Aug. 25, 2005 - City of Boulder challenges community to increase wind power purchases

Thursday, Aug. 25, 2005

Contact(s):
Sarah Van Pelt, Office of Environmental Affairs,
(303) 441-1914
Susan Innis, Western Resource Advocates,
(303) 444-1188, ext 221
Jodie Carroll, Media Relations, (303) 441-3155

City Web site: www.bouldercolorado.gov

City of Boulder challenges community to increase wind power purchases

The City of Boulder is partnering with Western Resource Advocates and renewable energy suppliers to challenge the Boulder community to increase its renewable energy purchases. The Wind Power 500 Challenge seeks to sign up 500 additional wind power customers from the residential and commercial sectors and increase the amount of wind power purchased by existing customers by Oct. 31. The challenge was officially launched today at a press conference featuring the mayor, city council members, and select local businesses currently purchasing wind power.

People can sign up for the challenge by visiting www.cogreenpower.org or looking for challenge booths at the Farmer’s Market on Aug. 27, Sept. 10 and Sept. 24, and other community events in September and October.

September’s results will be presented at the city-sponsored workshop “Cocktails for the Climate,” to be held on Sept. 30 at Redfish Restaurant, 2027 13 th Street . The challenge will conclude on Oct. 31.

Purchasing renewable energy is beneficial in many ways, including helping the city towards its greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal, reducing air pollution, reducing water consumption at power plants, and stimulating Colorado ’s economy.

Boulder is currently one of the nation’s leading supporters of wind power, with more than 5,000 households and 300 commercial and industrial customers purchasing wind power for their home or business. Renewable energy, including the city’s hydroelectric generation, represents almost seven percent of the total electricity used in the city. Boulder hopes to qualify for membership in the Green Power Leadership Circle , which requires that eight percent of total electricity come from renewable energy.

“Windsource enables the city and customers to proactively reduce the environmental impact of their electricity use while supporting wind energy generation from Colorado wind farms,” said Andy Sulkko, product portfolio manager for Xcel Energy. “This contributes to a cleaner environment and creates skilled long-term jobs in Colorado .”

The following local renewable energy suppliers are participating in the challenge: Clean and Green; Community Energy; Renewable Choice; and Xcel Energy through its Windsource program. Western Resource Advocates has partnered with Community Energy to sell renewable energy credits from wind turbines owned by rural Colorado towns and schools.

“Western Resource Advocates is excited to be partnering with the City of Boulder to encourage community members to make sustainable energy choices,” says Jim Martin, executive director of Western Resource Advocates. “The choices we make today can benefit the environment and the economy for years to come.”

For more information, contact Western Resource Advocates at (303) 444-1188, ext. 221. Western Resource Advocates is a Boulder-based nonprofit conservation organization working to protect the Interior West’s land, air and water.