May 29, 2007

Cleanest parade in America to be even cleaner
PGE/SOLV Starlight Parade now a carbon-neutral event

Portland, Ore. — The cleanest parade in America is becoming even cleaner! This year’s PGE/SOLV Starlight Parade is going to be a carbon-neutral event. PGE is purchasing more than enough green tags from the Bonneville Environmental Foundation to offset the carbon emissions produced from this year’s Starlight Parade, Saturday, June 2. The parade kicks off at 8:30 p.m. in downtown Portland and is broadcast live at 9 p.m. on KGW Northwest NewsChannel 8.

“Portland General Electric has been a part of the Rose Festival every year since its creation in 1907,” said Carol Dillin, vice president of public policy at PGE. “We’ve certainly come a long way since that first parade a hundred years ago, and we’re proud to be a leader in making sure the Starlight Parade is the cleanest and greenest parade in America.”

The green tags will offset an estimated 240 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) produced by 10 cars, 45 floats, three police motorcycles, three garbage trucks and three street sweepers as they travel the 2.5-mile route through downtown Portland. PGE has also purchased more than enough green tags to cover the emissions produced by parade participants’ travel to and from the parade.

These green tags will help support the development of renewable energy on power grids; solar power systems for schools and public buildings; wind power systems for farms, ranches and communities; and watershed restoration to improve water quality and native fish habitat.

2006 marked the ninth consecutive year that the Portland Rose Festival Association received a gold medal from the International Festival & Events Association for having the "Cleanest and Greenest Parade in America."

This impressive designation is due in part to the tremendous involvement of 150 PGE and SOLV volunteers who hit the streets before every Starlight Parade to distribute bags to spectators to use as trash receptacles. After the parade, volunteers retrace their steps to gather filled bags, eliminating litter from Portland streets.

“Being recognized year after year as having the ‘Cleanest Parade in America’ is a testament to the Rose Festival’s great partnership with PGE, SOLV, the City of Portland and, of course, all the people who come out to enjoy the Starlight Parade,” said Jeff Curtis, executive director of the Portland Rose Festival Association.

In addition, the bright lights at this year’s WaMu Waterfront Village will shine especially cleanly thanks to power supplied from wind farms in Oregon and Washington. PGE is helping the Portland Rose Festival Association with continuing to meet its commitment to environmental sustainability by buying renewable wind energy for the Waterfront Village — an estimated total of 100,000 kilowatt hours of power for the event’s 11-day run, Thursday, May 31 through Sunday, June 10.

Wind energy PGE acquires from its Renewable Power Program for the Waterfront Village will offset the release of more than 90,000 pounds of CO2, which is linked to global warming. That is the same as not driving more than 100,000 miles or planting 6,000 new trees.

For event details, visit the Rose Festival Web site.

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