City Seeks More 'Green Power' Subscribers for PSE $5,000 Challenge Grant

Mercer Island is just 38 new Puget Sound Energy (PSE) Green Power customers away from earning an additional $5,000 for a Community Center solar array project, according to a city press release.       

Given the "Green Power Challenge" by PSE this spring, Mercer Island residents and businesses surpassed the previous goal of 650 new customers ahead of schedule and has secured a $25,000 grant for the solar project. Mercer Island is now poised to achieve the next milestone of 750 sign-ups and earn an additional $5,000. The grant money will fund the purchase and installation of a new solar array to power a substantial part of the Mercer Island Community and Event Center's annual energy needs.

Island residents and businesses are encouraged to consider joining the Green Power program which costs as little as $4 per month (or as little as $20 per month for businesses). PSE uses funds from the program to support the use and development of alternative, "clean" energy from renewable resources such as wind, solar, geothermal, low-impact biomass, and low-impact hydro. The challenge ends December 31, 2012.

Adding incentive to this challenge, the Mercer Island Green Ribbon Commission and PSE have teamed up with Island schools for an inter-school challenge that awards $10 to the PTSA of the school identified by every new Green Power customer. In December, the school with the most new customers in the program receives a $500 bonus.

For additional information on the Green Power Challenge, contact Kirsten Taylor at kirsten.taylor@mercergov.org.