PSE, City Challenge Mercer Island Residents to 'Go Green'

A community-wide challenge aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of the Island by getting 625 homes or businesses to sign-up for Green Power with PSE is nearing its goal, according to a city press release.

This collaboration between City Hall and Puget Sound Energy (PSE) — along with several community partners — earlier this year to participate in the Green Power Community Challenge. The benefits of winning the City-wide challenge include a $25,000 grant to the City to help bring a solar array to the . The solar panels would produce a substantial amount of electricity for the center's electricity needs, and have an effecitve lifespan of 20-25 years.

Officials say only 25 more homes or businesses sign up for green power by the end of 2012. 

The program is offered through Puget Sound Energy, starting with as little as $4 more a month added onto a homeowner's bill. PSE's Green Power program — a fund which supports the use and development of alternative, "clean" energy from renewable resources such as wind, solar, geothermal, low-impact biomass, and low-impact hydro.

In conjunction with the community challenge, the Green Ribbon Commission and PSE have teamed up with Island schools for an inter-school challenge that awards $10 to the PTA 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. Currently, West Mercer Elementary School and Mercer Island High School are tied for the lead with 25 enrollments each.  

The challenge ends in December and the City reminds residents and businesses that there is still plenty of time to sign-up as well as the opportunity for any school to pull ahead and earn bonus PTA funds.

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

(Ed. Note: The information in this article is from a City of Mercer Island press release.)