BEF QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
DECEMBER 2005

Consider giving a gift of Green Tags to show your support for a clean and secure energy future.

This holiday season, BEF is partnering with REI, the leading supplier of specialty outdoor gear and clothing, to make your gift of Green Tags even more attractive.

Through December 31:
- If you purchase $60 or more of Green Tags, your gift recipient will receive a free $20 REI gift card.

- If you purchase $100 or more of Green Tags, your gift recipient will receive a free $40 REI gift card.

To obtain your REI gift card, please use Promotional Code: BEFHoliday05 during the checkout process.

To ensure that the gift arrives by December 25, you must place your order no later than Friday, December 16.

For more information click here: BEF Holiday Green Tags

Happy Holidays from the Bonneville Environmental Foundation!

Idaho Power Announces Significant Expansion of Solar 4R Schools Program

Building on the success of its first Solar 4R Schools project at The Castleford School, Idaho Power will fund the installation of five 1.1 kW demonstration solar-electric systems on schools in its service territory in the coming months.  Idaho Power will donate these systems at no cost to the schools.  In turn, project hosts will implement a renewable energy curriculum at their institutions and will undertake other forms of community solar education.

To achieve its project goals, Idaho Power has partnered with BEF to solicit, screen, and install the projects.  The Solar 4R Schools program, developed by BEF, provides a demonstrable means of educating students on the functions and benefits of solar electric power, an increasingly popular renewable resource in the northwest, at no financial cost to the schools.  In addition to producing clean, renewable energy, each school’s solar power system includes a curriculum package that uses web-based, real-time data generated by each installation to help teachers instruct students on the benefits of renewable energy. 

Visit www.b-e-f.org/grants/IdahoGuide.shtm to find the most recent information on the Idaho Solar 4R Schools application process.  Interested schools should submit a Letter of Enquiry to BEF by January 18, 2006.  BEF and Idaho Power will award projects on February 8, 2006.

Watershed Program Launches New Web Pages

BEF recently completed an overhaul of all Watershed Program information contained on the Foundation’s web site. The newly completed Watershed Program web pages reflect BEF’s unwavering commitment to a long-term, accountable, and results-based approach to restoration funding.

The new Watershed Program web pages include a Pacific Northwest map that locates funded projects alongside BEF’s growing list of 10-year Model Watersheds.  Updated web pages also contain the latest funding criteria and provide a framework for BEF to display the results of long-term restoration efforts.

We invite you to visit www.B-E-F.org and explore the new Watershed Program web pages.

Ski Season is Here - Ski Green!

The 2005/06 snowsports season has arrived and we’ve launched our 2005/06 SkiGreen.org initiative. This year, participating ski areas are offering Mini-Green Tag stickers to identify “Green Skiers” -- post them on your skis, snowboard, or car bumper to let the world know you’re doing your part to Keep Winter Cool!

Look for $2.00 Mini-Green Tags at the following ski areas: Mt. Hood Meadows, Northstar at Tahoe, Stevens Pass, Mt. Bachelor, Summit at Snoqualmie, Mission Ridge, Ski Anthony Lakes, and Cooper Spur.

Also look for special incentives from our SkiGreen sponsor, Clif Bar, when purchasing your Mini-Green Tag.

And if your favorite ski area doesn’t participate yet, please let them know about our program, and tell them you’d like to SkiGreen with them!

BEF’s New Premium Solar Product Gets a Warm Response

Just a short time after the release of our new Brighter Future™ Green Tags, we’re happy to announce our first commercial-scale supporters of this blended product, which includes a 10 percent solar, 90 percent wind mix.  Both The Bullitt Foundation and The Nature Conservancy have opted to support this premium solar product in renewing their Green Tag purchases. 

The Bullitt Foundation, based in Seattle, is a regional foundation dedicated to protecting, restoring, and maintaining the natural physical environment of the Pacific Northwest for present and future generations.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading international non-profit conservation organization, with over one million members worldwide.  Its mission is to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. 

We’re honored to have these two distinguished organizations as our customers, and delighted that they have chosen to support BEF’s innovative solar programs with their Green Tag purchase.

Thank You to Our New Green Tag Supporters:

• Nimbus
• ASES Solar World Congress
• Soundpeace
• @Motion.inc
• Community Environmental Council
• Bloomsburry Books
• Humble Earth Natural Market/FITSGO Coffee
• Sappo Hill Soapworks
• Green Mountain Engineering
• Capital Missions Co.
• Ashland High School
• Tahoe Mountain Club Company (on behalf of the Old Greenwood Natural Resource Center LEED green building project)
• ThinkHost
• Small Change Children’s Store
• Green Living and Building
• Power Wise Consulting LLC