| Show Rocky Mountain Power kicks up the wind Michael Merrill Contributing Writer The Th demand for renewable energy is ever increasing and Rocky Mountain Power has its wind socks on Blue Sky y renewable energy program is an initiative to help promote purchase and increase demand for renewable power A kWh block costs more per month for participants According to Web site Buying one kwh block of Blue Sky each month for a year is as good for the environment as planting nearly 2 1 acre of trees of-trees trees or not driving a acar acar car for 2500 miles The site also states that the average home uses 10 blocks monthly When a customer joins Blue BlueSky BlueSky BlueSky Sky Rocky Mountain Power puts their payments directly towards the purchasing of wind-generated wind power or other local sustainable energy projects within two years In 2008 received funding through the Blue Sky y project community investments The funding went to construct two solar panel projects and with the help of other clean energy organizations helped launch a solar olar photovoltaic installer training program Currently 70 percent of Rocky Mountain Powers Power's energy is coal- coal generated wind power only accounts for 07 percent Since its inception the Blue Sky program already has customers which is increasing demand On the Blue Sky y program Director of Utah Clean Energy Sarah Sarah said the idea displacing cing less environmentally friendly energy with power provided by wind solar and geothermal generation Student Nick Peterson a Blue BlueSky Sk Sly Sky participant says he believes paying a premium for the use of renewable energy is a good start however he advocates that there needs to be legislation to ensure a higher percentage of renewable energy is used by all utilities Many states have moved in this direction bypassing Renewable Portfolio Standards which define required levels of renewable energy sources to be achieved within a specified time frame Yet Rock Rocky Mountain Power isn't waiting for legislation to increase their commitment to Green Continued on Spending green on green energy Continued from Al AI Algreen Algreen green energy Its It's currently involved in constructing wind farms in both Wyoming and Washington In addition the Blue Sky program has helped provide funding for 17 community- community based renewable projects since 2006 Other electric utilities around the US U.S. have begun programs similar to Blue Sky with a range of renewable energy sources from solar wind geothermal hydro biomass and even methane gas produced by landfills To ensure electric service providers purchase and invest in local green energy sources relative to their locals Green-e Green Energy is the nations nation's leading voluntary certification program for utilities selling renewable energy Their certification ensures the generation equipment had been built since 1997 and the equipment was bought outside of a mandate by law For more information about the Blue Sky program visit www I blue bluesky sky For those interested in the solar photovoltaic installation class visit http ed u ucon con so asp |
