Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 17, 2000
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Locke signs agreement for energy efficiency

VANCOUVER — As part of his commitment to energy efficiency and environmental quality, Gov. Gary Locke today signed an agreement that will lead to more than $100 million in investments over the next five years to improve the way Washington consumers use electricity.

By signing the agreement, Locke renewed Washington State's partnership with the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, a group comprised of the region's utilities, state governments, public interest groups and industry representatives. The Alliance works with manufacturers, distributors and service providers to ensure that energy-efficient products and services are available and affordable to consumers. The partnership is funded by electric utilities and the Bonneville Power Administration.

Since 1997, the Alliance has invested $65 million in more than 30 projects – from energy efficient washing machines to industrial motors – to secure lasting energy savings in the region. By 2010, its current projects are expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 1.5 million tons and could offset the need to build additional power plants.

Locke praised the Alliance for its environmental, as well as economic, impact. "Because our businesses are using energy more efficiently, we've increased their competitiveness by raising productivity and decreasing operating costs. It's also smart environmentally, in terms of global warming, because it reduces our reliance on fossil fuel electricity," Locke said.

Locke and Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber signed the agreement at Siemens Solar Industries, one of the world's leading manufacturers of photovoltaic cells and modules. Together with the Alliance, Siemens has reduced the amount of electricity used in the energy-intensive process of growing silicon ingots for use in solar electricity cells.

The Alliance was created in 1996 with the endorsement of the governors of Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.

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