Swaner Nature Preserve Receives Blue Sky Funding Award from
Rocky Mountain Power
by
PR or Business News Wire
August 2007
Swaner Nature Preserve, a 1,200 acre non-profit land trust in the Snyderville Basin, is one of nine Utah beneficiaries of Rocky Mountain Power’s 2007 Blue Sky funding awards, the organization announced.
Swaner Nature Preserve was awarded $60,000 for its renewable energy plans at the future Nature Center, a 10,000 sq. foot, state-of-the art nature education center. The Center is scheduled for completion in August 2008.
The Nature Center, which is slated to be LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certified, will utilize solar power via a 6 kilowatt photovoltaic solar array on the roof of the Center. LEED is a nationally recognized standard for design and construction of sustainable architectural projects. The building will also integrate other features that promote energy efficiency and exhibit a commitment to sustainable development.
“This award demonstrates the local impact of the Blue Sky program and the growing commitment of environmentally-responsible residents and businesses regarding the need to support additional renewable energy development,” said Richard Walje, president of Rocky Mountain Power. “The funding that Swaner has been granted is a direct result of the dollars received from Rocky Mountain Power customers who participate in its Blue Sky program.”
Through the Blue Sky program, customers of Rocky Mountain Power can choose to purchase renewable energy in 100-kilowatt-hour blocks for an additional $1.95 per month, helping foster additional renewable energy development and providing a means for community-based renewable energy projects, such as the Swaner Nature Preserve’s solar array, to get off the ground. Participation in Blue Sky guarantees that additional renewable energy will be supported on the electrical system, reducing dependence on fossil fuels, protecting natural resources and encouraging diverse, renewable energy sources now and for the future.
“We are thrilled to be a recipient of this generous award, and we are so thankful to Rocky Mountain Power and its customers for their generosity and support of the Blue Sky program,” said Colleen Rush, CEO of Swaner Nature Preserve. “The beauty of the solar array at the Nature Center is that it is a tangible and visible example of the power and importance of the Blue Sky Program. This innovative building will be the first of its caliber in the Intermountain West, and a model for sustainable building on a national scale.”
Other News & Events |
