Five renewable energy projects in the running for up to $100K

Five local renewable energy and education proposals have reached the finalist stage for consideration of two Eugene Water & Electric Board Greenpower grants of up to $100,000 each.

Starting in early April, EWEB Greenpower customers will vote for their favorite projects. The two winners will be announced at Eugene’s annual Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 24, at EWEB’s River Edge Plaza. Only those who are Greenpower customers as of March 31 will be eligible to vote.

The finalists for this year’s grants are:

• Adams Elementary: Installation of solar thermal and photovoltaic system at Adams Elementary School in Eugene. Grant seeks $100,000.
• Climate Leadership Initiative: The Resources Innovation Group – Climate Leadership Program. Development of a community solar project. Grant seeks $100,000.
• First United Methodist Church: Install a 27-kilowatt photovoltaic system for the congregation’s community gathering place. Grant seeks $35,000.
• Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA): Establish a program targeting low-income EWEB customers that would replace older wood stoves with clean-burning pellet stoves. Grant seeks $100,000.
• Northwest Youth Corps: Build a rooftop photovoltaic system for the school and establish an environmental education facility. Grant seeks $100,000.

Since 2007, thousands of EWEB customers have chosen to support clean renewable energy and the environment by purchasing EWEB Greenpower. They buy $1.50 or $10 “blocks” of Greenpower, or voluntarily dedicate all of their energy use to Greenpower by paying an extra penny per kilowatt-hour of consumption.

EWEB developed the Greenpower grant program in 2009 to help funnel these funds into smaller-scale renewable energy or education projects that benefit the utility’s customers.