Wind Energy Credits Available to UW Personnel

March 6, 2007 -- University of Wyoming students, faculty and staff have an opportunity to purchase wind energy credits to increase the amount of electrical power obtained from sustainable sources.

Beginning this spring semester, ASUW and the UW administration will allow for the purchase of wind energy credits from Rocky Mountain Power on behalf of the university.

"When you buy wind power, you are telling energy companies you want more of it and are willing to pay a little extra for it," says Sam Singer, co-president of UW's recognized student group, Students for a Sustainable Environment (SSE). "Wind is the only energy needed to create the electricity, so you don't have to worry about carbon dioxide emissions and other pollutants associated with producing electricity by burning conventional fossil fuels."

For every wind energy credit unit purchased, Rocky Mountain Power will put 100 kilowatt-hours of power onto the grid -- the amount of power needed to keep 1,000 (100-watt) light bulbs on for one hour. The power is generated at six different wind farms, two of which are in Wyoming.

"Our first goal is to purchase enough wind energy credits to offset the power use of the Wyoming Union," Singer says. "The total cost of the units depends on how many of them we can purchase at the end of the semester. The more money we raise, the cheaper the units become, which means we will be able to offset even more of our power needs."

A downloadable purchase form as well as a secure credit card payment page can be found at the SSE Web site, www.uwyo.edu/greenspot, and click on "Purchase Wind Energy Credits."

Posted on Tuesday, March 06, 2007

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