Educational kiosk, displays, information will be available
A celebration of renewable forms of energy will feature displays, information and a new solar kiosk on Thursday afternoon at the city of Vancouver's Water Resources Education Center.
The Renewable Energy Celebration will run from 4 to 7 p.m. The city and Clark Public Utilities will sponsor the free event at the center, at 4600 S.E. Columbia Way.
The event will highlight Green Lights, in which Clark's customers can pay a premium of $1.50 to buy 100 kilowatt-hour blocks of renewable electricity. (The utility's average household uses about 1,500 kilowatt-hours per month.) The Portland-based Bonneville Environmental Foundation then pools the money with contributions from other customers throughout the Pacific Northwest to support the development of nonpolluting energy sources.
The utility and foundation have paid for new solar-electric systems at the Water Resources Education Center, Camas High School and La Center High School.
An educational kiosk will show real-time solar benefits.
"This is a terrific example of how local communities can make a significant impact on a worldwide issue," said Vancouver Mayor Royce Pollard, who will join Clark Public Utilities Commissioner Nancy Barnes in welcoming people to the event.
"Some of the funding from our customers goes to build demonstration projects in Clark County, and the center is a very visible location for that," Barnes said.
"We hope it will encourage others to join this voluntary effort."
