Rockwood Boys & Girls Club Installs Solar Power with Grant from PGE’s Renewable Development Fund
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 8, 2019. Portland, OR – Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metro (BGCP) was awarded a $97,500 grant by Portland General Electric’s Renewable Development Fund to install solar panels and an educational kiosk for youth to use to learn about renewable energy and track how much power is generated and used by the building. The grant will allow Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metro to generate nearly 117 kWh, enough to power 75 percent of the Rockwood Club on a high energy use day. The additional power from this project will save BGCP $1,500 per month, $18,000 per year, and will result in a net energy cost of $0 to the Club for 2018.
Benefits of the solar panel installation include:
- Producing clean, reliable and renewable energy
- Reducing reliance on non-renewable power sources
- Providing environmental and economic value to the Portland metro community
- Giving kids a way to visualize and learn about renewable energy and the impact of solar power
“We’re very excited about our partnership with PGE and the solar energy project it is bringing to our newest Club in Rockwood. The ultimate savings and efficiencies it will provide operationally, not to mention the environmental improvement, is important,” said Erin Hubert, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metropolitan Area (BGCP). “As a non-profit, anything that will help us to run our operation more efficiently and economically is a big win. We’re also excited about the educational kiosk that gives us the unique opportunity to teach our youth about the importance of solar energy, how it saves energy for our planet, and how it will save BGCP money that can be go back to directly serving our youth. This is a win-win for everyone!”
“Our customers lead the way on supporting renewable power,” said Dave Robertson, PGE vice president of Public Policy. “Thanks to more than 190,000 customers participating in our renewable power program, projects like this can help advance Oregon’s transition to a clean energy future.”
Since 1999, PGE customers have supported clean energy by participating in the utility’s Green FutureSM power program. PGE’s Renewable Development Fund is built from a portion of the money that Green Future customers pay for the program. To date, PGE Green Future customers have helped fund more than 8 Megawatts of new renewable energy generation, with another 3 Megawatts under construction.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metro
Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metro (BGCP) empowers more than 4,000 youth to discover their full potential through impactful after-school and summer programs. Clubs are designed to support kids and teens in achieving academic success, becoming responsible leaders, and living healthy lives. Today, BGCP operates ten Clubs located throughout the metropolitan area, including school-based programs in the Reynolds and North Clackamas School District.
About PGE’s Renewable Development Fund
PGE’s Renewable Development Fund offers competitive funding awards to applicants looking to deploy their own clean energy projects. Grants are awarded through an open and competitive application process, and evaluated in accordance with eligibility guidelines, preferred project standards, and established evaluation criteria. To learn more about PGE’s Renewable Development Fund, including how to apply for the next round of funding, please visit portlandgeneral.com/rdf.
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!