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Show The Moab Times-lndepende- nt has announced a large boost to Moabs EPA Green Power Community Partner goal by offsetting 100 percent of its electricity use with Utah Powers Blue Sky wind power. Moab has been working to achieve this national EPA award for a year now and we want to be part of the effort, explained Adrien Taylor, Times-lndepende- editor nt We know THE SAN JUAN REtORD Wednesday .October 13, 2004 lends boost to Moab EPA quest Times-lndepende- nt . the additional amount we pay goes toward the development of cleaner power sources. Blue Sky gives customers a way to grow demand for wind energy and take advantage of its environmental benefits. It is sold by Utah Power in block increments for $1.95 each, in addition to a customers regular monthly electric bill. If the Moab community purchases three percent of its energy from renewable sources, it will receive national recognition from the Environmental Protection Agency as the first EPA Green Power Community Partner in the nation. The community is close to its goal: Moab is now linking two percent of its energy use to renewable energy through Blue Sky, 68 percent of goal. ur The purchase of Blue Sky each Times-lndependen- ts month moves Moab closer to the national achievement. It also contributes a substantial environmental benefit. It has the same impact of not driving a car 54,000 miles or planting 10 acres of trees. The Blue Sky purchase is equivalent to the amount of energy used by 3.5 average homes each month. Moab established two goals over a year ago - one to reach five percent customer participation in Blue Sky, and the goal of linking three percent of the energy used by the community to renewables. Sarah Wright, Director of Times-lndependen- ts Moabs leadership has set the stage for other communities around the country, but there can only be one first, said Wright. Given the enthusiasm and dedication of the community volunteers working on this project, Im confident that they will meet their by Terry Messmer, d g 673-715- 6 . . mimmm wmiiMSmmmimM INTER HOUR Return in walk, aggression wssmusam as msmmm o msmmm a amim Empire Electric will revert to winter hours beginning Monday, October 18, 2004 Open Monday through Friday am - 8 5 toward people or animals or daylight ID-OCTO- BER , Page activity. Skunks that display such abnormal behavior may be rabid and should be avoided or destroyed. Skunks are protected under state law. However, they may be taken at any time without a hunting or furbearer license and by any method, provided local laws are not violated, such as discharging firearms within city limits. The best control for skunks around buildings is prevention. Do not allow them to establish themselves in or under buildings. All holes in foundations or other points of possible entry should be sealed using sheet metal, cement, hardware cloth or bricks. If a skunk has already become established under a building, all openings but one should be sealed. Sprinkle a square patch of flour in front of the remaining opening. Check the flour patch two to three hours after dark for tracks. If the tracks show that the skunk has left, seal the ot opening at once. When the skunk returns and cannot get back in, it will leave the area. This method should not be used in April, May or June since there is a chance that young skunks may be present and could be sealed in. A skunks odor is its best it is one of line of defense the most persistent and offensive odors in nature. Diluted solutions of vinegar or tomato juice can remove most of the odor from pets, people and clothing. Clothing can also be soaked in weak solutions of ammonia. If the mishap occurs while camping, clothing can be smoked over a juniper fire. If you happen to get sprayed in the eyes, a burning sensation and temporary blindness can occur. Recovery time can be hastened by rinsing the eyes with cold water. Walls, rooms or other areas that have been sprayed by a skunk can be treated with neutroleum alpa. If the chemical is not available through local cleaning supply stores, check Also, many have prodnow stores cleaning ucts that can remove the odor. In spite of the problems they can cause, skunks do have some benefit. Their chief on-lin- e. economic advantage is that they consume large numbers of harmful pests such as cutworms, armyworms, grasshoppers, grubs and field mice. For more information on how to cope with skunks in your area, contact the county Extension agent for a copy of the Skunks Extension bulletin, or visit extension.usu.edu pm Monticello Office Open Monday through Friday Oak Cottage (970) 565-44- 181 44 South Main 9 am - 5 pm Monticello (800) 709 - 3726 Inc. Empire Electric Association, Utah for Serving Southwestern Colorado and Southeastern over 50 years '"'XX A Touchstone Energy Cooperative 3 Smelling skunk? Tips to achieve olfactory relief Utah State University Extension wildlife specialist The largest and most common skunk in Utah is the striped skunk (Mephitis megoal. Utah Power launched Blue phitis). About the size of a house cat, it weighs four Sky in 2000 to give customers large to five pounds. Striped skunks a choice in how their energy is black with two broad, are produced, and to allow them a part in creating demand for re- white stripes running from the back of the head to the tip of newable energy resources. Blue Sky ranks in the U.S. the large, bushy tail. Utah Clean Energy, has The scent of a skunk can worked with city officials for a Department of Energys top send a quick wave of panic year to enroll businesses and five utility green pricing prothrough anyone. In addition residents in Blue Sky. grams in customer participaIn Utah , three communities tion and amount of green to being infamous for spraying when threatened, this nocturare already following Moab s power sold. Utah Clean Energy is a non- nal mammal can also cause example: Salt Lake City , Park City and Sundance. profit organization committed other problems. Skunks will raid poultry Since the Moab challenge to a sustainable energy future was announced, customer through the use of renewable houses for eggs and dig up and other signups have doubled: 448 energy sources and energy ef- lawns, golf courses sodded areas searching for residential customers and 65 ficiency technologies. The businesses have exceeded the Utah Wind Power Campaign, white grubs and earthworms. also predators of wagoal of signing up five percent a core project of Utah Clean They are and terfowl game bird nests. of the community. Today, ten Energy is a community-baseSkunks are a public health percent of Moab is enrolled. marketing strategy that drives the According to Utah Power, market demand for clean en- concern because they are of wildlife rabies. carrier ergy from the ground up. Utah major enrolling is easy and has is disease This widespread in benefits. Clean Energy works in partMoabs community efforts nership with Utah Power and the skunk population throughThe incubation pewill culminate in early Novemencourages everyone to take out Utah. in infected aniriod of rabies ber at the Moab Folk festival advantage of the clean power where the community will be choice provided by the Blue mals is variable, but can be extremely long. The length an recognized by EPA as the First Sky program. For more inforor infected animal is actually in the Nation - EPA Green mation call (801) transmissible also varies, The www.utahcleanenergy.org Power Community ranging from three days to two festivals energy use will be weeks before the onset of offset by Blue Sky wind power. symptoms. Once symptoms appear, the disease will normally kill the infected animal within a few days. Diseased animals may display abnormal behavior such as a staggering, blundering long-reachin- - Open: Thursday - Tuesday, 7 am 7 pm Wednesday, 7 am 5 pm 516 North Main Monticello 435-587-50- 63 |