The City of Moab was selected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy as a 2003 Green Power Leadership Award winner for its commitment to renewable energy. Moab championed renewable power through its participation in Rocky Mountain Power’s Blue Sky wind energy program.

The City of Moab and other award winners were honored recently during the Third Annual Green Power Leadership Award ceremony in Chicago, Illinois.

“The City of Moab has demonstrated great leadership in its commitment to purchasing renewable energy,” said Matt Clouse, program manager of the EPA Green Power Partnership. “Electricity generated from renewable sources — including solar, wind, small hydro, geothermal and biomass — is becoming increasingly utilized nationwide, thanks to the progressive efforts of organizations like the City of Moab. By choosing green power instead of conventional electricity, they are transforming the energy marketplace and helping clean the air, protect the environment and build a sustainable future.”

Also receiving national recognition was Sarah Wright, coordinator of the Utah Wind Power Campaign. She was praised for “outstanding leadership by a green power marketer and renewable energy advocate.” Wright has played a key, leadership role in marketing green power to Utah businesses.

“Recognition for the exceptional efforts of leading green power marketers, renewable energy advocates and government agencies is fundamental to building the renewable energy industry,” said Jan Hamrin, Executive Director of CRS. “Their contributions through innovative marketing and educational outreach lead to the green power purchases that help increase our renewable energy supply and protect our natural resources.”

Located in Southeastern Utah on the Colorado River, Moab prides itself on supporting a clean environment. In February 2002, its City Council elected to purchase 57 blocks (5,700 kilowatt-hours per month) of Rocky Mountain Power’s Blue Sky wind energy, which links 50 percent of the City’s energy use to pollution-free wind energy. Moab’s wind energy purchase offsets more than 68 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, which is equivalent to taking 12 average cars off the road for a year or planting 27 acres of trees.

Introduced in 2000, Rocky Mountain Power’s Blue Sky program gives customers a way to grow the demand for wind energy by buying 100-kilowatt-hour block increments for $1.95 each.

With support from the Utah Wind Power Campaign and Rocky Mountain Power, the Moab Blue Sky Community Challenge was created to sign up 5 percent of the area’s residents and businesses by October 2003. Moab’s Mayor, Dave Sakrison, began a personal campaign to convince area residents to join him in buying Blue Sky. He participated in presentations at the Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, Grand County Council meetings and church. He used every opportunity to educate his community about the Blue Sky program and what renewable energy means to Moab and future generations.

The City’s goal was reached in little more than one month.

“This is an amazing community to me,” Sakrison said. “It just shows our environmental concern for our community. Now, we’re going to turn it up a notch and see where the limit is.”

If the Moab community can purchase 3 percent of its energy from renewable sources – the equivalent of 2,455 blocks of Blue Sky – it can obtain national recognition from the Environmental Protection Agency through its Green Power Partner Program. Currently, the community is about halfway to its goal.

Today, nearly 9 percent of Moab’s electric customers are purchasing Blue Sky wind energy and nearly 2 percent of the community’s total energy usage now comes from renewable wind power.

Wind power helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It produces no air pollutants, wastewater, smog or acid rain. More than 6,350 Utah customers are participating in the Blue Sky wind power program.