June 15, 2010

MEDFORD, Ore. – Batzer Construction, Inc. worked on some of the first commercial wind energy projects being built in California in the 1980s. Now the company is further burnishing its renewable reputation by becoming a Pacific Power Blue Sky partner.

Batzer Construction, a national leader in installing prefabricated steel buildings, is known as the “business builder” for having built hundreds of commercial construction projects for all types of businesses in Oregon. That means, besides being a builder, Batzer has its own onsite steel fabrication shop in Medford.

“Fabricating custom steel structures uses a lot of energy,” said Russ Batzer, president. “It’s the responsible thing to try and shift our power sources to more renewable sources. Our electricity usage level allows us a big impact on the ways power is produced, much bigger than the typical office building.”

Batzer is purchasing 20 blocks per month through Blue Sky. The Blue Sky purchase has tangible environmental benefits. Over the course of a year, the commitment avoids putting 29,240 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and has the environmental equivalent of not driving nearly 30,000 miles.

Blue Sky provides Pacific Power customers a way to support wind powered generation and other renewable energy sources such as solar, low-emissions biomass and geothermal. Supporting renewable energy through a voluntary program like Blue Sky helps stimulate even more investment in new renewable generation facilities.

“Leading by example as Batzer Construction does is the best possible way to encourage support for renewable energy,” said Pat Egan, Pacific Power vice president of customer and community affairs. “Blue Sky provides an easy, accessible way for customers to make a difference. We also think Blue Sky is good for business, because customers are starting to request or choose to spend their dollars with businesses that are using sustainable practices, and particularly renewable energy, like Blue Sky.”

Batzer is a sustainability leader in other areas as well. The company focuses strongly on recycling materials at construction sites, which are the major consumer of materials in their business. But, back in the office, Batzer is also working at going green by transitioning from paper to digital record keeping wherever possible.

“Like all Oregonians, we recycle paper, plastic, cans, bottles, cardboard and metals,” said Batzer. “Every now and then when traveling to other parts of the country, we realize just how unique the Northwest is for its daily ethics of recycling. We do those things, but so does everyone else, or at least I hope they do,”

Pacific Power customers can keep adding to Blue Sky’s success by greening their own homes and businesses. Buying just one, 100-kilowatt hour block of Blue Sky power costs only $1.95 per month. Blue Sky is recognized nationally as one of the most affordable renewable energy programs. Customers can buy as many blocks as they wish. Large business customers can buy renewable power in bulk at a discount through the Blue Sky QS program.

Enrollment in Blue Sky is optional and customers can increase their participation or withdraw at any time. Customers can sign up for Blue Sky renewable power by calling Pacific Power at 800-769-3717 or by visiting www.pacificpower.net/bluesky.

About Blue Sky
Strong customer support has enabled the Blue Sky program to be instrumental in the creation of more federally recognized Green Power Communities than any other program in the nation. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has ranked Blue Sky fifth or better in the nation for the seventh consecutive year in the number of customers buying renewable power and for renewable power sales volume. The program is Green-e Energy Certified, which means the renewable energy supported meets the rigorous national environmental and consumer-protection standards established by the nonprofit Center for Resource Solutions. For more information on Green-e Energy, visit www.green-e.org/energy. More than 39,000 customers in the Northwest are part of Blue Sky.

About Pacific Power
In 2010, Pacific Power celebrates 100 years serving customers and communities. From our beginnings — serving 7,000 customers in four Northwest communities — Pacific Power now provides electric service to almost 730,000 customers in Oregon, Washington and California. Our goal is to provide our customers with value for their energy dollar, and safe, reliable electricity, for another 100 years. Pacific Power is part of PacifiCorp, one of the lowest-cost electricity producers in the United States, with 1.7 million customers in six western states. For more information, visit www.pacificpower.net

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