County officials 'blown away' by response to Wind Challenge

May 12, 2008

CONTACT: Ann Livingston, Boulder County Sustainability Coordinator, 303-441-3517

Beth Powell, city of Boulder Marketing & Outreach Coordinator, Climate Action Plan Programs, 303-441-1846

County officials 'blown away' by response to Wind Challenge

More than 650 Boulder County businesses, residents sign up for wind power

(Boulder County, Colo.) - In just one month, more than 650 residents and businesses throughout  Boulder County have signed up to make the switch to wind power as part of the countywide Wind Challenge, which began April 1 and runs through July 31.

By signing up to purchase wind-powered electricity through their local wind-power providers, participants in the Wind Challenge will be getting an estimated 552,724 kWh of electricity from the clean, renewable energy source instead of from coal or natural gas, effectively reducing their greenhouse gas emissions and shrinking their carbon footprint. That amount of wind power constitutes enough electricity to power 884 average Colorado homes for one month.

Preliminary numbers for April only represent new registrations for Xcel Energy's WindSource program and don't include those from Longmont Power & Communications and the other three providers participating in the Wind Challenge, who have yet to report their April numbers.

R20;This is fabulous. I'm literally 'blown away' by this response, and I hope we can continue to keep this momentum going throughout this year's Wind Challenge," Boulder County Commissioner Ben Pearlman said.

Residents and businesses that sign up to purchase wind power do so through green "green e-certified" wind power retailers. Renewable energy providers (such as wind farms) sell the electricity they generate to utilities and sell Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) to consumers. These RECs represent the environmental benefits of the renewable energy that is produced. The energy you purchase through wind power is fed into the electricity grid and becomes a part of the mix of electricity flowing to your home or business.

All wind energy added to the grid displaces the coal or natural gas-derived electricity that would previously have been transmitted to your building. Generating and adding renewable energy to the electricity grid decreases the need to build new coal or natural gas power plants.

The Wind Challenge is part of the ClimateSmart initiative, a countywide effort to help individuals, families and businesses increase their energy efficiency and reduce their carbon footprint.

R20;In addition to switching to a more sustainable energy source, we urge you to take the most important step of all in reducing greenhouse gas emissions:  improve the energy efficiency of your home, work and travel habits," said Boulder County Sustainability Coordinator Ann Livingston.

For tips on how to improve your energy efficiency or to lean how you can participate in the Wind Challenge, visit www.beclimatesmart.com.

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Patricia Demchak
Boulder County Public Information Officer
pdemchak@bouldercounty.org
303-441-3399

"As trusted stewards of Boulder County's future, we provide the best in public service."