CLEARFIELD, Utah — Petzl America, the North American distributor of an international company specializing in adventure, exploration and rescue equipment, is showing its commitment to the environment by purchasing Blue Sky renewable energy.

Petzl America is buying 21 blocks of Blue Sky wind energy per month for its national distribution office in Clearfield, the same amount of energy used to power three typical Utah households. The company purchases 100 percent of its electricity through Blue Sky and other renewable energy sources as part of a comprehensive renewable energy initiative.

“We supply the outdoor equipment people use to explore and enjoy nature’s frontiers, and protecting the quality of the environment is a value Petzl America shares with its clients,” said Mark “Roody” Rasmussen, president and chief executive officer of Petzl America. “Investing in Blue Sky wind energy is one way we help make a difference.” 

Rocky Mountain Power’s Blue Sky program gives customers a way to grow the demand for clean, renewable wind energy and to take advantage of its environmental benefits. It is sold in 100 kilowatt-hour increments, called blocks, for $1.95 per block per month in addition to a customer’s regular bill.

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. Just one block of Blue Sky has the same environmental benefit of either planting a half acre of trees or not driving 2,500 miles. Enrollment is optional and customers can increase their participation or withdraw at any time.

Petzl America is the U.S. division of Petzl, headquartered in France. For more than 50 years, Petzl has been developing innovative tools and techniques used by those entering the vertical world. Today, the Petzl brand is closely associated with adventure, exploration, rescue and many notable exploits in the worlds of rock climbing and alpinism. Petzl climbing hardware and headlamps can be found in outdoor specialty shops and premium sporting goods retailers around the world. For more information, log on to www.petzl.com . 

“We are purchasing enough renewable energy through Blue Sky and other wind energy sources to offset 100 percent of our energy use,” Rasmussen said. “Also, Petzl America has achieved a 21-percent reduction in energy consumption by replacing all of its lights with more efficient T-8 florescent bulbs.”

Petzl America’s Blue Sky purchase is offsetting 25.2 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually, which has the environmental benefit of planting 4,950 trees or not driving 53,991 miles.

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

More about Rocky Mountain Power and Blue Sky

Rocky Mountain Power is the state’s largest electric utility, providing safe, reliable and low-cost electric service to about 740,000 Utah customers. The U.S. Department of Energy ranked Rocky Mountain Power’s Blue Sky program second in the nation for customers enrolled in a renewable power program and third in the amount of renewable power sold. In Utah, more than 17,000 residential and business customers participate. More than 45,000 customers buy Blue Sky in the Western U.S.

Media inquiries:  newsdesk@pacificorp.com