PSE Renewable Energy Center at Wild Horse Marks Successful First Season of Operation

The growth of renewable energy in Washington is now matched by the popularity of learning about power from the wind and sun, with more than 17,000 visitors from around the world coming to Puget Sound Energy’s Renewable Energy Center in its first season of operation. The center, located at the utility’s Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility near Ellensburg in Kittitas County, Wash., gives visitors a unique look at new ways of producing electric power.

"The response from the Kittitas Valley and all of Washington has made for a fantastic debut for the Renewable Energy Center,” said Brian Lenz, local government and community relations manager. "It’s been exciting to see so many people interested in what wind and solar power can do for the environment and the economy.”

The Renewable Energy Center, which opened in April 2008, is slated to close for the winter season on Nov. 30, 2008. It will continue to be open every day for the remainder of November from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (with the exception of Thanksgiving Day), unless closures are needed because of severe weather. It will re-open in April 2009.

The center’s exhibits range from the technology behind the wind and solar power generation equipment at Wild Horse to the area’s history and environment. The displays, developed by Central Washington University and built in part by Ellensburg-area businesses, give visitors real-time information on how much energy the site is producing, as well as a look at the steps taken to preserve the area’s unique shrub-steppe habitat of arid cacti, ridgelines and valleys.

Visitors from Washington and 46 other states (with all but Rhode Island, Vermont and Delaware being represented) and 28 countries (from the continents of Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and Central and South America) toured the Renewable Energy Center during its inaugural season. While many visitors enjoyed a self-guided tour through the center, more than 215 groups were given guided tours by PSE summer interns and permanent staff. Participants in these guided tours included students, community organizations and business and government leaders.

The visitor center added to the economic impact of the more than $1.3 million in annual tax revenues and 25 full-time operations and maintenance jobs created by the energy production work at Wild Horse. Tourist and conference activities at the Renewable Energy Center boosted the local economy by utilizing the services of more than a dozen Ellensburg-area businesses, ranging from restaurants and caterers to printing and janitorial supply companies.

The Renewable Energy Center is located just north of Interstate 90, approximately 16.5 miles east of Ellensburg, at 25901 Vantage Highway. Driving directions and maps to the center can be found at PSE.com.

About Puget Sound Energy

Washington state’s oldest and largest energy utility, with a 6,000-square-mile service area stretching across 11 counties, Puget Sound Energy serves more than 1 million electric customers and nearly 750,000 natural gas customers. PSE, a subsidiary of Puget Energy (NYSE:PSD), meets the energy needs of its growing customer base primarily in Western Washington through incremental, cost-effective energy conservation, procurement of sustainable energy resources, and far-sighted investment in the energy-delivery infrastructure. PSE employees are dedicated to providing great customer service to deliver energy that is safe, reliable, reasonably priced, and environmentally responsible. For more information, visit www.PSE.com.