BEND, Ore. — Nature’s General Store, a local health food store located in Bend’s Wagner Mall, is investing in renewable energy through Pacific Power’s Blue Sky program.

Blue Sky enables customers to help bring more renewable energy into the region. Energy generated from wind, biomass, solar and geothermal helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Wind power produces no air pollutants, wastewater, smog or acid rain.

“I signed up for Blue Sky because I believe that if we don’t do something about conserving our resources today, then it will be the same as not writing a will. I want to make sure that there’s something left for our children and future generations,” said owner Debbie Houser, who started Nature’s in 1983.

Over the course of a year, Nature’s Blue Sky purchase of 17 blocks of Blue Sky each month reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 20 tons a year, which has the same environmental benefit as not driving 43,700 miles or planting 4,020 trees.

Houser has an established record of environmental stewardship. She was one of the founding contributors to the Central Oregon Environmental Center in 1987 and continues her support. At Nature’s, Houser reduced energy consumption by replacing the store’s light ballasts with energy-efficient models.

“Nature’s Blue Sky purchase helps both the environment and the local economy,” said Angela Jacobson, Pacific Power’s regional community manager. “Supporting renewable energy is a simple way to make a significant positive impact.”

Buying just one, 100-kilowatt hour increment of Blue Sky Block costs only $1.95 per month. Oregon customers also can choose Blue Sky Usage, in which customers receive their equivalent energy usage from renewable resources, or Blue Sky Habitat, in which customers buy renewable energy, plus make a donation to The Nature Conservancy of Oregon to preserve native fish habitat. Large customers can buy renewable power in bulk at a discount through Blue Sky Quantity Savings.

Buying Blue Sky helps support local wind farm development. Recently, Pacific Power purchased 40,000 megawatt hours of wind power from the Nine Canyon Wind Project. Located near the Stateline Wind facility on the Oregon-Washington border, 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.

Enrollment in Blue Sky is optional and customers can change their participation or withdraw at any time. For more information or to sign up for Blue Sky, go to www.pacificpower.net/bluesky or call 1-800-769-3717. 

Media inquiries: newsdesk@pacificorp.com