Salt Lake City - Green Power Purchasing

Summary

Salt Lake City purchases 1,557 kWh of green power each month through Utah Power’s Blue Sky wind power program. Wind power accounts for 100% of the energy used at the City and County Building. Although there is an additional cost associated with wind power in Utah, Salt Lake City is able to make the Blue Sky wind power purchase at no additional cost to taxpayers through energy conservation measures implemented at the City and County Building.

Salt Lake City has also been instrumental in generating public participation in the Blue Sky program. In June of 2004, Mayor Anderson, Utah Power, and Utah Clean Energy partnered to launch the "Twice as Nice" Blue Sky Community Challenge. The goal of the "Twice as Nice" challenge is to double the number of citizens participating in the Blue Sky program, or to double the amount of wind power purchased.

Additionally, an Executive Order signed in 2007 requires the carbon emissions associated with all city-related air travel to be offset by purchasing carbon offsets through the Pax Natura program. This order makes Salt Lake City the first American city to voluntarily commit to offset the carbon emissions from all city-related air travel.