th anniversary.  Mayor Dana Williams and the City Council of Park City, Utah, for instance, have passed a resolution proclaiming September 6-10 of this year as Blue Sky Week.

To learn more about Blue Sky or to sign up, visit rockymountainpower.net/bluesky or call toll free at 1-800-769-3717.

Blue Sky will be leading a tour of the Spanish Fork wind farm in Utah, on Oct. 1. If you’re interested in learning more about renewable energy and seeing a wind turbine close-up, email windtour@rockymountainpower.net or call 1-866-476-9378 ext. 40 for more information. Pre-registration is required by Sept. 15.

Wattsmart t-shirt giveaway update: Dave Martin from Herriman, UT was the first to respond, and got himself a free wattsmart t-shirt. Way to go Dave!

Thanks to everyone who has sent me ideas for future blog post topics. Please keep them coming!

- Jeff