CHELAN COUNTY PUD AND BONNEVILLE ENVIRONMENTAL FOUNDATION TEAM UP TO SOLAR POWER SCHOOLS

March 20, 2003 (Wenatchee, WA) Revenues from production of solar power at Wenatchee Valley College will be used to build three new solar power stations at schools in Chelan County through an agreement with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF).

The 10-kilowatt solar array at Wenatchee Valley College is part of Chelan County PUD's Sustainable Natural Alternative Power (SNAP) program. The college installation features 132 solar panels on the roof of the Eller-Fox Science Center. The panels began producing energy about a year ago and to date have produced more than 10,600 kilowatt hours (kWh) or about half the total amount of energy used by a typical all-electric home in Chelan County.

"The college is one of five local generators of alternative power in the SNAP program and, at 10 kilowatts, is a significant producer," said Jim White, senior engineer at the PUD. As such, the college will be entitled to about $13,000 of the annual payments made to local SNAP producers.

Initially, the college intended to turn those proceeds back to the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, which provided startup funding for purchasing and installing the solar equipment. "We have been so impressed with the success of the SNAP program," said Angus Duncan, BEF President, "that we would like these dollars to stay in Chelan County and be used to install additional solar stations tied to education."

The money will be used to help build solar installations at three schools in Chelan County. Students at the schools will be able to help install the solar panels, monitor their output, and compare their power production with that at other schools in the Pacific Northwest.

About SNAP
The SNAP program, initiated in 2001, links neighbors to neighbors, connecting small producers of solar and wind power in Chelan County with local customers interested in purchasing that power. In addition to the college, there are three other local solar producers and one wind producer. PUD customers pay a little extra on their electric bills to support solar and wind energy. All funds earmarked for SNAP go directly to the local producers who supply power into the PUD's electrical grid for use by local customers.

For more information, visit the PUD's Web site (www.chelanpud.org/snap) or call the PUD's SNAPLine at 509-667-4242.

About BEF
The Bonneville Environmental Foundation, a non-profit organization, was established in 1998 to further the development and use of new renewable energy resources. Through revenues generated from the sales of green power products, BEF funds projects that restore damaged watersheds and support new renewable energy projects from solar, wind and bio-mass. BEF pioneered the sale of Green Tags in 1999 and has helped establish national standards for certification and trading. Created by regional environmental groups and the Bonneville Power Administration, the Foundation operates collaboratively but independent of both. Visit online at www.B-E-F.org

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