'Dogs for Better Lives' launches solar array, bettering lives of dogs and community

CENTRAL POINT, Ore. — Since 1977, the non-profit organization 'Dogs for Better Lives (DBL)' has been helping the deaf and autistic by training rescue and bread dogs to enhance their lives.

On Thursday, they added to that mission by officially launching a 102-panel solar array in an effort to reduce carbon 'paw-prints' and enhance the lives of the community.

Brian Williams, president and CEO of the non-profit organization said, "Today is a really exciting day for us to unveil this amazing project that's going to save us tens of thousands of dollars every year in energy costs."

The 97.9-kilowatt solar array system was funded by Pacific Power's Blue Sky Program which consists of 120 organizations across Oregon, California and Washington. Since 2006, projects like the one funded at DBL have received community-based renewable energy awards in solar, wind a geothermal energy.

Pacific Power’s Blue Sky program participants provided a grant of 175,000 dollars that covered most of the installation costs, but another substantial amount of 25,000 dollars came from the energy trust of Oregon.

The remaining balance on the system was paid by the donors of Dogs for Better Lives. This system will save Dogs for Better Lives nearly 28,000 dollars a year.

Operations director Trish Welch said, "Within three and a half years, we'll have paid back that balance and that will mean that much more money to save and help train more dogs to help and serve people across the country."

Blue Sky is an opt-in program that gives Pacific Power customers an option to match all or part of their energy use with renewable energy reducing their carbon footprints and driving demand for new renewable energy across the west. Through the Blue Sky Block option, participants also support qualifying, renewable energy projects for community-serving organizations such as schools, community centers and arts organizations.

"We're so grateful for Pacific Power and the Blue Sky participants helping us fund this project that really wouldn't happen without their support," said Williams. "For years to come it will drive down our costs and better the environment."

Williams said this is not the organization's first effort in helping the environment. After a staff-member brought up the idea of how their organization could reduce environment impacts, 'Dogs for Better Lives' launched a "green team" in 2019. Through that group within the organization, they came up with the idea of solar panels which was eventually launched with Pacific Power.

The project was originally announced in February and construction of the solar panel grid was completed in early May. On June 11, the project was officially completed and now the solar panels will provide energy to 'Dogs for Better Lives' and reduce their carbon 'pawprint.'

"It's an exciting day, we're glad to be here," Williams said. "It's a gorgeous day with a lot of sun that's gonna be hitting those solar panels."

To track the power that the solar panels are generating in real time, they have launched a widget on their website.

The panels are located at the northeast portion of the property near Lower Table Rock in Central Point. If interested in learning more or donating to the non-profit organization, Dogs for Better Lives please visit here. If you are interested in other projects across the west, visit Pacific Power's Blue Sky Renewable Energy Project.