Apr. 19--The six tenants of the Idaho Water Center in Downtown Boise have teamed up to help Idaho Power fund the use of renewable energy sources like solar and wind power, thanks to one woman who calls herself "the queen of green." Brandy Wilson, who handles workplace environmental issues for engineering firm CH2M Hill, spearheaded the project, bringing together the building's tenants and convincing them to take part. This marks the first time all the tenants in one building have agreed to take part in Idaho Power Co.'s green power program, according to the electric utility that serves southwestern Idaho and eastern Oregon.

Wilson makes sure all the CH2M Hill offices in the United States and Canada keep their workplaces environmentally friendly, including her office in Boise. With Earth Day on Saturday, many businesses are looking for ways to help the environment, and the green power program is an easy way for businesses to do their part, said Annie Black, a program specialist at Idaho Power. Under the green power program, customers can choose to add money to their electric bills, and Idaho Power will use those funds to buy renewable energy like solar or wind power. The money is needed because renewable energy usually is more expensive than the hydropower and other traditional sources that Idaho Power uses, Black said.

About 2,000 residents and businesses currently donate money to the program, but companies that lease space cannot donate to the program because they don't receive their electric bills directly. For example, the property manager for the Idaho Water Center combines all the rental costs into a single bill that it gives CH2M Hill and the other tenants. "CH2M Hill was the first company to bring this to our attention," Black said. "We needed to come up with a solution." Wilson worked with Bruce Cleveland, a delivery service manager at Idaho Power. He explained the green power program to the other tenants in the building and told them how they could contribute.

The Idaho Department of Water Resources, the Idaho Energy Division, University of Idaho, the U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station and Idaho State University's department of geosciences also have offices in the building. "In the first meeting, everyone was like, 'I don't understand this. Why should we pay extra for power?'" Wilson said. But when the green power program was explained in detail during the second meeting, everyone got on board, she said. "Everybody got really excited about it and got really fired up," Wilson said. The tenants went to Colliers International, the building's property owner, and worked out a deal to tack on certain amounts to their rent each month.

The Forest Service staff in Boise, for example, contributed about $40 of their own money to add to the office rent. They are pitching in their own money until the Forest Service looks at their plan and approves it. CH2M Hill would not disclose how much it contributes to the program. Idaho Power is using this example to help other businesses in its service area find ways to donate to the green power program if they want, Black said. Black said it is a good idea for companies to follow CH2M Hill's lead and put an employee in charge of workplace environmental issues if they are serious about becoming more sustainable.

"You need people who understand which options are real and which options make a difference," she said. "That'd be Brandy." Share your tips on helping the environment at work by contacting reporter Melissa McGrath at mmcgrath@ idahostatesman.com or 377-6439. Environment at Home Get tips on things you can do to contribute to a healthier environment. Read Joe Kolman's column Monday in Local.