Innovation, leadership spark Renewable Energy
Celebration at the Vancouver Water Center

Event highlights three new solar power systems funded by Clark Public Utilities’ Green Lights Program: Water Resources Education Center, Camas High School, and La Center High School

Vancouver, Wash. (April 5, 2007) - The community participated in a Renewable Energy Celebration featuring displays, information and a new solar kiosk and panel at the City of Vancouver’s Water Resources Education Center on April 5, 2007.
 
The event highlighted Green Lights, the voluntary renewable energy program that Clark Public Utilities offers to its electricity customers through a partnership with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation. As a direct result of the program’s success in the development of clean, earth-friendly electricity, the utility and the foundation have funded three new solar-electric systems at the City of Vancouver’s Water Resources Education Center, Camas High School, and La Center High School. The Water Center is also participating in the utility’s Green Lights program to offset the remainder of the facility’s energy use in addition to the installation of the solar project.
 
The event displayed an educational kiosk showing real-time solar benefits. Event speakers included Clark Public Utilities Commissioner Nancy Barnes, City of Vancouver Mayor Royce Pollard and Bonneville Environmental Foundation President Angus Duncan.  
 
As an added spark to the event, Green Lights business partners Burgerville USA, and others, along with local organizations promoted sustainability and provided displays and information on how the community can participate and support renewable energy and sustainability.

“This is a terrific example of how local communities can make a significant impact on a worldwide issue,” Mayor Pollard said. “Sustainability is important for all of us, and Vancouver is poised to be a leader in this area. From the new solar panel and Green Lights power at the Water Center, to the new energy-saving LED lights in our traffic signals and more, Vancouver’s efforts today are preserving the health of our community for the future.”

The solar systems are designed to demonstrate the viability of renewable energy resources within urban areas of the Pacific Northwest. These projects represent the next installation in a series of existing local reinvestment projects made possible by the generous support of participating Green Lights customers.  The three new sites capitalize upon the importance of engaging the minds and imaginations of our younger citizens in preparing for a future that increasingly depends upon renewable energy sources.
 
“We’re pleased that the City of Vancouver’s Water Resources Center has joined our Green Lights program,” said Clark Public Utilities Commissioner Nancy Barnes. “Some of the funding from our customers goes to build demonstration projects in Clark County, and the center is a very visible location for that. We hope it will encourage others to join this voluntary effort.“

About the photovoltaic (PV) and monitoring systems
The PV systems at each of these sites include six Sharp 170-watt modules allowing for a peak capacity of approximately 1,020 watts.  The systems are expected to generate more than 1,000 kilowatt-hours per year of renewable electricity.  The data acquisition and monitoring system, from Fat Spaniel Technologies, Inc., will allow visitors to the Water Resources Education Center and the students of Camas and La Center high schools to collect system performance information for presentation and analysis. For more information on these and other Green Lights projects or to see how the systems are performing visit: http://www.b-e-f.org/renewables.

Revenues from the sale of Green Lights power is used to purchase more renewable energy and to fund additional demonstration-style solar projects in Clark County.
 
About Clark Public Utilities
Clark Public Utilities is a customer-owned public utility district that provides electric service to more than 175,000 customers throughout Clark County.  The utility also provides water service to more than 29,000 homes and businesses in the Hazel Dell, Salmon Creek, Lakeshore, Hockinson, Brush Prairie, La Center, Meadow Glade, Amboy and Yacolt areas. For more information, visit www.clarkpublicutilities.com.
 
About the Bonneville Environmental Foundation
The Bonneville Environmental Foundation is a national non-profit organization, established in 1998 to restore watershed ecosystems and 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 biomass.  BEF pioneered the sale of Green Tags in 2000 and has helped establish national standards for certification and trading.  More information is available on the web at
www.b-e-f.org or www.GreenTagsUSA.org.

About the Water Resources Education Center
Overlooking the Columbia River, the City of Vancouver’s Water Resources Education Center offers exhibits, events and educational programs designed to teach us all how to be excellent stewards of water resources and how to use water wisely. The Water Center, a division of the city’s Department of Public Works, is also caretaker of one the metropolitan area’s few remaining natural Columbia River riparian areas, nearly 50 protected acres of adjacent wetlands providing feeding, nesting and resting habitat for more than 120 species of fish and wildlife.

The Water Center’s general hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Admission is free. From Interstate 5 or Interstate 205, take state Highway 14 to Exit 1. Turn south under the highway, then east at the Columbia Shores intersection onto Columbia Way and head east about 3 miles to the Center. More information is available on the Internet at www.cityofvancouver.us/watercenter
 
Contacts

For Clark Public Utilities:
Mick Shutt
mshutt@clarkpud.com
360-992-3238

For the Bonneville Environmental Foundation:
Michele Hirschhorn
MicheleHirschhorn@b-e-f.org
503-248-1905
 
For the Water Resources Education Center:
Rich McConaghy
Rich.mcconaghy@ci.vancouver.wa.us
360-696-8478