FLAKEBOARD'S ALBANY PLANT SELECTS BLUE SKY RENEWABLE ENERGY
Posted: March 15th, 2010 10:26 AM
Contact: Tom Gauntt, 503-813-7291 March 12, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Flakeboard's Albany plant selects Blue Sky renewable energy
Composite panels maker chooses award-winning Pacific Power program
ALBANY, Ore. — Flakeboard, a world pioneer in reusing wood by-products and co-products once seen as waste, is also leading the way with renewable energy with its recent commitment to Pacific Power's Blue Sky program.
"Flakeboard's mission is to be an industry leader through commitment to people, quality, innovation and service while respecting the environment and communities in which we operate," said Malisa Maynard, environmental, health and safety manager. "The Blue Sky program enables us to use sustainable energy to support our efforts toward environmental stewardship. In this respect Blue Sky forms an excellent fit for our strategic vision of continual progress."
The Blue Sky renewable energy purchase amounts to 971 blocks of 100 kilowatts each month. Over the course of a year, the commitment avoids putting 710 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and has the same environmental benefit as not driving 1.4 million miles.
This commitment makes Flakeboard a Visionary partner in the Blue Sky Program.
Blue Sky renewable energy comes from new wind projects, the majority of which are in the Pacific Northwest. These facilities help offset emissions from traditional generation sources and stimulate even more investment in new renewable generation facilities.
"Leading by example is the best possible way to encourage support for renewable energy," said Pat Egan, Pacific Power vice president of customer and community affairs. "Blue Sky provides an easy, accessible way for customers to make a difference. We also think Blue Sky is good for business, because customers are starting to request or choose to spend their dollars with businesses that are using sustainable practices, and particularly renewable energy, like Blue Sky."
"Environmental responsibility is paramount at Flakeboard," said Maynard. "Our entire product range starts as wood chips, shavings and sawdust, materials once considered by others to be waste. We regard it as a valuable resource, essentially recycling a significant amount of material once destined to be burned or land filled. Manufacturing from wood byproducts and co products enables the forestry industry to use more than 95 percent of the tree."
The Blue Sky program provides Pacific Power customers with an easy way to support renewable energy development in the region and offset the impact of their electricity usage. When customers enroll in Blue Sky, Pacific Power purchases renewable energy credits from renewable energy facilities. This guarantees that electricity from these renewable resources is delivered into the regional power pool and helps drive more new renewable energy development. Electricity produced by renewable energy facilities helps offset electricity generated from other, nonrenewable sources, creating measurable environmental benefits.
Customers have a range of options when it comes to buying Blue Sky renewable energy: Blue Sky Block, Usage or Habitat. Whichever option they choose, Blue Sky allows customers to offset emissions from energy usage by supporting renewable resources for as little as $1.95 per month. Participation in any of these plans is optional, and customers can change their level of participation or withdraw at any time. Pacific Power customers who want to learn more about which option is best for them may call Pacific Power at 800-769-3717 or visit www.pacificpower.net/bluesky.
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About Blue Sky
Strong customer support has enabled the Blue Sky program to be instrumental in the creation of more federally recognized Green Power Communities than any other program in the nation. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has ranked Blue Sky fifth or better in the nation for the sixth consecutive year in the number of customers buying renewable power and for renewable power sales volume. Blue Sky was named national 2007 Green Power Program of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. The program is Green-e Energy Certified, which means the renewable energy supported meets the rigorous national environmental and consumer-protection standards established by the nonprofit Center for Resource Solutions. For more information on Green-e Energy, visit www.green-e.org/energy. More than 39,000 customers in the Northwest are part of Blue Sky.
About Pacific Power
In 2010, Pacific Power celebrates 100 years serving customers and communities. From our beginnings -- serving 7,000 customers in four Northwest communities -- Pacific Power now provides electric service to more than 724,000 customers in Oregon, Washington and California. Our goal is to provide our customers with value for their energy dollar, and safe, reliable electricity, for another 100 years. Pacific Power is part of PacifiCorp, one of the lowest-cost electricity producers in the United States, with 1.7 million customers in six western states. For more information, visit www.pacificpower.net.
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