Winds of Change

As part of ongoing efforts to reduce its carbon footprint, Hill AFB, Utah, has signed on to participate in Rocky Mountain Power’s Blue Sky program under which the base will purchase renewable energy including windmills-generated power. Maj. Gen. Kathleen Close, Ogden Air Logistics Center commander, and Richard Walje, president of Rocky Mountain Power, held a ceremony to celebrate the participation Aug. 19 at Hill. Hill, currently the largest Blue Sky participant, will purchase 750,000 kilowatt-hours of Blue Sky renewable energy each month. Over a year’s time, Hill’s purchase will avoid 9,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. “We also have a Presidential mandate to have five percent of our energy come from renewable sources by 2012,” said David Abbott, Hill’s utility manager. The agreement will enable the base to meet the mandate ahead of schedule, he said. Hill already purchases steam heat produced by burning garbage from local municipalities and later this year plans to begin installing ground-based solar panels. (Hill report by Barbara Fisher)