PSE is committed to developing renewable energy resources
Puget Sound Energy believes renewable sources of energy, such as electricity produced from the wind, the sun, or otherwise landfilled waste products, will be an increasingly important part of our energy future.
In late 2005, PSE became the first and so far the only Northwest utility to build, own and operate a large wind farm. Our Hopkins Ridge Wind Facility in southeast Washington's Columbia County has been generating power since 2005. PSE’s second, even larger wind farm, Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility, in central Kittitas County has been churning out power since 2006. In 2009, PSE is expanding the Wild Horse facility and is developing the Lower Snake River Wind Energy Project in Southeast Washington.
Since 2007, PSE has elected to sell the green attributes from its wind facilities that are in excess of its current needs to other entities across the nation and therefore does not include the energy from these facilities as “renewable” energy in its fuel mix as reported to the state of Washington.
PSE remains committed to the development of additional renewable-energy resources. The utility is involved in a variety of studies, pilot projects, and small-scale renewable-power initiatives, such as a facility that generates electricity from dairy-cow waste and research into producing power from Puget Sound tidal action.
PSE also promotes the development of renewable energy through our Green Power Program, which since 2001 has offered customers the option to purchase electricity from renewable energy resources, primarily in the form of "green tag" credits from suppliers of renewable energy.
Renewable energy projects supported by PSE’s Green Power Program are distinct from those included in PSE’s standard resource portfolio described above. Green Power Program funds are directed to Pacific Northwest renewable energy facilities that supply additional electricity into the grid and PSE does not make a profit from those funds.