CAMAS, Wash. — In another example of commitment to the environment, Georgia-Pacific Corp.’s Camas mill recently became the largest participant in Pacific Power’s Blue Sky renewable energy program of any other electricity customer within the utility’s service area. Pacific Power’s Blue Sky program gives all customers, large and small, a way to grow the demand for wind energy and take advantage of its environmental benefits. 

 “Georgia-Pacific has always put a high value on renewable energy, protecting and enhancing the environment and operating as efficiently as possible,” said Mike Tompkins, vice president and Camas mill manager. “Pacific Power’s Blue Sky program was the perfect vehicle to advance that commitment one step further and demonstrate how serious we are about investing in initiatives that truly make a positive impact.”

Georgia-Pacific’s Camas mill has been very involved with energy efficiency projects since 2003. Mill engineers worked with Pacific Power, Harris Group, Inc., and the Energy Trust of Oregon to identify a number of projects which significantly improved the energy efficiency of the mill.

 “Our participation in Blue Sky seemed like the logical next step given the significant commitment we’ve made to energy efficiency,” said Tompkins. “We know our efforts with investment and efficiency will make a substantial and lasting impact in our local area and for our environment.”

By buying tens of thousands of blocks of Blue Sky each month, Georgia-Pacific is offsetting 1,122 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per month, which has the environmental benefit of taking 2,304 cars off the road or planting 441 acres of trees per month.

 “To say Georgia-Pacific’s commitment to Blue Sky is outstanding is an understatement. This level of participation not only provides substantial benefits for the environment, but also goes a long way in bringing positive economic support to the region,” said Matthew Wright, executive vice president of Pacific Power. “We’re delighted to see Georgia-Pacific emerge as a leader in renewable energy, setting an example for other businesses to follow.”

Blue Sky energy comes from wind power. Wind is an attractive form of energy generation because it helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Wind produces no air pollutants, wastewater, smog or acid rain. Blue Sky helps spur renewable power development and supports additional amounts of clean, renewable energy.

Participation in Blue Sky is affordable. Pacific Power sells Blue Sky in 100-kilowatt-hour block increments for $1.95 each, in addition to a customer’s regular monthly electric bill. Buying just one block of Blue Sky a month for a year has the same environmental benefit of either not driving 2,500 miles or planting a half acre of trees. Large customers can buy renewable power in bulk at a discount through Blue Sky QS.

While Pacific Power already buys renewable energy for its customers, Blue Sky helps bring even more wind power into the system and encourages wind farm development. Pacific Power’s Blue Sky customers added two new wind farms to the voluntary program’s renewable portfolio, buying energy from the Pleasant Valley Wind Energy facility near Evanston, Wyo., and from Nine Canyon Wind Project near Kennewick, Wash.

For more information or to sign up for Blue Sky, call 1-800-842-8458 or e-mail 
bluesky@pacificorp.com . Customers can sign up on line at 
www.pacificpower.net/bluesky

Pacific Power and Blue Sky
Pacific Power serves more than 517,000 Oregon customers and more than 122,000 Washington customers with reliable, safe, low-cost electricity. Pacific Power provides electricity to the Georgia-Pacific Camas mill via a substation and transmission line connection in Troutdale, Ore. In Washington, more than 1,586 residential and business customers participate in Blue Sky. In Oregon, more than 21,777 customers participate in Blue Sky. More than 43,400 customers buy Blue Sky in the Western U.S. Pacific Power, and sister company, Utah Power, provide electricity to about 1.6 million customers in Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho, Wyoming and Utah. For more information, visit  www.pacificpower.net/bluesky .

Georgia-Pacific Corporation
Headquartered at Atlanta, Georgia-Pacific is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and marketers of tissue, packaging, paper, pulp, and building products and related chemicals. The company employs approximately 55,000 people at more than 300 locations in North America and Europe.  Its familiar consumer tissue brands include Quilted Northern®, Angel Soft®, Brawny®, Sparkle®, Soft 'n Gentle®, Mardi Gras®, So-Dri®, Green Forest® and Vanity Fair®, as well as the Dixie® brand of disposable cups, plates and cutlery.  Georgia-Pacific’s building products manufacturing business has long been among the nation’s leading suppliers of building products to lumber and building materials dealers and large do-it-yourself warehouse retailers.  For more information, visit www.gp.com .

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