St. Charles Parish and Bridge City housing get grants that help them be more sustainable and devote more resources to their core missions

PORTLAND, Ore.--A century-old Northeast Portland parish and a new affordable housing project in Southwest Portland will both be getting solar projects to help reduce energy costs thanks in part to funding from Pacific Power customers who voluntarily participate in the Blue Sky renewable energy program.

"Our Blue Sky customers put their dollars to work in their communities," said Sheila Holden, Pacific Power's regional business manager for Portland. "Not only will these facilities supply renewable energy, but they are helping increase the visibility and adoption of renewable technology. We are proud to be part of this important partnership with communities and our Blue Sky customers to both empower technology applications and leverage resources."

The two Portland projects are part of $1.1 million in new renewable energy investment from Blue Sky customers in 2018, bringing more than 675 kilowatts of new renewable energy capacity online. Since 2006, Pacific Power Blue Sky customers have helped fund the installation of 101 community-based projects totaling 8.8 megawatts of renewable energy generation capacity, demonstrating the viability of renewable energy in their communities with more than $10 million in investment during that time.

St. Charles Parish, Portland
At St. Charles, plans call for a minimum 78 kilowatt array atop the school building, which was originally constructed in 1950. The project, which may include a storage component, will supply a high percentage of the building's electricity needs, saving the parish up to $15,000 a year in power bills and making it nearly 75 percent renewable. The $300,000 Blue Sky grant will be combined with funds from other sources.

St. Charles, located on NE 42nd Avenue near Killingsworth, is partnering with Verde, a Cully neighborhood nonprofit that builds environmental wealth with low-income people and people of color, and Neil Kelly Solar. The project is scheduled to be in service by the end of 2018.

"St. Charles Catholic Parish is very much in tune with Pope Francis and his urging that all of us need to take care of the world that gives us life", says Father.Elwin Schwab, parish priest. "Our parish of 350 families recycles most everything, and encourages its people to care for this earth. This solar project solidifies our environmental commitment while allowing us to focus more of our resources on our community and faith outreach work."

Carolina Iraheta Gonzales, Living Cully Community Energy Advocate, added: "The solar project at St. Charles Church is one of six community-based energy projects that we have identified in our Living Cully Community Energy Plan. Pacific Power's Blue Sky customers will fund our first project. We are excited to learn the skills to develop more energy projects in Cully to serve low-income families and community organizations. Verde and our Living Cully Partners believe that renewable energy projects must align with our anti-displacement efforts to help low-income families bring down energy bills and stay in their homes."

Bridge City Housing, Portland
Bridge City is developing is a mixed-income and mixed-use multifamily project located in the South Waterfront district in Portland. The project involves two buildings, one building on the east side of the site offering 177 market rate apartments and a building on the west side of the site offering 203 affordable apartments

A $72,324 Blue Sky grant will help fund a 39.7 kilowatt solar array which will power the west building's communal spaces including the lobby, leasing office, and garage. The solar array will be located on the roof of the west building.

"The solar array supports our commitment to environmentally sound developments that benefit residents and neighborhoods," said Nicole Peterson, director of development PNW for BRIDGE Housing. "The Blue Sky funding for this project also advances our goal of increasing the use of renewable energy solutions and energy efficiency across the portfolio in order to reduce emissions."


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About Blue Sky
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has ranked Blue Sky fifth or better in the nation for the 14th consecutive year in the number of customers buying renewable power. The Blue Sky Block, Usage and Habitat products are Green-e Energy certified; More than 60,000 Pacific Power customers currently participate in the Blue Sky program across Oregon, Washington and California. For more information, visit www.pacificpower.net/bluesky.

About Pacific Power
Pacific Power provides electric service to more than 740,000 customers in Oregon, Washington and California. The company works to meet growing energy demand while protecting and enhancing the environment. Pacific Power is part of PacifiCorp, one of the lowest-cost electricity producers in the United States, with 1.8 million customers in six western states Information about Pacific Power is available on the company's website, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube pages, which can be accessed via pacificpower.net.