Grants for solar installations at Tri City Water and Sanitation and Saving Grace Pet Adoption will save agencies money, reduce carbon footprints and paw prints

ROSEBURG, Ore.--Douglas County's only full service pet shelter and adoption center and the waste water treatment plant for the Myrtle Creek area will both have new solar installations by the end of the year 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 Sam Carter, Pacific Power's regional business manager for Douglas County. "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."

The Douglas County projects are part of up to $1.1 million in new renewable energy investment 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.

Tri --City Joint Water and Sanitary

The Tri-City Joint Water and Sanitary Authority will use a $200,000 grant to install and operate a 287 kilowatt capacity solar project on land adjacent its plant in Myrtle Creek. The authority serves about 4,000 residents and businesses in the area, supplying drinking water and treating waste water.

The project, planned to be complete by late summer, would supply the authority's electrical needs, thereby saving a significant amount of cash flow that can be devoted to reducing overhead for water and sewer customers.

"We are very excited about this project and the benefits it will bring to our customers and the environment," Paul Wilburn, district manager. "We hope to save more than $30,000 per year in electric bills which helps us keep costs down for our customers."


Saving Grace Inc.

Saving Grace, Inc. is the only full service animal shelter in Douglas County. Since 2002, the nonprofit has operated the county animal shelter and has adopted out, transferred to another shelter or rescue, or returned to owner over 28,000 pets.

In 2016 alone, employing more than 200 volunteers, Saving Grace brought together 1036 dogs, cats and other animals with happy adoptive families as well as reuniting 384 pets with their worried owners. Thanks to the efforts of hardworking staff and volunteers, over 60 percent of the stray dogs found are returned to their owners, a figure more than twice the ASPCA's national estimate of 26 percent.

The 43.2 kilowatt project made possible by the $130,000 grant will allow Saving Grace to save more than $5,000 per year in electric bills and reduce its carbon paw print.

"This is a project that we've wanted to do for quite some time and now it's possible thanks to Blue Sky customers," said Wendy Kang, executive director. "As a non-profit animal shelter, every dollar saved on expenses helps us provide that much more care for animals. We plan to be done with construction this summer in time for our annual fundraising event in August so that we can show off our new solar panels."




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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.