Bonneville Environmental Foundation

BEF QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
SEPTEMBER 2005

Thanks to the generosity of the Vote For Change Renewable Energy Project, consisting of Stone Gossard, Pearl Jam, REM, Bonnie Raitt, and the Dave Matthews Band, students at Orlo Vista Elementary School are enjoying a new solar electric system. This 1.1 kW installation, unveiled on August 6th during the 2005 Solar World Congress, is the first of eight systems to be installed around the country by BEF on behalf of these dedicated Vote For Change artists in an effort to raise awareness of the environmental impacts of our energy choices. Teachers from this Orlando, Florida school also received a complementary renewable energy curriculum package. The lesson plans use real-time, web-based data from the school’s own PV system to teach the students about the benefits of renewable energy and to educate them on related energy consumption and conservation issues.

Additional information about the Orlo Vista solar installation can be found at: http://www.b-e-f.org/renewables/orlo_vista.shtm.

In July, BEF’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to partner with the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and make an initial commitment of $100,000 to support a 10-year watershed restoration and monitoring program in Benewah Creek, Idaho. This initial pledge of support represents the first step toward establishing BEF’s newest 10-year Model Watershed Restoration site.

BEF’s commitment to support this project over the next decade will substantially improve the Coeur d’Alene Tribe’s ability to execute comprehensive, effective, and scientific restoration actions. Over time, BEF expects its long-term commitment to Benewah Creek to produce substantial habitat improvements and to restore a robust and self-sustaining population of native cutthroat trout to the watershed.

Tom Starrs, BEF's vice president of marketing and sales, is also the Chair of the Board of Directors of the American Solar Energy Society (ASES). Tom worked with the organizers of this year's ASES/ISES Solar World Congress (Congress) to help them 'green' all of the electricity used to power the meeting rooms, exhibition area, and hotel rooms at the event. By purchasing BEF Green Tags, the Congress organizers are supporting the addition of clean wind, solar and other renewable resources to the power grid.

In addition, the Congress offered its attendees three options to green their travel to and from the event as part of the registration process. The choices reflected three modes of transportation and average distances traveled by attendees, and more than 110 attendees chose to green their Congress travel. BEF dedicated $2 per Green Tag purchased towards a special fund to support the ASES Yellott Award Scholarship Fund.

BEF's president and CEO, Angus Duncan, joined Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski at the Governor's recent announcement that he would veto a bill intended to prevent the adoption of stricter tailpipe pollution standards. The Governor also announced that the state will begin using a carsharing program offered by Flexcar (another BEF customer) to replace its 16 fleet cars. The Oregonian said that the Governor "has kept faith with current and future Oregonians who will otherwise pay the price for our delay in addressing global warming." Angus was present at the announcement because he is a member of the Governor's Advisory Group on Global Warming, and will be a member of a new working group established by the Governor to recommend ways to reduce carbon emissions from the electric utility sector.

Former Oregon Senator Mark Hatfield, Chairman of the Board of Directors of BEF, is the 2005 recipient of the Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service. The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, part of the Smithsonian Institution, will present the award at a benefit dinner in Portland, Oregon on September 27. Previous recipients of this award include President Clinton, Vice President Dick and Lynne Cheney, Senator John McCain, James A. Baker III, Senator John Glenn and Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan. We would like to note that even on this distinguished list, we would all designate him as first among equals. Congratulations, Senator Hatfield!

Featured Green Tag Customer: The Holland Inc.

The Holland Inc. is committing to use renewable energy produced in the Pacific Northwest to offset 100 percent of the electricity use at all its Burgerville and Noodlin' restaurants throughout the Pacific Northwest. The Holland Inc. is purchasing Green Tags from the Bonneville Environmental Foundation and wind power from the following BEF-supplied utilities: Portland General Electric, Clark Public Utilities, and Cowlitz Public Utility District. By purchasing Green Tags and wind power, The Holland Inc. and its restaurants will avoid adding 17.4 million pounds of CO2 to the region annually -- the equivalent of taking approximately 1,700 cars off the road.

“BEF applauds The Holland Inc. on its commitment to helping offset greenhouse gas emissions as part of its broader commitment to sustainable business practices,” said Tom Starrs, COO and vice president of marketing and sales for BEF. “We hope that more businesses will join The Holland Inc. in supporting green energy programs locally and nationally.”

100% Renewable

The Green-e Program certifies that BEF Green Tags meet the minimum environmental and consumer protection standards established by the non-profit Center for Resource Solutions. For more information on Green-e certification requirements, call 1-888-63-GREEN or log onto www.green-e.org.