This article is also featured on Blaze of Love

I feel bad I won’t be there but this is the right thing to do now, try to get healthy as soon as possible. Anyway, thanks for your support, that you show here, as alwaysGet well soon number 5. This article is also featured on Blaze of Love. Solar Grants Program Expands to Include Wind Turbine ProjectsBELLEVUE, Wash.(Business Wire)Puget Sound Energys work in bringing renewable energy demonstration systems toWashington schools will take another step forward in 2009 with the utility todayissuing a request for proposals for up to five schools to each receive a 1.1kilowatt solar array or small wind turbine this year. PSEs renewable energy program for schools, which has already funded 12educational solar power projects in the Puget Sound region in the last fiveyears, will help students learn more about renewable energy technologies andsmart energy choices. The 2009 RFP will also include small wind turbines,expanding the range of options available to local educators, students, familiesand communities in PSEs 11-county electric and natural gas service area ofWestern Washington.

"Bringing renewable energy andenergy efficiency lessons to the classroom has proven to be an outstanding wayto help students learn how energy is produced, and how vital it is to use energywisely." Successful applicants in the RFP process will receive grants of as much as$25,000 to fund renewable energy education through a demonstration project attheir school. The grant will cover the cost of a photovoltaic or small windturbine plus classroom monitoring software that allows students to track howmuch energy their system is producing as the weather changes and calculate howthat energy could be used. In addition, the grant supports educationalmaterials, including activity guides, renewable energy science kits and teachertraining. "When students are producing their own energy, they become much more focused onusing that energy efficiently," said Shirley. "Its a real world lesson thatenables the kids see how their actions and choices will affect the environment,and how they can be a positive force for change in the future." At 1.1 kWs, the solar array will generate enough power, on average, to operate10 notebook computers for 1,000 hours. In addition to the rooftop-mounted solarpanels or wind turbines, the PSE grant supports the purchase of an inverter toconnect renewable energy generators to the schools electrical system,monitoring software, and teaching training and lesson plans developed by theBonneville Environmental Foundation as part of its Solar 4R Schools program.

"Were pleased to join PSE in expanding our offerings to include wind," saidBryce Smith, director of the Project Management Group for BEF. "Working togetherwe have been able to reach almost 6,000 students and families in communitiesthroughout the Puget Sound area, encouraging meaningful understanding ofrenewable energy today that will lead to even greater knowledge and adoption ofthis powerful technology in the future." School districts qualifying for the RFP will submit plans detailing theireducational goals and objectives for a solar or wind project, how it will bringrenewable energy technologies to new areas of the Puget Sound region and whatsteps will be taken to increase community awareness of the potential for usingrenewable energy technologies All proposals must be received by PSE on orbefore 5 p.m on Feb. 16, 2009, and all solar or wind systems must be installedduring the 2009 school year. About Puget Sound EnergyWashington states oldest and largest energy utility, with a 6,000-square-mileservice area stretching across 11 counties, Puget Sound Energy serves more than1 million electric customers and nearly 750,000 natural gas customers.PSE, asubsidiary of Puget Energy (NYSE:PSD), meets the energy needs of its growingcustomer 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 employeesare dedicated to providing great customer service to deliver energy that issafe, reliable, reasonably priced, and environmentally responsible. For moreinformation, visit the Bonneville Environmental FoundationFounded in 1998 and based in Portland, Ore., Bonneville Environmental Foundation(BEF) is an entrepreneurial non-profit that engages market forces and ingenuityto help people address our most pressing energy and water issues.