May 26, 2010

HILLSBORO, Ore. — With one month to go, the City of Hillsboro’s Green Power Challenge is close to reaching its goal of signing up 300 new green power customers. As of May 26, more than 200 residential customers and 28 business customers had signed up for renewable energy from Portland General Electric. The goal, set by Hillsboro City Council, is 300 customers by the end of June. The three-month challenge, which officially began April 1, is the first of its kind in Hillsboro and is designed to promote environmental stewardship.

“We couldn’t be more pleased,” said Peter Brandom, sustainability manager for the City of Hillsboro. “Our community’s response to the Green Power Challenge mirrors their concern about sustainable practices.”

“The response so far speaks volumes about Hillsboro residents’ and businesses’ commitment to renewable energy,” said Thor Hinckley, manager of PGE’s renewable power program. “The response from Hillsboro businesses has been unprecedented. In fact more businesses have signed up for renewable power during Hillsboro’s Green Power Challenge than during any other city challenge in our program’s history.”

Hillsboro businesses that have signed up during the challenge include: Edible Arrangements, CH Physical Therapy, Jack G Garvin DMD, Thomas D Gilberts MD, Garden Frog Nursery, ACN Real Estate, The Bark Park, Washington County Bicycle Transportation Coalition, Hindu Educational and Cultural Society of America, Pacific Personal Training, Fresh Thyme Soup Co, Aqua World Pool & Spa, Garden Circle Mobile Park, Tualatin Valley Artists Inc, Canyon Body Art, Alltronics, Banner Furniture Outlet, Sharon's Attic Quilt Shop, Decoraciones Ely, Transformer Services Inc, Logo Portland LLC, and Allen's Alley.

How to sign up for the challenge

Hillsboro residential and small business customers who want to participate in the challenge and buy renewable power from PGE can enroll by visiting www.PortlandGeneral.com/Renewable/Hillsboro. Medium and large business customers should visit www.PortlandGeneral.com/CleanWind. All customers can call (503) 228-6322.

PGE’s renewable power options

PGE offers renewable power options* for all residential and business customers:

• Green Source^SM — Residential and small-medium businesses buy 100 percent new renewable power equal to 100 percent of their consumption from sources such as wind, geothermal and biomass generation.
• Clean Wind^SM — Residential and small business customers pay a set fee for a fixed amount of new wind power each month. Medium and large businesses can buy varying amounts of Clean Wind, up to 100 percent of their needs. The wind power comes from wind farms in the West and helps build new renewable resources in Oregon.

In addition, PGE’s residential and small business renewable power customers have the option of improving salmon and other fish habitat in Oregon by supplementing their renewable choice with Habitat Support^SM, a contribution that goes directly to a program administered by The Nature Conservancy of Oregon.