Rocky Mountain Power Blue Sky program
Seeks applicants for community-based renewable energy project funding
by Rocky Mountain Power
March 1, 2010
Do you have a bright idea for making Utah, Wyoming or Idaho greener? Could you use a little green to help make your project a reality? Beginning March 8, 2010 Rocky Mountain Power will accept applications for community-based renewable energy project funding from its Blue Sky renewable energy program.
For the past decade, Rocky Mountain Power’s Blue Sky customers have made a difference by supporting renewable energy in the region. Since 2006, Blue Sky customers also have helped fund 56 new community-based renewable energy projects in Utah, Wyoming and Idaho. Many of these projects are now completed, generating electricity and providing educational opportunities.
"We’re honored to be able to offer these funding awards to help support new community-based renewable energy projects in our service area," said Karen Gilmore, vice president of customer services for Rocky Mountain Power. "We look forward to seeing this round of applications and selecting projects that demonstrate significant community benefit for our customers."
Renewable energy projects eligible for funding awards from Rocky Mountain Power’s Blue Sky program may include those that support technologies such as wind, solar, biomass, wave, landfill gas, certified low-impact hydro and geothermal.
To be considered in this competitive application process, interested parties must complete and submit an application form along with supporting materials by 5 p.m. on Friday, May 14, 2010. Applications will be accepted beginning March 8.
This funding is available for projects in Rocky Mountain Power’s service area that are locally owned and have a generating capacity of less than 10 megawatts of electricity. Projects must be completed within two years of the receipt of funding and should focus on encouraging renewable energy market transformation. A preference is given to local community-based projects that develop renewable energy generation, support educational efforts to bring broader understanding of renewable energy development and generation, and/or invest in research and demonstration of new generation technologies.
Funding is not available for off-grid projects or projects from private individuals. For detailed criteria on project qualifications and application forms, please go to: www.rockymountainpower.net/blueskyfunds.
Entries should be thorough, and should be submitted with supporting materials such as photographs, schematics, drawings, cut sheets, narratives or anything the applicant considers useful in the project evaluation.
Materials may be submitted by mail, fax or e-mail to:
Rocky Mountain Power
Attn: Blue Sky Fund Award
One Utah Center – 24th Floor
201 S. Main Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Fax: 800-754-3114
E-mail: blueskyprojects@rockymountainpower.net
The amount available for funding awards varies year to year. In 2009, Rocky Mountain Power gave Blue Sky funding awards totaling $951,600 to 19 renewable energy projects in its service area. This funding is made possible thanks to participating Blue Sky customers.
When a customer enrolls in Blue Sky, Rocky Mountain Power purchases Green-e Energy-certified renewable energy certificates on their behalf from wind energy facilities in the region. Blue Sky funds also help support the development of smaller-scale renewable energy projects in local communities. About 31,600 Rocky Mountain Power customers currently buy Blue Sky renewable energy.
Separate from Blue Sky, Rocky Mountain Power is investing in cost-effective renewable energy to serve its customers through company-owned generation and renewable energy purchases.
"Our successful Blue Sky program, coupled with the large investments we are making in cost-effective renewable energy projects, demonstrates our company’s commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship," said Gilmore. "We see these funding awards as another strong component of our overall commitment to our customers and communities, encouraging their initiative in growing renewable energy at the local level."
Blue Sky
Blue Sky was named 2007 Green Power Program of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory ranks the company’s Blue Sky program third in the nation in the number of customers buying renewable power, and third in the nation for renewable power sales volume. To learn more about Blue Sky or to sign up, visit www.rockymountainpower.net/bluesky or call 1-800-769-3717.
Rocky Mountain Power
Rocky Mountain Power is headquartered in Salt Lake City and provides electric service to more than 982,000 customers in Utah, Wyoming and Idaho. As part of PacifiCorp, one of the lowest-cost electricity producers in the United States, Rocky Mountain Power and Pacific Power provide approximately 1.7 million customers in six Western states with reliable, efficient energy. The company works to meet growing energy demand while protecting and enhancing the environment. Visit www.rockymountainpower.net.
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