This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Melanie Florence's letter of March 11 protesting SB208 (it deserves protesting) touches on another area that may also deserve protest: Rocky Mountain Power's Blue Sky Program ("SB208 lets Rocky Mountain Power overcharge solar users," Forum).
I enrolled in Blue Sky early, believing my contributions were supporting the development of renewable energy, specifically wind energy the signature picture is a (presumably) power-generating windmill!
When I discovered my funds might be being entirely used to support RMP donations to selected construction projects for organizations throughout the inter-mountain west I was incensed and withdrew from the program. Shame on me for not doing adequate research. It's not that the projects they select are inherently unworthy of support or are other than renewable energy in nature (Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, fire station; Meals on Wheels, Casper, Wyo.; Planned Parenthood, Orem), it's that I prefer to make my own decisions on where my money is donated and not have RMP do it for me.
I was led to believe my money was destined for a specific renewable energy development purpose. RMP does not hide the fact it might use Blue Sky donations in this manner, but it certainly doesn't highlight it either. To me, the program would be better named, "Gray Sky."
Robert Bowen
Layton