City Wins Legacy Award for Renewable Energy

The City of Corvallis recently received the Blue Sky Legacy Award from Pacific Power, recognizing more than a decade of participation in the utility company’s renewable energy program.

The City has been purchasing renewable energy credits through the Blue Sky program since 2001. In 2005, the practice was formalized through a City Council resolution requiring that 7 percent of all electricity used in City-owned facilities be renewable. The City currently derives 12.7 percent of its overall electricity from renewable sources. The latest revision of the City’s Strategic Operational Plan set a five-year goal of achieving 35 percent renewable energy.

Most recently, the City committed to increasing purchases of renewable electricity to offset the operations of all of streetlight and traffic signal usage citywide. This new addition equates to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of more than 1,000 tons annually. These ongoing efforts have helped reduce the City’s overall greenhouse gas footprint, which is important because nearly 78 percent of Pacific Power’s electricity is generated from coal and natural gas.

The City will continue to look for ways to invest in smart solutions to lower greenhouse gas emissions. Sustainability is a core pillar of the City’s municipal operations. For more information on sustainability in Corvallis, go to www.corvallisoregon.gov/sustainability.