The Running Y Resort is the latest in a series of southern Oregon businesses to make a significant renewable power purchase. Located near Klamath Falls, Ore., just north of the Oregon/California border, the resort is buying Blue Sky wind power, Pacific Power’s voluntary wind energy initiative. The Running Y signed up to buy 112 blocks of Blue Sky each month, representing the amount of electricity used by eleven average Oregon households.

"Purchases made by commercial customers such as The Running Y drive the renewable energy market forward, and they should be commended for taking a leadership role," said Ross Finney, southern Oregon outreach coordinator for the Renewable Northwest Project, "I’m happy to report we’ve had a number of southern Oregon businesses, large and small, come forward in the past year."

"We found this to be a perfect energy option to stay within our company mission statement of being committed to environmental sensitivity." said Todd Andres, Director of Operations at The Running Y Resort. "We are pleased to support wind power as a renewable energy resource, and hope our purchase helps to spur additional wind farm development here in Oregon."

Mr. Andres’s hopes are coming true. By the end of 2003, the Eurus Combine Hills Project – a new 41-megawatt (MW) wind farm located west of Milton-Freewater, Ore. – will come on-line. A critical component of the deal was PacifiCorp’s agreement to purchase all of the energy produced by the wind plant for its Pacific Power and Utah Power customers. The plant’s output is enough energy to power nearly 12,000 average households annually.

"This is great news for Oregon," said Rachel Shimshak, director of RNP. "We are thrilled that the Eurus Combine Hills Project is moving forward. By the end of the year, another 41 MW of clean power will be added to the 218 MW already being generated in our state."

Renewable energy has little-to-no emissions and the supply is unlimited. Wind power produces no air pollutants, wastewater, smog or acid rain. It also helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For example, buying a 100-kilowatt hour block of Blue Sky each month for a year has the same positive environmental impact as planting a third of an acre of trees or not driving a car for 1,800 miles. * Over the course of one year, The Running Y purchase will prevent the release of 94 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Prior to construction, new wind sites undergo environmental reviews. No endangered or threatened species were found on the Eurus Combine Hills site.

In addition to helping the environment, wind farm development also benefits local economies. The new Oregon project is expected to provide construction jobs and permanently employ up to six full-time positions. It is estimated that initial property taxes for the first phase could exceed $300,000 per year. The site is located on private, agricultural land, held by local farmers and ranchers who will receive direct financial benefit through land lease payments from the developer.

Pacific Power launched Blue Sky in 2000 to give customers a choice in how their energy is produced, and to allow them a part in creating demand for renewable energy resources. Beginning in 2002, residential and small business customers were introduced two additional green power options, known as Renewable Usage and Habitat. Either of these options allow Pacific Power customers to purchase 100 percent of their energy from renewable resources including both wind and geothermal, for an average of less than $10 in extra cost per month. To date, more than 15,000 Pacific Power customers in Oregon are choosing to support renewable energy through these programs.

The management team at The Running Y sees their renewable energy purchase as an extension of their parent company’s commitment to protecting the environment. "As with all Jeld-Wen subsidiaries, we are committed to the highest levels of environmental sensitivity," said Kenny Sandusky, conservation coordinator for The Running Y. Mr. Sandusky gave examples of other environmental initiatives at the Running Y saying, "The entire 3,600-acre resort is enrolled in the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System, and we recently completed a 250 acre wetland reconstruction project in a marsh that had been diked since the 1920’s."

A broad coalition of public-interest organizations and energy companies formed the Renewable Northwest Project in 1994 to promote renewable energy development in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana. Since its inception, RNP has been a forceful advocate, for basing the region's energy future on clean, renewable resources, such as solar, wind and geothermal.

For more information please contact Ross Finney at (541) 488-1391 or visit the Renewable Northwest Web site at www.RNP.org.

Customers can sign up for Pacific Power’s Blue Sky and other renewable options by  clicking here or by calling 1-800-769-3717.

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*Calculations based on an independent analysis completed by the Northwest Power Planning Council and EPA data.