FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 11, 2007

RE: Lacey, Washington Designated “Green Power Community” by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

CONTACTS:	Scott Spence, Lacey Public Affairs Office, (360) 491-3214
	Dave Ryan, Environmental Protection Agency, (202) 564-7827

LACEY, WA (October 11, 2007) -- Lacey, Washington, has been named a “Green Power Community” by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in recognition of its overall commitment to green power use—making it one of only twelve such cities in the nation. The EPA bestows the honor on communities that meet or exceed minimum green power purchasing benchmarks. EPA’s “Welcome to a Green Power Community” signage will be placed at major city entrances, and Lacey will be recognized in the agency’s program materials.

More than 5 percent of the collective electrical energy used in Lacey’s homes, businesses and offices is green power, representing more than 17 million kilowatt-hours. The resulting annual reduction of approximately 9,000 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is equivalent to the amount of carbon stored by 6,545 acres of native forest—or taking 1,700 vehicles off the road.

“Lacey is a green power leader and we’re proud to serve this environmentally-aware, energy-conscientious community,” said Cal Shirley, vice president of Energy Efficiency Services for Puget Sound Energy. “PSE was pleased to be able to assist in this achievement.”

Green power comes from renewable, non-polluting resources—including wind, solar energy, and biomass. All of the green electricity purchased in Lacey is produced in the Pacific Northwest and is Green-E certified, which ensures that strict environmental standards are met.

According to the EPA, the burning of fossil fuels—including coal, oil, and natural gas—to generate electricity is the nation’s single-largest industrial source of air pollution. Nearly 45 percent of the electrical energy consumed in the Pacific Northwest is produced by power plants using these resources. Choosing renewable, environmentally-sound energy sources reduces carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxide in the air, and reduces the production of acid rain.

The Lacey City Council has proclaimed November as “Green Power Month” and issued a “Green Power Challenge” to residents and businesses to support further development of renewable energy by implementing at least partial use of green power in their homes and places of business. “All of us should consider making this relatively-painless yet astonishingly-effective choice,” said Lacey Mayor Virgil Clarkson. “A sustainable energy supply and healthier environment benefits everyone.”

Green power can be purchased in increments starting as small as $4 per month. Visit Puget Sound Energy at www.pse.com, or call 1-800-562-1482, for more information.

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