MOAB, Utah — Since reaping recognition as the nation’s first Blue Sky community last fall, Moab continues its march to bring more renewable power online. The River Canyon Lodge, C&H Enterprises, Moab Fitness Center and Canyon Voyages Adventure Co. are among the many area businesses that have signed up for Blue Sky wind energy through Rocky Mountain Power.

Last November, the U.S. Environmental Agency (EPA) recognized Utah’s Greater Moab Area as the nation's first Green Power Community — the first in the nation to meet and exceed the EPA Green Power Partnership’s minimum benchmark for green power usage with voluntary purchases. Moab achieved its status by buying Blue Sky wind energy from Rocky Mountain Power.

The River Canyon Lodge, owned by Quintstar Management Company, is buying 58 blocks of Blue Sky, which qualifies the company as a Visionary-level participant in Rocky Mountain Power’s renewable program.

“I was motivated to become involved because I recognized the importance of energy conservation in the hospitality industry,” said Steven Wang, Quintstar’s managing director. “We offer an energy-efficient hotel, and we hire people who are keen on protecting our natural resources.”

Rocky Mountain Power’s Blue Sky program gives customers a way to bring more renewable power into the system and to take advantage of its environmental benefits. Rocky Mountain Power sells Blue Sky in 100-kilowatt-hour block increments for $1.95 each, in addition to a customer’s regular monthly electric bill. Enrollment is optional and customers can increase their participation or withdraw at any time.

Just one block of Blue Sky has the same environmental benefit of either not driving 2,500 miles or planting a half acre of trees. Most of Blue Sky comes from wind power. Wind is an attractive form of energy generation because it helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Wind produces no air pollutants, wastewater, smog or acid rain.

Another building manager, Ted Draper at C&H Enterprises, said, “The decision to purchase wind-generated power was based upon three things: direct input from the tenants in the building (led the by Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance), the encouragement by local business and community leaders in Moab to become the first designated "green community" in the country, and the building’s owner’s commitment to the development of alternative energy sources.”

In addition to the Blue Sky program, the building also participates in a recycling program (Green Solutions) with service paid for by one of the tenants, the Red Rock Bakery and Net Café, located at 74 S Main St. As a champion-level Blue Sky participant, C&H buys 20 blocks per month.

More than 14 percent of Moab area customers are participating in the Blue Sky program. This percentage is significantly higher than any other community Pacific Power or Rocky Mountain Power serves —and well above the national average. The community is now linking 3.6% of its energy use to wind energy through the Blue Sky program. Currently, Moab businesses are homes are buying the equivalent amount of renewable energy used by 363 average Utah households each month.

John Fogg, of the Moab Fitness Center, said Moab Mayor Dave Sakrison encouraged him to enroll in Blue Sky. He said that the fitness center already conserves energy because its four separate heating and cooling systems use timers to heat rooms only when needed. Fogg said that purchasing 10 blocks of Blue Sky each month is an addition contribution towards saving our natural resources.

Don Oblak, owner of Canyon Voyages Adventure Co., believes wind power is an important step forward. The river rafting company buys 10 blocks of Blue Sky per month, which is 38 percent of its usage.

“We’d love to encourage alternative energy resource development,” said Oblak. “Certainly wind power is one that’s on the forefront, and we want to see that continue in other states, and even bring more solar into the mix. I want us to get away from more fossil fuel use. We’re happy to support Blue Sky here in the community and we hope people in other towns will look at it too.”

For more information or to sign up for Blue Sky, call 1-800-842-8458 or e-mail www.bluesky@pacificorp.com . Customers can sign up on line at www.rockymtnpower.net/bluesky .

More about Rocky Mountain Power and Blue Sky

Rocky Mountain Power is the state’s largest electric utility, serving about 675,000 Utah customers with reliable, safe, low-cost electricity. While Rocky Mountain Power already buys renewable energy for its customers, Blue Sky is a way customers can voluntarily help bring even more renewable power into the system, and to help drive wind farm development. In Utah, Blue Sky Community Challenges have been issued in Salt Lake City, Park City, Moab and Sundance. Blue Sky has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy as a leading green utility program in terms of customer participation.  In Utah, more than 13,917 residential and business customers participate. More than 36,000 customers buy Blue Sky in the western U.S.

About Utah Clean Energy

Utah Clean Energy is a nonprofit public interest group working to speed the transition to a cleaner, safer more sustainable energy future.  Through advocacy, education and diverse partnerships Utah Clean Energy advances the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency.