Bonneville Environmental Foundation

The Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) is an Oregon-based non-profit organization that markets green power products to public utilities, businesses, government agencies and individuals.[1] It was founded in 1998 to support watershed restoration programs and develop new sources of renewable energy. BEF is partnered with Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), but functions as an independent organization.[2]

BEF Carbon Offsets

Originally called Green Tags, BEF sells ‘BEF Carbon Offsets' or Carbon Credits. The purchase of BEF Carbon Offsets allows businesses and consumers to offset the environmental impacts of their carbon dioxide output and invest in renewable energy and sustainability projects.[1] Notable business and organizations that have purchased BEF Carbon Offsets include Chevrolet[3][4] and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.[1]

Renewable Energy Group

The Renewable Energy Group (REG), formerly the Project Management Group (PMG), collaborates with utilities and other funding partners to foster knowledge and excitement about renewable energy technology by delivering hands-on experience with solar electricity to students and communities throughout the United States.

REG manages BEF's renewable energy demonstration projects and renewable energy educational outreach under the Solar 4R Schools program (S4RS). Solar 4R Schools provides solar-electric system installations, in-class activities, science kits, teacher training and event management to schools, libraries and museums, and other community centers.

REG currently manages more than 100 photovoltaic systems at schools and community centers in 15 states, representing an investment of more than $1.5M. Most projects are 1.1 kW demonstration systems at schools and community centers, but a few are larger, including: White Bluffs/Hanford (39 kW), Ellensburg Community Solar Project (36 kW), Sequential Biofuel Station in Eugene (33 kW), Portland Brewery Blocks (22.4 kW), Chelan PUD Solar (20 kW) and Washington State School for the Blind (13.5 KW) are the largest. A 64 kW community-funded solar project is under construction in Ashland, Ore.[5]

Watershed

BEF implements a 10-year Model Watershed restoration funding strategy. It commits long-term resources and support to achieve meaningful and lasting improvements to river and stream ecosystems. Its support allows local groups to measure results and adapt and improve strategies over time, ensuring that its programs produce lasting ecological changes that will benefit humans and native species for centuries. To date, BEF has funded 36 watershed grants worth a total of $1 million. It has made five 10-year Model Watershed commitments.

See also

  1. 1 2 3 "Rays buy carbon credits from Bonneville Environmental Foundation". Tampa Bay Business Journal. April 10, 2008.
  2. ↑ "Robert Harmon Joins Bonneville Environmental Foundation". PR Newswire. January 11, 2001.
  3. ↑ "As Chevy Ends Award-Winning Sustainability Plan, The Climate Is Just As Screwed As Ever". Huffington Post. November 20, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Portland nonprofit helps Chevrolet reduce its carbon footprint by 8M tons". Portland Business Journal. November 19, 2015.
  5. ↑ http://solar4rschools.org

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, November 30, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.