Halverson Company demonstrated its environmental commitment by becoming a champion-level partner in Rocky Mountain Power’s Blue Sky renewable energy program. Located in Salt Lake City, Halverson provides industrial bulk material handling, conveying and weighing equipment throughout the West.

Halverson’s Blue Sky purchases have nudged Salt Lake City closer to Mayor Anderson’s challenge goal of doubling the number of participants in Rocky Mountain Power’s voluntary renewable energy program.

Last year, Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson launched Salt Lake City’s Blue Sky Community Challenge, which aims to make Salt Lake City "Twice as Nice," by doubling the city's Blue Sky participation rate. Enrollments have increased by 65 percent since the start of the Twice As Nice challenge. However, in the business sector sign-ups have nearly doubled. Currently the community is just 900 enrollments short of achieving the challenge goal.

More and more businesses are finding it pays to go "green."  Socially responsible businesses are realizing environmental, social and economic benefits.

“I signed up for Blue Sky because I want my kids to grow up in an environment that provides healthier air, water and food to eat,” said Steve Halverson, company president. Founded in 1912, Halverson is in its fourth-generation of family ownership. “I suspect grandparents on both sides are very proud.”

Blue Sky is sold in 100-kilowatt-hour block increments for $1.95 each, in addition to a customer’s regular monthly electric bill. Just one block of Blue Sky has the same environmental benefit of either not driving 2,500 miles or planting a half acre of trees. Enrollment is optional and customers can increase their participation or withdraw at any time.

While Rocky Mountain Power already buys renewable energy for its customers, Blue Sky brings even more wind power into the system and encourages wind farm development.

Most of Blue Sky comes from wind power. Wind is an attractive form of energy generation because it helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Wind produces no air pollutants, wastewater, smog or acid rain. Blue Sky helps spur renewable power development and brings additional amounts of clean, renewable energy into the power system.

Business customers have two renewable options: Rocky Mountain Power’s standard Blue Sky Block offering and Blue Sky QS (Quantity Savings). Blue Sky QS allows large business customers to buy renewable energy from Rocky Mountain Power for less, providing they purchase at least 101 blocks of Blue Sky per month for a year.

For more information or to sign up for Blue Sky, call 1-800-842-8458 or e-mail bluesky@pacificorp.com . Customers can sign up on line at www.rockymtnpower.net/bluesky

More about Rocky Mountain Power and Blue Sky

Rocky Mountain Power is the state’s largest electric utility, serving about 703,700 Utah customers with reliable, safe, low-cost electricity. The U.S. Dept. of Energy ranked Rocky Mountain Power’s Blue Sky program second in the nation for customers enrolled in a renewable power program; and third in the amount of renewable power sold. In Utah, more than 13,917 residential and business customers participate. More than 38,500 customers buy Blue Sky in the western U.S. In Utah, Blue Sky Community Challenges have been issued in Salt Lake City, Park City, Moab and Sundance.