Blue Sky community projects

Blessed Sacrament Catholic Parish in Sandy Utah installed a 50 kW solar array which will provide over 25% of the school’s annual kilowatt hour usage. The school will reduce its annual power costs by over $2,500 annually which will be used to supply classroom materials for their students.

The 250 students and their families that attend the Catholic Parish are only some of those who will be educated by the enhanced curriculum into renewable energy generation. What comes out of the school flows into the Parish congregation of 800 families and into the Utah Green Schools Initiative, as well as the Utah Society for Environmental Education to promote the Blue Sky program and encourage participation.

Casa Milagros is the oldest nonprofit Hispanic organization in Utah. It is a nonpolitical, nonreligious, nondiscriminatory organization that serves the low-to-moderate income Hispanic and immigrant community in the Salt Lake Valley by providing educational, cultural, social and athletic activities as well as housing. The project will cover all the needs of the common area for the new building that will serve approximately 68 seniors.

Casa Milagros installed a 23kW Solar installation that will provide power for the senior activities area, lounge, kitchen, computer room, laundry and other common areas. 

Community Rebuilds is a leader in energy-efficient, natural building and they install solar PV systems on most of the affordable housing they build for community members.

The two story straw bale bunkhouse was built in 2018 and inspired by the homes they build including adobe floors, earthen plasters, tadelakt shower walls, and passive solar design.

The bunkhouse is located along the city's bike path and signage will be visible to all passers-by, therefore spreading knowledge of alternative clean energy.

Community Rebuilds has installed 51 solar panels on the roof of their bunkhouse, generating 26,126 kWh annually. The project was installed by Synergy Power during the summer of 2020.

Catholic Community Services of Utah has installed a total of 132 solar panels on the warehouse/food storage building in Ogden, Utah, generating more than 65,000 kilowatt-hours of solar energy. 23% of their energy now comes from the sun!

CCS’ Ogden programs support low-income individuals and families struggling with food and income insecurity through food distribution, case management, and resource connections. The Joyce Hansen Hall Food Bank is the largest assistance pantry in the region, and typically helps over 5,000 households every month.

CCS has a mission statement that direct directs them to help people “through service, support and collaboration”. This collaborative effort will allow them to reinvest in their programs, allowing them to purchase specific food and items that are greatly needed to support the children and families in their programs. Blue Sky customers are proud to be part of Catholic Community Services project and applaud them for their effort to increase renewable energy.

Rocky Mountain Power’s Blue Sky customers are honored to celebrate the completion of the 175th renewable energy grant project since 2006.  They installed a 340 kW, 850 panel array in February 2021. This solar array will help decrease operating costs and reduce the use of taxpayer dollars. The solar array will provide low-cost power during the highest times of use.

Lewiston Elementary will save 321 metric tons of greenhouse gasses per year with its solar system.

That’s the same as taking 68 passenger vehicles off the road every year. With the array of panels installed on rooftops, there will be no disruption to sensitive wildlife habitats on the school campus. 

Rocky Mountain Power’s Blue Sky customers are honored to celebrate the completion of the 173^rd renewable energy grant project since 2006. St. Mark’s Cathedral installed a 90 kW solar installation in March of 2021. This 236 panel array will help them reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote renewable energy and support their community with the savings they will receive.

The Cathedral Church of Saint Mark is the third oldest Episcopal cathedral in the United States and Utah’s second oldest continuously used house of worship. Its mission is to feed the hungry, nurture the sick and spiritual comfort those in need. Blue Sky customers are proud to be part of Cathedrals project and applaud them for their effort to increase renewable energy.

Since 1983, SUWA has been working full-time to defend America’s Redrock wilderness from oil and gas development, unnecessary road construction, rampant off-road vehicle use, and other threats to Utah’s wilderness-quality lands.

In the fall of 2020, a 9.6 kW Solar array was installed that will produce over 13,000 kWh annually. By reducing its carbon footprint, SUWA is better achieving the goal of protecting natural assets. This system has environmental annual benefits equivalent of not driving 11,700 miles, not burning nearly 15,000 pounds of coal, planting 190 trees and removing 9,400 pounds of CO2 from the atmosphere.

St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church is the only Catholic Church in Cache and Rich County, Utah.  Therefore, Parishioners come from throughout Cache Valley, including Southern Idaho, Garden City in Rich County, and from adjacent communities in Box Elder County. 

The parish is committed to reducing its energy consumption and installed an 80 kW solar array in 2020.  This array will generate over 104,000 kWh per year. 

Spy Hop Productions installed a 41kW Solar installation in September 2020. This solar array will generate 60,740 kWh annually which will offset approximately 25% of their energy costs. 

Spy Hop Productions constructed a new 22,000 square foot building in the Central Ninth neighborhood in Salt Lake City in the fall of 2020. The new facility was designed from the outset with sustainability as a primary goal. The building’s south facing windows and glazed walls are shaded by deep building insets to reduce heat gain in summer but allow solar access in winter, they used high recycled content building materials and low VOC building materials to protect indoor air quality, and the HVAC system uses cool outside air when available to provide free cooling.

This project will benefit the community by ensuring that programming is available for future generations by investing in sustainable design and build for Spy Hop’s permanent home. It is equally important to Spy Hop that the organization model environmentally sustainable practices to its students and community. 

Blue Sky celebrates the power of community and the real change that comes from neighbors helping neighbors, which has never been more meaningful. Summit Elementary is committed to modeling a positive example for students, employees, and citizens about sustainability, energy conservation, and lifestyle choices.

Summit Elementary installed a 459 panel 183.6 kW solar array in February 2021. It is anticipated that 70% of the school’s energy will now come from the sun. 

Rocky Mountain Power’s Blue Sky Customers are honored to celebrate the completion of the 166th renewable energy grant project since 2006. The INN Between has installed a total of 368 solar panels on their roof in Sugarhouse, Utah, generating more than 180,600 kWh of solar energy each year. The project was installed by Creative Energies during the summer of 2020.

The INN Between is Utah’s first and only end of life and medical respite program for adults experiencing homelessness.

Their mission is to end the tragic history of vulnerable people dying on the streets of our community by providing a safe and supportive haven for those who have nowhere to live during a medical crisis.

The Egyptian Theatre is a community asset dedicated to enriching lives through the performing arts. They have installed 64 solar panels on the roof of the theatre in Park City, Utah, generating more than 37,000 kilowatt-hours of solar energy, which will be 30% of the theatre’s usage.

The Egyptian Theatre opened on Christmas Day, 1926. The Theatre operated as a community gathering place from that day forward. Today the theatre hosts a variety of theatre, comedy, musical acts, special events, community functions and more. The Egyptian Theatre continues to function as a landmark venue on Park City’s Main Street while retaining the distinctive flavor of years gone by, much like Park City itself. 

To find and implement the best solutions for poverty, UCA frequently works with community members and organizations. The Utah Community Action’s South Salt Lake building serves many families through the Head Start and Early Head Start academic programs. This building not only provides direct services of their six programs, it is also where their central kitchen is located where meals are prepared for all Head Start children. 

They installed a 125 panel solar array which will produce over 65,000 kWh per year. 

The Downtown Clinic completed a renewable energy project that will allow the center to make a larger impact on the community.

The Laramie nonprofit, which provides services to those in the community without access to healthcare, is now being powered by the sun.

Made possible by a $33,675 grant from Blue Sky customers, the 25-panel solar array offsets 98 percent of the clinic’s energy usage. The project also includes Wyoming’s first Blue Sky battery storage system that will keep medical supplies, such as vaccines, properly stored during an emergency.

“This project has allowed us to save money and provide more services to our clients,” said Pete Gosar, Downtown Clinic executive director. “This means more emergency dental services, more vision exams, and more prescription medicines for families in need. We are extremely thankful.”

The clinic reports that the cost savings generated each year is equivalent to over 200 prescription medications, 20 eye exams or the costs of 60 primary care visits. 

Laramie has installed 78 panels on both the Recreation Center and the Ice & Event Center which will generate 79,000 kilowatt-hours of solar energy each year. This project is the start of the City’s carbon neutrality efforts and will benefit the community by decreasing electrical costs and increasing the education on solar projects in Wyoming. The annual estimated combined environmental savings for the Recreation and Ice Centers are equivalent to 1,317 trees planted, or 65,570 pounds of coal saved. 

The 10.6 kilowatt solar project provides energy to the Meals on Wheels nonprofit facility in Casper. The facility hosts free, quarterly workshops and tours showcasing renewable energy for area residents.

Rocky Mountain Power’s Blue Sky Customers are honored to celebrate the completion of the 185^th  renewable energy grant project since 2006. 

Nightingale Stables, established in 2003, has installed a 72 panel 24.4 kW Solar array on the roof of the horse arena. This array will generate more than 37,000 kilowatt-hours of solar energy each year. The facility is a well-established stopping place for horse lovers. This is a small equestrian center with monthly and nightly boarding for horses. It includes a large indoor arena, a stable area with 7 stalls for overnight stabling, a tack room, a horse shower, and 7 inside automatic waterers.

They offer indoor horse riding and boarding services – for the horses and their owners. It is not uncommon to have over-night guests come for a holiday meal or to raid the kitchen late at night after they get in.

The owners are committed to stewardship of the earth. This is a project of citizenship and a contribution to a GREEN future.

The nonprofit outdoor school is dedicated to teaching environmental ethics, technical outdoor skills and leadership on backcountry expeditions around the world. 

The school's solar arrays are installed at its administrative building, international headquarters and Noble Hotel.

Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport serves area travelers and supports nearly 17,000 aircraft operations each year. The airport received $94,216 in Blue Sky funds to build a 30 kilowatt solar array on the new General Aviation Terminal and Hangar Facility.

“This solar array will provide our leadership and staff with a sense of pride for years to come,” said Devon Brubaker, Rock Springs-Sweetwater County Airport Manager. “This pride will be demonstrated not only to visitors to the airport but also at all community events held at the airport.”

In 2015, the University of Wyoming completed the installation of a new solar carport structure adjacent to the War Memorial Stadium. 

This project is the third at the university to receive funding from Blue Sky customers. Other renewable energy projects are installed at Bim Kendall House and University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service in Casper. 

Besides helping the university offset energy costs, the renewable projects help educate students and the community about solar and wind energy. 

Rocky Mountain Power’s Blue Sky Customers are honored to celebrate the completion of the 160th renewable energy grant project since 2006. This project consists of 3 different arrays at West Side High School, Preston Jr. High School, and Malad High School. All 3 sites installed a 38.5 kW system which consists of 108 panels each.

These Southeastern Idaho Professional Technical Charter Schools focus on a curriculum of skills that are needed in today’s world. As a learning institution they pride themselves in finding new ways to keep students engaged. Being able to use solar energy as a way to motivate students to learn math, engineering, science, electronics, and other subjects will keep students engaged in learning.

Consolidated Irrigation Company (CIC), based in Preston, Idaho, undertook a major effort to pipe their irrigation ditch to correct seepage problems. As a part of the piping project, CIC installed a low-impact hydroelectric power system to capture the energy of water moving through the irrigation pipe.

In 2015, CIC completed installation of a 481-kilowatt generator. The generator feeds power directly into Rocky Mountain Power’s electric system and helps keep costs low for the nonprofit irrigation network. The project location provides great exposure to local schools and visitors to the nearby Glendale Reservoir.

The Idaho Wind for Schools program installed wind turbines at Midway Middle School and Rigby High School, giving students a hands-on math and science learning opportunity to incorporate into the schools’ renewable energy programs.

Generation data is monitored and shared with other schools.

Live monitoring:

• Midway Middle School
• Rigby Senior High School