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CORVALLIS - For the next four years, Oregon State University has agreed to direct a portion of the money it pays for electricity into a "Green Tags" program, operated by the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, which will create renewable wind and other energy resources in the Pacific Northwest.

Almost everyone in Oregon - including individuals, private companies and large universities - pays a 3 percent "public purpose charge" on their electrical utility bill. These funds are used for a range of purposes, among them the creation or subsidy of renewable energy resources. But large consumers such as OSU are allowed to direct a portion of these payments to specific programs, and OSU officials believe that BEF's Green Tag program can use the university's contribution effectively and efficiently.

OSU will be the first public university in Oregon to direct a portion of its 3 percent public purpose charge to go to the Green Tags program. BEF, in turn, will use the funds to support the production of five million kilowatt hours of wind energy. Use of this clean, renewable energy will also prevent about 3,550 tons of "greenhouse" gases from being emitted, if the same amount of electricity had to be produced from fossil fuels.

"We're happy to work with BEF because we believe they will quickly and efficiently create renewable energy resources that will benefit all Oregonians," said Brandon Trelstad, a government relations assistant at OSU.

In addition, Trelstad said, the contribution to BEF will also provide for the creation at OSU of a small demonstration project in renewable energy resources, which may be a solar photovoltaic array set up at OSU's Hatfield Marine Science Center. And participation in the Green Tags program may also give the university extra credit in its goal of gaining "green" certification for its new electrical and computer engineering building that is being constructed as one of the most energy-efficient public buildings in Oregon.

"This new venture will be a good fit with OSU's many other programs to promote energy efficiency and environmental sustainability," Trelstad said. "It's another important step."

The Bonneville Environmental Foundation is a non-profit, independent group that was created by regional environmental groups and the Bonneville Power Administration. Its goal is to further the development and use of new renewable energy resources. Through its "Green Tag" program, funds are pooled and used to build or subsidize the creation of renewable energy resources, displace fossil-fuel generated electricity and have a "net zero" impact on the Earth's atmosphere and climate.