BONNEVILLE ENVIRONMENTAL FOUNDATION REINVESTS IN CHELAN COUNTY SOLAR PROGRAM AFTER INITIAL SUCCESS

February 5,2002 (Portland, OR) - The initial success of the community solar project developed by Chelan County PUD with funding by the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) is being rewarded with additional reinvestment from the Foundation.

During 2001, BEF contributed $43,000 or approximately half of the capital costs to install a new 20 kilowatt community solar photovoltaic project in Wenatchee, Washington. In return, Chelan County PUD agreed to repay the BEF investment if the utility could sell its customers on contributing support for the program. More than 670 customers have already subscribed generating a total of $30,000.

"In response to this exceptional support of solar energy, the BEF Board of Directors voted last week to reinvest all repayment dollars due to the Foundation to support the installation of additional solar capacity," announced Angus Duncan, BEF President at the ceremony to dedicate the project on January 28, 2002.

The decision by the BEF Board directs another $15,000 that will be available to expand the project this year.

"This is the kind of success and creativity we want to endorse ," added Duncan. "The people of Wenatchee have made it work by voting with their dollars for a cleaner energy future." BEF, a non-profit organization founded in 1998 to buy and sell green power, uses its revenues to develop new renewable energy facilities and watershed restoration projects. The Chelan County PUD solar installation is the third community solar project BEF has funded in the Pacific Northwest. The first two, in partnership with the City of Ashland, Ore. and Orcas Power and Light in the San Juan Islands, Washington also have been successful in attracting community support and customer dollars to grow the programs.

In just three years, BEF has become an innovative leader in the development of the green power market nationally and in building the supply of green power and Green Tags. Created by regional environmental groups and the Bonneville Power Administration, the Foundation operates collaboratively but independent of both.

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