Bellingham 'Most Successful' Green Power Community.

Number One Community in the Nation and First City in Washington to Earn Recognition

BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- Bellingham Green Power Challenge:

What:        U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen on April 21 will join other leaders
             in an Earth Day celebration to announce that Bellingham
             is the first city in Washington state and the most
             successful Green Power Community in the country to be
             designated a Green Power Community by the U.S.
             Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

             Bellingham qualified for this recognition by purchasing
             from Puget Sound Energy 76 million kilowatt hours of
             green power, which accounts for more than 11 percent of
             the community's total electricity load. That's enough
             electricity to light more than 6,300 homes.

             Nearly 2,000 households and 110 businesses have enrolled
             in the Bellingham Green Power Community Challenge.

Who:         Congressman Rick Larsen
             Tim Douglas, mayor of Bellingham
             Pete Kremen, executive, Whatcom County
             Dr. Karen Morse, president, Western Washington University
             Mark Asmundson, director, Northwest Clean Air Agency
             Michelle Pirzadeh, director, Office of Ecosystems, Tribal
             and Public Affairs, EPA
             Cal Shirley, vice president, Energy Efficiency Services,
             PSE
             Sally Hintz, Northwest Washington director for
             U. S. Sen. Maria Cantwell
             Michelle Long, executive director, Sustainable
             Connections

When:        Saturday, April 21, 2007, 12 - 1 p.m.

Where:       Bellingham Farmers Market (from Interstate 5,
             Exit 253-Lakeway Drive)
             Depot Market Square
             1200 block of Railroad Avenue, Bellingham

Background:  As part of the Bellingham Green Power Challenge and PSE's
             voluntary Green Power Program, the community -- the City
             of Bellingham, households, businesses, the students of
             Western Washington University, and Whatcom County --
             voluntarily chose to invest in renewable energy. The
             April 21 public recognition will include the unveiling of
             a highway sign designating Bellingham as a Green Power
             Community.