AWB Member Spotlight

First turbine erected at Puget Sound Energy wind project

 
Looking for a clean energy future?

Puget Sound Energy’s Lower Snake River Wind Project in the wheat fields and rangeland of Southeastern Washington’s Garfield County reached a major milestone at the beginning of April with the completion of the first of 149 430-foot-tall turbines. When all the turbines are erected and operating in spring 2012, the facility will be PSE’s largest wind power operation and one of the largest in the Pacific Northwest – generating 343-megawatts of electricity, enough to serve more than 230,000 homes.

“One of the obvious benefits with wind power is zero emissions,” said Roger Thompson, PSE spokesman. “From a climate change standpoint, the environmental attributes are quite apparent. Another benefit is that fuel costs for utilities are essentially free.”

“This project, like our existing Hopkins Ridge and Wild Horse wind facilities, is supporting a cleaner, greener energy future for Washington state,” said Kimberly Harris, PSE president and CEO. “But more than that, it is creating good jobs and a stronger, more secure energy future for our nation.”

PSE, an AWB member since 1927, is pursuing federal stimulus-package funding and state incentives for using apprentice labor for at least 15 percent of the construction work. These incentives lower the cost of the project for the utility’s customers. In addition, the apprentice program supports skills training and apprentice development in a variety of trades.

Work is also progressing on the project’s 15,000 square-foot operations and maintenance building near Pomeroy. Approximately 25 permanent employees from PSE and Siemens Energy – the turbines’ manufacturer – will occupy the building once it opens this fall.

"It's exciting to see the first wind turbines going up at the Lower Snake River project," said Dean Burton, chairman of the Garfield County Commission. "Puget Sound Energy has been a strong partner in our community and its wind project is bringing a lot of benefits to the people of Garfield County."

Tyson Foods takes aim at hunger through action and awareness

One in four Americans fears they may have trouble putting food on the table in the next year. For Tyson Foods, that is one American too many.

"There is a tendency to think about hunger on Thanksgiving or Christmas but hunger exists every day," said John Tyson, chairman of the Springdale, Ark., food giant, an AWB member since 1981.

To help make a dent in the hunger problem and spark more community involvement, Tyson contributed 1 million pounds of meat this March to food banks and pantries in 23 states, the latest in a series of the company’s in-kind donations.  In the last 10 years, Tyson has donated the equivalent of 312 million meals in the U.S.

Tyson’s donation was accepted with open arms by social service agencies.

“While we provide many different kinds of foods to the agencies we serve, meat and poultry are typically among the most requested, but least available, foods,” said Lynn Brantley, president and CEO of Washington, D.C.’s Capital Area Food Bank.

To put hunger on the front burner, Tyson teamed up with the Food Research and Action Center to commission a nationwide survey of 1,509 adults on hunger as part of his company's KNOW Hunger campaign. Hart Research Associates conducted the survey.

Thirty-five percent of respondents said they personally know someone who has experienced the problem of hunger in the past year. And the bad economy is making the problem even worse.

"There is a new face to hunger: people who have lost their jobs," said Tyson.

Additionally, 80 percent of respondents believed organizations and leaders in their local communities should play a major role in the effort to ensure that low-income families and children have the food and nutrition they need.

“The research shows that the vast majority of Americans believe that hunger is a problem for the country, and it also shows they are committed to the belief that no one should go hungry,” said Jim Weill, president of FRAC.

“As we’ve become involved in hunger relief over the past 10 years, engaging our employees, customers and communities, we’ve seen evidence of what this survey confirms,” said Tyson.  “People do think hunger is a serious issue.  They’re willing to become involved.  But they also need to be shown how it directly impacts their own communities.  We believe creating more awareness creates more involvement.” 

Walmart urges customers to get SMARxT about drug disposal

Don’t throw it down the drain!

That’s the message Walmart is trying to get across to customers with medications they no longer need.

On Thursday, the nation’s largest retailer joined a national partnership to educate customers about the proper way to dispose of unused prescription drugs. Walmart, an AWB member since 2005, is the first of 139 supporters to launch a national educational program in more than 3,500 of their pharmacies promoting the SMARxT Disposal partnership.

“We are extremely pleased that Walmart has joined us in our campaign to educate people on how they should dispose of their unused medication in their homes,” said Rowan Gould, acting director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “Walmart has millions of customers across the country, and by providing information to each of them, we are sure to have a big impact on preventing chemicals and drugs from reaching our waterways and affecting our plants, animals and ecosystems.”

Flushing medications down the toilet or pouring them down the drain allow drugs to enter waterways, harming plants and animals.

One way to prevent this from happening is by increasing awareness about proper medication disposal. SMARxT Disposal recommends people pour their unused medication into a sealable plastic bag, add kitty litter, sawdust, or coffee grounds, and then seal the plastic bag before disposing of it in the trash.

“We understand that keeping these medications out of Washington’s streams and lakes is critical to the overall health of our communities,” said Jennifer Spall, spokeswoman for Walmart.

Signs in now posted more than 3,500 Walmart pharmacies and online with directions for customers on the proper disposal of their unused medications. The company will also print SMARxT Disposal’s information on all pharmacy bags, a friendly way of educating customers on drug disposal.

“Walmart is pleased to be an active corporate supporter of SMARxT Disposal,” said Dr. John Agwunobi, president of Walmart Health and Wellness. ”Our customers are looking for environmentally friendly ways to dispose of their unused and unwanted medications, and SMARxT Disposal can provide the answers our customers are seeking. We are proud to be part of this solution and we know that our communities will benefit from this partnership.”

Comcast donates $25,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs of Thurston County

Digital literacy is more important than ever in today’s information-based economy. That’s why Comcast is helping South Sound children improve their technology skills with a $25,000 grant to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Thurston County.

The money will ensure that clubs in Lacey, Olympia, Rochester and Tumwater will be able to provide the most up-to-date digital technology and software to help prepare at-risk youth for college and future careers.

"Kids need to learn and conquer technology,” said Joe Ingoglia, CEO for the Thurston County clubs. "It's used everywhere. You hear talk of bridging the digital divide. We are trying to bridge that gap for kids. We want to provide those kids with opportunities they might not otherwise have."

Unfortunately, some young people have serious problems competing with their peers because they can’t access computers, smart phones and other devices.

“You need a really rigorous curriculum and very sharp instructors to guide people through technology,” said Walt Neary, spokesman for Comcast. “The Boys & Girls Clubs are great for young people. The clubs are real pioneers in the art of teaching young people digital literacy and how to use technology.”
Comcast has a long history of supporting the Boys & Girls Clubs, and the current donation is the largest grant it has given the organization so far.

“We’re really excited about this grant,” said Neary. “We hope we can do more things with the Boys and Girls Clubs down the line. We donate in various ways to hundreds of organizations around the state. We believe giving back to the community is essential. It’s the right thing to do for business and it’s definitely the right thing to do for the heart.”

AWB members honored by Thurston County Economic Development Council

Times are tough, but some businesses are thriving despite the bad economy.

The Thurston County Economic Development Council honored two such businesses – The Rants Group and Harbor Wholesale Grocery – with its 2011 Business Recognition Awards on March 30.

“The awards showcase the importance of private sector businesses and the contributions they make to our local economy,” said Renée Sunde, the council’s marketing and business development director.

Based in Olympia, The Rants Group, an AWB member since 1978, is a family-owned commercial real estate company. Started by Ron Rants in 1973, with his son Patrick now at the helm, the company has been able to retain most of its staff during the current downturn in the real estate market.

Sunde also gives The Rants Group high marks for its contribution to the community.

“The Rants Group donates 25 percent of its net income to charitable efforts,” said Sunde. “Not only does it give back to the community, but it also works with a lot of local non-profits, giving them its expertise when they need help, and this is done just to be of service to the community.”

“The main thing is we’ve become part of the community,” said Ron Rants. “We know the community. We love the community. We invest in the community. It’s our norm.”

Tumwater-based Harbor Wholesale Grocery, an AWB member since 2007, is a fourth generation family business started in 1923 that now distributes food products to drug stores, convenience stores and restaurants in six states. In two months, it will move into a new 200,000 square foot headquarters and distribution center in Lacey.

“One of the things that is especially impressive about Harbor Wholesale Grocery is that in the market we’ve been experiencing, it is one of the few companies in Thurston County that’s going through a major expansion and re-investment,” said Sunde.

“We’re strongly invested in our community,” said Mike Erickson, the company’s chairman. “We have a strong customer base, and we’re happy to be in Thurston County.”