Bend Parks & Recreation is the latest local entity to buy Blue Sky wind energy from Pacific Power, joining nine Bend city government facilities in a renewable power parade of enrollments.

In addition, the Bend Community Center, Boomtown record store and the Redmond Chamber of Commerce are recent renewable signups in the utility’s voluntary green power program.

Bend Parks & Recreation is buying 362 blocks of wind power each month through Pacific Power’s new Blue Sky QS program for large commercial customers. Blue Sky QS (quantity savings) allows large business customers to buy renewable energy from Pacific Power for less, providing they purchase at least 101 blocks of Blue Sky per month for a year. Blue Sky is sold in 100-kilowatt increments called “blocks.”

“Organizations are finding that buying renewable power is a great way to integrate environmental sustainability into their business practices,” said Angela Jacobson, Pacific Power’s regional community manager. Jacobson explained that while Pacific Power already buys renewable power for its customers, Blue Sky is a way to bring even more into the system and to promote more renewable power development.

With Blue Sky QS, the City of Bend increased the amount of renewable power it acquires without paying more – buying 348 blocks of Blue Sky each month instead of 202 blocks. The amount of renewable energy acquired has the same environmental benefit as planting 82,024 trees or not driving 2,540 round trips from Portland to Bend.

The city’s purchase incorporates nine Bend city government facilities: the Police Department, South Fire Station, Training Center, North Fire Station, City Hall, Public Works Building, City Annex, Westside Fire Station and the Administrative Building. 

The Boomtown record store and the Bend Community Center are each buying 10 blocks per month.

Nearby, the Redmond Chamber of Commerce is buying 48 blocks of Blue Sky through Pacific Power’s Blue Sky Block program. Since March 1, 2002, Oregon’s Pacific Power customers have been able to choose from three renewable power options: Blue Sky Block wind power; Blue Sky Usage 100 percent renewable power; and Blue Sky Habitat, which combines renewable power purchases with donations to The Nature Conservancy of Oregon to help fund fish habitat restoration projects.

Renewable energy – such as wind, solar, geothermal and biomass – has a much lower impact on the environment than traditional methods of electricity generation. It produces lower levels of air pollutants, wastewater, smog and acid rain, and it can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Pacific Power uses Blue Sky dollars to acquire renewable energy from local wind farms, such as the Stateline Wind Energy Farm along the Oregon/Washington border.

About Pacific Power’s Oregon renewable power options

Since March 1, 2002, Oregon’s Pacific Power residential and small business customers have been able to choose from three renewable power options:

Blue Sky Block wind energy — Customers can purchase 100 percent new wind energy in 100 kilowatt-hour blocks for $1.95 each. Investing an additional $1.95 per month for one year provides the same benefits as not driving a vehicle for nearly three months.

Blue Sky Usage— Under this option, customers purchase all their electricity from newly developed renewable resources — a blend of wind, biomass and solar— for only $0.0078 (less than a penny) more per kwh than Basic Service rates.

Blue Sky Habitat— As with Blue Sky Usage, customers purchase all their electricity from newly developed renewable resources — a blend of wind, biomass and solar — for only $0.0078 (less than a penny) more per kwh than Basic Service rates. In addition, customers make a $2.50 monthly contribution to  The Nature Conservancy of Oregon  to support native fish habitat restoration.

Now large businesses have two options: Pacific Power’s standard Blue Sky Block offering and the new Blue Sky QS.  The new renewable energy option was approved last November by the Oregon Public Utility Commission. To calculate the cost of buying Blue Sky QS, customers can consult Pacific Power’s online calculator and enrollment information at www.pacificpower.net/bluesky .