Learn more about the Blue Sky program      

• What is renewable energy and why is it important?
• How does Blue Sky work?
• What are the benefits to signing up for Blue Sky?
• By supporting Blue Sky renewable energy am I really helping to make a difference?
• How can I find out how much of an impact my purchse will make?
• What is the source of Blue Sky renewable energy?
• Where is the renewable energy for the Blue Sky program generated?   
• If I move, does my Blue Sky enrollment transfer to my new location?
• How do I sign up for the Blue Sky program?

Cost related answers

• How much does Blue Sky cost?
• Where does my money go?
• Why does participating in the Blue Sky program cost more than Basic Service?  
• How do I know I’m getting what I pay for?
• Is my renewable energy purchase tax deductible?     
  

Pacific Power and renewable energy

• Why does Pacific Power offer renewable energy options?
• What is Pacific Power doing to bring more renewable energy to the region?

Quick facts about renewable energy   

• If I choose a renewable power option, will I actually receive electricity generated from renewable energy generation sources?
• What is a Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) or “green tag”?
• Will the power to my home be dependent upon the wind blowing?
• Do wind turbines harm birds?
• Where can I get more information on renewable energy options and renewable energy generation?

Learn more about the Blue Sky program 

• What is renewable energy and why is it important?
  Renewable energy generates electricity with little or no emissions by effectively using resources that can replenish themselves naturally – in other words, they won’t run out. The natural resources that are utilized in the Blue Sky program include 100 percent new wind.   
  Renewable energy is important for many reasons, including:
  • Less impact on the environment than non-renewable sources
  • Lower levels of air pollutants and wastewater
  • Reduced greenhouse gas emissions
  • Reduced reliance on imported and domestic fossil fuels
  • Boost to local economies through job creation and investments in local renewable energy projects
    

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• How does Blue Sky work?
  When you enroll in Blue Sky, Pacific Power purchases certified renewable energy credits from regional renewable energy facilities on your behalf. This guarantees that electricity from wind facilities is delivered to the regional power system. Electricity from renewable energy facilities replaces and reduces the need for electricity generated from non-renewable sources like fossil fuels, creating measurable environmental benefits.

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• What are the benefits to signing up for Blue Sky?
  In addition to helping to build demand for renewable power, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and supporting the construction of renewable energy projects, you will receive the following benefits:
  • two online program newsletters a year
  • one annual report each January
  • a window cling to show your support

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• By supporting Blue Sky renewable energy am I really helping to make a difference?
  Yes. There are currently over 67,000 customers participating in the Blue Sky program across the company’s service area making a real difference in the Blue Sky program. In 2008, Blue Sky customers supported renewable energy equivalent to 490 million kilowatt-hours – the output of 107 utility scale wind turbines over a 12-month period.

  By making a choice to enroll in the Blue Sky renewable energy program, customers are not only helping to grow the renewable energy supply, they are also advancing the construction of new smaller-scale, community-based projects that might not otherwise be built. Several projects have been completed and a number of others are being developed. To find out more,  click here.

  Together, with voluntary customer purchases, company policies and state regulation we are helping to encourage the development of new renewable energy facilities and reduce the need for other, non-renewable sources of energy.

  Blue Sky purchases help increase demand for renewable energy generation.

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• How can I find out how much of an impact my purchse will make?
  Just click here to visit our environmental benefits calculator.

• What is the source of Blue Sky renewable energy?  
  Pacific Power's Blue Sky renewable energy programs focus on supporting regionally-supplied, newly-developed renewable energy to match a customer’s Blue Sky purchase. The product ismade up of the following resources and supports new renewable energy: 
  
• California customers
• Washington customers   

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•  Where is the renewable energy for the Blue Sky program generated?
  Renewable energy associated with the Blue Sky program comes from newly developed wind and other renewable sources in the region. These purchases help increase demand for renewable energy generation. The renewable energy supported through the Blue Sky program is sourced with preference given to resources within the Pacific Power/Rocky Mountain Power 6 state service territory, but can extend within the western region. To-date customers have supported renewable energy generation in Oregon, Washington, Montana, Wyoming and Utah. The map below illustrates the Blue Sky program in Oregon, Washington, and California. Click here for more detailed information .

For a pdf of this map,  click here .

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• 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.

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• How do I sign up for the Blue Sky program?
  Enrolling is easy, you can either click here  to enroll online or call toll free at 1-800-769-3717.

Cost related answers

• How much does Blue Sky cost?
  Blue Sky Block costs an additional $1.95 per 100 kWh block purchased and doesn’t fluctuate from month to month with your usage.

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• Where does my money go?  
  In 2008, customer funds for Blue Sky Block program were allocated as follows: 
    
  Funds received from participating customers are used to purchase renewable energy credits from regional renewable energy facilities equal to their Blue Sky purchase, to grow the support for renewable energy through customer education and outreach efforts and to cover the costs of offering the program. We are required by regulations to allocate the costs associated with the Blue Sky program to customers who choose to participate, and we don’t make a profit from offering this option to customers. Money from the Blue Sky can also be used to create funding awards for renewable energy projects throughout the company's service territory to help advance renewable energy technology. These projects included solar arrays, wind projects, a geothermal demonstration project and wave energy research.  Click here to learn more about these projects.

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• Why does participating in the Blue Sky program cost more than Basic Service?
  The program offers customers the opportunity to support the increased use of renewable energy above the amount that the company already generates or purchases on behalf of all its customers. Blue Sky provides an option for those who want to do even more to encourage additional renewable development – all for as little as $1.95 extra per month.

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• How do I know I’m getting what I pay for?
  The Blue Sky program is overseen by your state’s public utility commission and regional advisory groups. Blue Sky has achieved Green-e Energy certification from the Center for Resource Solutions. This certification process requires and annual third-party verification process audit.
  Click here to learn more. 

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• Is my renewable energy purchase tax deductible?
  Renewable energy purchases are not tax deductible because you are actually purchasing renewable energy certificates and not making a donation.

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Pacific Power and renewable energy

• Why does Pacific Power offer renewable energy options?
  The desire to give customers an opportunity to support renewable energy development above what Pacific Power is already generating, the importance of developing the regional economy, and Pacific Power’s commitment to expanding the use of renewable resources have all contributed to the existence of the Blue Sky program.

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• What is Pacific Power doing to bring more renewable energy to the region?
  In addition to Blue Sky customer purchases, Pacific Power is actively increasing our cost-effective renewable energy generation portfolio. Pacific Power’s goal is to increase our renewable energy generation portfolio to 2,000 megawatts of new renewable resource by 2013. That’s enough energy to power more than 560,000 homes! We offer you a choice to participate in the Blue Sky program because by teaming up we can do even more. Click here for information about   Pacific Power's environmental commitment .

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Quick facts about renewable energy

• If I choose a renewable power option, will I actually receive electricity generated from renewable energy generation sources?
  Because of the way the power system works, electricity from a specific facility or source does not flow directly to a specific customer. However, we guarantee that renewable energy in the exact amount you sign up to buy through Blue Sky is purchased on your behalf from newly developed facilities in the western United States. This creates measurable environmental benefits and hastens renewable energy development. These purchases of renewable energy credits are in addition to the renewable energy Pacific Power already generates.  

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• What is a Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) or “green tag”?
  Renewable energy certificates (RECs), also known as “green tags,” are proof that 1 megawatt-hour (MWh) of renewable energy was generated and delivered to the regional power pool, and they represent the environmental attributes of the power produced from renewable energy projects. RECs are sold separately from the electricity commodity.
  
  For every unit of renewable energy generated and delivered to the regional power pool, an equivalent amount of renewable energy certificates (RECs) are created representing a tracking mechanism to insure that no two customers pay for the same unit of renewable energy generation. When you sign up for Blue Sky, Pacific Power contracts for RECs to match the equivalent of your ongoing electrical needs or the number of Blue Sky blocks you elect to purchase. Thus, the more RECs that are sold, the more demand is created for renewable power. As renewable facilities sell out their RECs, demand shifts to bring more renewable energy sources online.
   
  New renewable energy sources are being constructed across the United States to meet the demand created for renewable energy. Your purchase of RECs benefits the environment by encouraging greater renewable energy generation and displacing non-renewable generation from the electricity system.

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• 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.

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• 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.  Click here  to learn more.

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• Where can I get more information on renewable energy options and renewableenergy generation? 
  Call a customer service representative at 1-800-769-3717 or explore the resources below:
  • Pacific Power’s product content label  including prices, terms, and conditions for Blue Sky Renewable energy
  • Renewable Energy Atlas of the West        
  • Green Power Network
  • Renewable Northwest Project
  • American Wind Energy Association
  • Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE)

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