Frequently Asked Questions

Where does Blue Sky renewable energy come from?
Will the power to my home be dependent upon the wind blowing?
If I choose a renewable power option, will I actually receive electricity generated from renewable energy generation sources?
By buying Blue Sky renewable energy am I really helping make a difference?
Do wind turbines harm birds?
Why does participation Blue Sky cost more than Basic Service?
Is my renewable energy purchase tax deductible?
If I move, does my Blue Sky enrollment transfer to my new location?
Why should I care about purchasing renewable energy?
What is renewable energy?
Why is renewable energy important?
I’m interested in generating my own renewable energy. How do I find out more?
How is renewable energy sold?
Other renewable energy resources

Where does Blue Sky renewable energy come from?

Renewable energy for Oregon customers comes from a variety of different sources and locations throughout the Northwest:

Wind energy
So far, Pacific Power has made purchases from the following facilities on behalf of Blue Sky customers:
- Oregon
  - Condon Wind Project (Gilliam County, Ore., 49.8 megawatts) The Condon Wind Project has been in operation since the end of 2001. The 83 turbines produce enough energy to meet the needs of 10,513 homes. Farming and grazing continue around the bases of the 274-foot high turbines.
  - Klondike Wind Project (Sherman County, Ore., 99 megawatts (includes phases 1 and 2)) Klondike Wind Project has proven to be such a successful wind farm that it has been home to three different expansions. The first phase of the project came on line in 2001 and consists of sixteen wind turbines that can generate up to 24 megawatts (MW) of electricity. A second phase of an additional 50 turbines, was completed in 2005. The third phase will consist of an additional 122 turbines. Klondike was also the subject of a study on the local economic impacts of wind farms. Read a fact sheet about the results of the study at Stateline Energy Center (Umatilla County, Ore. and Walla Walla County, Wash., 300 megawatts) – Stateline Energy Center, so named because it straddles the Oregon and Washington border, is one of the largest producers of wind energy in the world. Large enough to provide power to more than 72,000 homes, Stateline provided 150 jobs during its construction and employs 15 permanent full-time workers in its operation.
  - Newburg Wind (Newburg, Ore.) Two small-scale wind turbines sited on a 22-acre homestead in Newberg, Ore., are helping offset 52,000 pounds of carbon dioxide annually.

Washington
- Nine Canyon (Walla Walla County, Wash., 63.7 megawatts) Blue Sky customers are buying 40,000-megawatt hours of wind power from Washington’s Nine Canyon Wind Project. Located near the Stateline Wind facility on a dry land wheat farm, Nine Canyon is one the largest public power-owned wind projects in the nation. It consists of 49 turbines, each capable of producing 1.3 megawatts of electricity. Blue Sky customers are buying enough clean energy to power 3,300 Pacific Power homes a year. The project even has a letter of support from the lower Columbia Basin Chapter of the Audubon Society, because great lengths were taken to minimize the facility’s impact on birds.
- Wild Horse Wind Farm (Kittitas County, Wash., 228.6 megawatts) The Wild Horse Wind Farm provides affordable, pollution-free electricity to the Northwest. The project has brought new jobs and approximately $1M annually in local property tax revenues to Kittitas County. The project consists of approximately 127 wind turbines over 8,600 acres of open range; while the wind farm itself takes up only about 165 acres.
- Big Horn (Klickitat County, Wash., 199.5 megawatts) Located in Klickitat County, across the Columbia River and approximately 25 miles from Klondike Wind, the Big Horn project has 133 1.5 MW GE turbines. The project supports the local economy through royalty payments to about five landowners and property tax payments to Klickitat County. More than 100 jobs were created during the peak of construction and the facility employs 6 to 8 full time employees during operation. While the entire project spans approximately 15,000 acres, the actual footprint of the turbines and associated facilities uses less than one percent (about 70 acres) of the total acreage. Landowners will continue using the remainder of the land for wheat farming and grazing.
- Hopkins Ridge (Columbia County, Wash., 149.9 megawatts)Located 15 miles northeast of Dayton, Wash., these 83 Vestas v-80 1.8 MW Turbines can create an average annual output of about 456,000 megawatt hours, sufficient to meet the power needs of 40,000 households.

Wyoming
- Foote Creek IV Wind Energy Project (Arlington, Wyo., 16.8 megawatts) – Foote Creek IV is located between Laramie and Rawlins in Southwestern Wyoming – one of the windiest places in America with average wind speeds of 25 mph. The facility generates enough clean energy to power 4,292 average homes each year.
- Wyoming Wind Energy Center (Evanston, Wyo., 144 megawatts) – As the largest wind energy facility in Wyoming, Pleasant Valley’s 80 turbines can generate enough energy to power about 43,000 homes. The farm’s 1.8 mw wind turbines, which are among the world’s largest, have a rotor diameter of 262 feet and a tower height of 220 feet. The facility is located on ranch land currently used for cattle grazing.
Montana
- Judith Gap Wind (Harlowtown, Mont., 135 megawatts) – The Judith Gap Wind project has been in operation since December 2005. The project includes 90 turbines, which when they are all spinning to capacity will generate 135 megawatts and power 350 to 400 homes per turbine. Each turbine is over 250 feet tall and has three 126-feet long blades. The turbines reach energy producing speed at 7.8 mph. Optimal speed is 33.5 mph.

As the demand grows we will purchase more wind energy from other facilities in the West. Pacific Power renewable purchases are reviewed and endorsed by local leading environmental organizations.

Solar
- The Montessori School of Beaverton – Beaverton, Ore.
  Thanks to Blue Sky customers and a unique partnership with Energy Trust of Oregon, the Montessori School of Beaverton is one of Oregon's emerging solar energy producers. Capacity: 6 kw
- Pepsi Cola Bottling – Klamath Falls, Ore.
  Energy Trust of Oregon helped bring on line a solar facility located at the Pepsi of Klamath Falls bottling facility. Blue Sky customers purchases support this facility. At 162 kw, this facility is one of the largest solar facilities in the Northwest.
- Selma Community Center– Selma, Ore.
  Pacific Power worked closely with Energy Trust of Oregon to bring on line this 8 kw solar project located on the former Selma Elementary School, which now serves as a parking shade at the Selma Community Center.
  Capacity: 8 kw
- Eastern Oregon Renewables– Grant County, Ore. This project was built as part of Solwest 2000 and is hosted by the Grant County Fairgrounds. Capacity 1.12 kw
- Engelmann Becker Corporation– Eugene, Ore. Engelmann Becker Corporation of Eugene installed a 14.8 KW photovoltaic system in November of 2005. The system has 72 modules which face south and are on racks tilted at 20 degrees from the existing flat roof.
- Jackson County Solar Pavilion– Jackson County, Ore. Jackson County, Ore. This project is the result of the combined efforts of nine Southern Oregon businesses working with Pacific Power to develop local renewable resources. The facility features an education wall open to the public.
- Guaranty Solar– Junction City, Ore. In May 2006 Guaranty RV installed the largest PV system in Lane County at 93668 Hwy 99S Junction City, Oregon. Guaranty RV and Camping World share a building on this site. Check out their live record of generation Capacity 61 kw.
- Sokol Blosser—Dayton, Ore. This 144 panel array came online at Sokol Blosser Winery in the Dundee Hills of Oregon in 2007. Sokol Blosser is dedicated to achieving sustainability and to using environmentally friendly practices.
- Sweet Life Bakery and Patisserie—Eugene, Ore. Both the Bakery and Retail store are generating solar energy with roof-top solar panel systems. These solar panels were installed in 2006. In addition, Sweet Life Bakery and Patisserie installed two solar water heating systems (the solar water heaters are unrelated to the Blue Sky program).
- West Wind Forest Products—Eugene, Ore. In June of 2006 West Wind Forest Products installed a 64.8 KW Solar Electric System on the roof of their Eugene warehouse facility. This is currently the largest Photovoltaic installation in the city of Eugene.
Biomass
- HW Hill Landfill Gas Power Plant– Roosevelt, Wash.
  Located adjacent to Roosevelt Landfill's 20 million tons of trash, this project harvests combustible gases from decomposing garbage. The gas is pumped downhill to feed five modified commercial diesel generators, creating enough energy to power nearly 10,000 homes. Capacity: 10.5 mw
- Gorge Energy Division - Bingen, Wash. SDS Lumber, a family owned company, uses their mill to maximize the amount of lumber and veneer recovered from a single log, however leftover residues inevitably exist. After selling sawdust and wood chips to paper companies, they use bark and other wood waste - biomass - to fuel our steam plant, creating cleaner, renewable energy.
- Stimson Lumber—Plummer, Ida. Stimson Lumber operates a thermal wood waste generating plant at its Plummer, Idaho facility. Stimon Lumber manages 500,000 acres of company-owned timberland, consistent with the Sustainable Forestry Standards of the American Forest Products and Paper Association “AFPA”. In addition, Stimson Lumber Company was honored with Energy Trust's Energy Leadership Award in 2007 for its energy efficiency iniatiaves.

Will the power to my home be dependent upon the wind blowing?
No. Your power will continue to be uninterrupted even when the wind isn’t blowing, because you are connected to the regional electricity system. The power that travels through the network of lines and wires that bring electricity to your home or business comes from a variety of generating sources.

If I choose a renewable power option, will I actually receive electricity generated from renewable energy generation sources?
Not necessarily. Although we can’t promise the renewable energy you buy will go directly to your home or business, we can guarantee that the clean energy that you have purchased has been added to the western power grid. There it is mixed with energy from different sources.

By buying Blue Sky renewable energy am I really helping make a difference?
Yes. Together, customer purchases, company policies and state regulation are helping encourage renewable energy development. Visit these organizations' sites for more information:

The Green Power Network
Renewable Northwest Project
American Wind Energy Association
Renewable Energy Atlas
Wind Powering America
Blue Sky funded community projects

Do wind turbines harm birds?
Today’s new wind turbines do not pose a high risk to birds or any other wildlife. Newer technologies have slower blades that help prevent bird mortality. Sites are generally selected to avoid known migration patterns and reduce contact with endangered birds. Also, turbines are built in such a way to make it difficult for birds to use them for roosting.

Before the approval and construction of existing Blue Sky facilities (Stateline Energy Center, Condon Wind Farm and Klondike Wind Farm) environmental impact studies were completed to identify the potential risk to birds through site analysis. The analysis included assessments of the bird population, timing and migration patterns and habitat use. We work with environmental groups, regulators and other interested parties when evaluating wind facilities that can help serve our customers needs.See more information.

Why does participation Blue Sky cost more than Basic Service?
Pacific Power is required by state regulatory commissions to acquire sufficient least cost resources to meet all our customers’ needs. However, the Company is determined to acquire all the renewable resources it can under these requirements. In the coming years, we plan to add significantly more renewable energy to our resource mix (see our Integrated Resource Plan ). Our Blue Sky program allows you to choose 100 percent renewable energy now and influence future energy production.

Blue Sky customers help increase the amount of renewable energy in the system. Together, Pacific Power and our customers can spur even more renewable development. Increased demand for renewable energy can also help lower prices, which enables even more renewable energy to be added to the western power system.

Is my renewable energy purchase tax deductible?
No. The actual dollars spent on renewable energy are not tax deductible. See more information on local, state and federal tax incentives that help promote renewable energy.

If I move, does my Blue Sky enrollment transfer to my new location?
Yes. If you sign up for Blue Sky and move within Pacific Power's service area, you will automatically continue with Blue Sky. There's no need to sign up for Blue Sky again when you sign up for electric service at your new home or business.

Why should I care about purchasing renewable energy?
Renewable energy has a much lower impact on the environment than traditional methods of electricity generation. It produces lower levels of air pollutants, waste water, smog, acid rain, and it can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Renewable energy can be replenished and often comes from local sources, which can provide additional employment.

More specifically, purchasing renewable energy helps:

lower our region’s dependence on fossil fuels, so our energy supply becomes more self-sufficient
improve air quality
protect human health
encourage development of renewable energy sources in our region
preserve the environment and conserve resources for future generations

Renewable energy can also:

create economic benefits for communities,
create self-sufficiency
minimize impact of personal behavior

What is renewable energy?
Renewable energy is electricity that is produced from sources that replenish themselves naturally such as wind, sunlight (solar), landfill and agricultural waste (biomass), and the heat of the earth (geothermal). These renewable sources have less impact on the environment than traditional methods of electricity generation, which includes burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. Natural gas and coal, for example, are not renewable because their use consumes gas and coal reserves at a much quicker rate than they are replenished.

Why is renewable energy important?
Renewable energy produces lower levels of air pollutants, wastewater, smog and acid rain, and it can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By purchasing renewable energy, you can help protect the environment by offsetting the need for more fossil fuel generation. In addition, renewable energy can help reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.

I’m interested in generating my own renewable energy. How do I find out more?
Our net metering option allows customers to generate all or a portion of their electricity needs through small scale renewable energy generating equipment.

How is renewable energy sold?
Renewable energy can be purchased as bundled, with the energy commodity and the corresponding green power attribute combined, or as separate components.

First, there is the energy commodity. This is the actual electricity produced at facilities that generate the renewable electricity. The electricity generated is sold as conventional/generic (market) power stripped of its environmental attributes. No environmental claims can be made on this power, because it is separate from the associated green tag that represents the environmental attributes.

Second, there are tradable renewable credits (green tags) that verify the sources of green energy production. A green tag represents the environmental attributes (benefits) associated with generation by renewable technologies like wind and solar energy, and represents a certain number of renewable energy kilowatt-hours. Because the renewable power must be generated to produce a green tag, customers who purchase green tags are reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the system, thereby helping to reduce the overall amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Other information resources:

The Green Power Network
Renewable Northwest Project
American Wind Energy Association
Renewable Energy Atlas