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SNAP earns national innovation award

Chelan County PUD
News Release
6/23/2003

Chelan County PUD’s SNAP program has received the 2003 National Renewable Energy Recognition Award from the Interstate Renewable Energy Council. 

The award recognizes innovative renewable energy projects and programs. It is made annually to nonfederal government agencies and nonprofit organizations that demonstrate innovation in education, energy policy, research and development or demonstration projects.

SNAP (Sustainable Natural Alternative Power) began in August 2001. The program links local customers who want to purchase solar and wind power with local residents who want to produce it.

Chelan County PUD acts as an intermediary, collecting funds from customers who voluntarily pay a little more on their electric bills each month. Amounts range from $2.50 per month for individuals to $50 per month for businesses.  All of the funds collected are paid to local customer-owned solar or wind energy producers. Generation from these producers is added to the PUD’s hydro resources and transferred across the utility’s electrical grid.

SNAP has four solar producers and two wind producers.

Due to national interest in the program, the PUD’s Board of Commissioners recently approved allowing other utilities to model their own alternative-energy programs after the trademarked SNAP program. Utilities must agree to preserve basic concepts of SNAP. Information is provided on the PUD’s Web site.

The SNAP program was recognized at the Interstate Renewable Energy Council’s annual meeting in Austin, Texas, on Sunday. The PUD received a commemorative plaque and will be featured in a council brochure.

The council is a nonprofit organization based in Latham, N.Y. Its mission is to accelerate the sustainable use of renewable energy sources and technologies in state and local government and community activities. The council’s Web site is at www.irecusa.org.

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For more information contact Energy Services Engineer Jim White at 661-4829 or Customer Service Administrator Susan Gillin at 661-4249.

Jeri Freimuth
Communications specialist
661-4504
668-0267 cell