Medford Airport, Oregon Plan Solar Project

Pacific Power program ‘Blue Sky’ is funding a $100,000 project at Medford Airport - just part of announced awards for solar projects totalling $350,000. The grant is going towards building a solar canopy structure above three toll booths at Rogue Valley International Medford Airport, in their parking facility.

The canopy, which should generate 15 kilowatts of electricity, will serve as a ceiling for the booths, protecting the employees and customers from the weather. Officials say that the new canopy will help towards electricity costs used to run the lighting in the car parks and runways and that it will lead to more renewable energy projects in the future. Rogue Valley International Airport sees over a million people pass through the airport each year and Airport officials say the visibility of the energy saving project would promote a greater awareness of power through sustainable energy.

The grant money made available by Pacific Power has been generated, say Pacific, through their Blue Sky customers who purchase their power through renewable energy. Construction has not yet begun at the Airport but officials have scheduled meetings to arrange start of construction and it is hoped that the solar powered canopy will be fully operational by late 2012.

Pacific Power works with customers and communities to promote the visibility and awareness of renewable energy generation. The company is based in Portland, Oregon and provides electricity to 730,000 customers in Oregon, Washington and California. Pacific Power is part of one of the lowest cost electricity producers in the U.S., PacifiCorp, and together with Rocky Mountain power, Pacific Power provides around 1.7 million customers in six western states with reliable, efficient energy.