October 31, 2005 (Portland, OR) – David Evans and Associates, Inc. (DEA) announced a major expansion of its corporate sustainability initiatives with a commitment to ‘greening’ 100 percent of the company’s electricity usage through the purchase of Green Tags, also known as renewable energy credits.  DEA’s purchase will result in an increased percentage of wind power entering the Western electricity grid and a corresponding reduction in the combustion of coal and natural gas.  The company, which previously had planned to offset 100 percent of its energy use by 2025, collaborated with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) to enable a faster ramp-up of its commitment, reaching the 100 percent goal sixteen years ahead of its original target.

DEA’s new agreement with BEF has the company purchasing Green Tags to offset the environmental impacts of its electricity use at the following levels:  10 percent in 2005; 25 percent in 2006; 50 percent in 2007; 75 percent in 2008; and 100 percent in 2009.  Thereafter, the company plans to continue  ‘greening’ 100 percent of its company-wide electricity usage, representing approximately 7 million kilowatt-hours per year.  At this level, the amount of renewable energy DEA has subsidized represents an annual savings of nearly 10 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions (primarily carbon dioxide).  This is the environmental equivalent of planting over 13,000 acres of carbon-dioxide absorbing forests, or keeping almost 1,000 cars off the road for a year.

The long-term agreement enabled DEA to negotiate a substantial discount from BEF, allowing the company to obtain pricing typically associated with higher-volume Green Tag purchases.  Tom Starrs, BEF’s vice president for marketing and sales, explained:  “Our suppliers – the developers of new wind energy projects – value the security of longer-term, higher-volume purchases from BEF.  We’re just passing those savings along to key customers, such as DEA.”  The agreement also allows DEA the flexibility to adjust its purchases either upwards or downwards, to accommodate the company’s potential expansion or its continuing efforts to reduce energy use through energy efficiency and conservation measures.

With 20 offices in five western states and with more than 900 employee-owners throughout the U.S., DEA is a leading engineering design and development firm with an emphasis on energy, land development, transportation and water resources.  The company’s commitment to sustainability originated with its 2002 strategic planning process, which culminated in the development of DEA’s core purpose of improving the quality of life while demonstrating stewardship of the built and natural environments.  Its sustainability practices and programs are the vehicles through which DEA demonstrates stewardship.  As company Chairman David Evans describes it, “if we are to be stewards of  our environment, we must understand sustainability  and build sustainable practices into our internal office operations and external service offerings.”

As a further demonstration of its commitment to sustainability, DEA is also collaborating with BEF to establish a nationwide program enabling DEA employee-owners to purchase Green Tags at a substantial discount to offset their own use of electricity and natural gas, or their auto and air travel.

About BEF

The Bonneville Environmental Foundation, a non-profit organization, was 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.  Created by regional environmental groups and the Bonneville Power Administration, the Foundation operates collaboratively with but independent of both.  More information is available on the web at
www.b-e-f.org.

About DEA

Since its founding in 1976 in Portland, Oregon, DEA has become a recognized leader in progressive and sustainable engineering, design, and management solutions for complex transportation, land development, energy, and water resources projects nationwide. DEA consistently ranks among ENR’s Top 100 “Pure” Design firms in the U.S.  In 2005, CE News named DEA the 6th Best Large CE Firm to Work for in the Nation. For more information about DEA, visit www.deainc.com.