Corvallis may become one of the state’s largest green-powered communities, if the City Council can convince enough Pacific Power customers to spend a little more.

The council has issued a city-wide challenge to residents and businesses to participate in Pacific Power’s “Blue Sky” renewable power program, which is aimed at reducing global warming. Residential customers pay $1.95 per 100 kilowatt-hour increment of renewable energy in their power bills when they sign up for the Blue Sky program. Sources of Blue Sky power include the use of renewable energy from wind, biomass and solar energy plants.

About 9.5 percent of Corvallis power customers are already signed up to use Blue Sky, but the council’s goal is to increase that number to 15 percent, or an additional 1,900 customers.

City Council President Charlie Tomlinson announced the challenge following this year’s annual Christmas Parade.

“This community has a great opportunity to shine on a national level,” he said.

Teresa Bodwell, Corvallis community outreach consultant for Renewable Northwest Project, is helping support the project. She said Blue Sky power offsets greenhouse gas emissions made when using traditional methods of generating electricity.

The city currently buys 750 blocks per month of Blue Sky power. Their challenge to citizens runs through Earth Day 2006. The council passed a resolution Oct. 17 urging citizens to consider participation in the Blue Sky program, and urging Pacific Power to reduce its dependence on coal-fired electric generation plants and develop significant renewable energy options that all citizens support in their rates.

To sign up for Blue Sky or learn more, call 800-769-3717 or go to www.pacificpower.

net/bluesky.