August 2023 CarbonBetter® Impact Update
Every month we share the positive impact our customers have made through their use of CarbonBetter-certified 100% energy, which is included in every Provision clean energy supply plan. Each customer on these plans receives an email with their personal impact for the month, and this blog post reflects the impact all of our customers have made together since we became CarbonBetter-certified in November 2020.
We’re honored to be able to provide affordable clean energy that makes a real difference. Check out all of our past Impact Updates here!
Our Customers’ CarbonBetter Impact – August 2023 Update
106.1k
mWh
Provision customers have funded 106,117 mWh of clean energy generation, which could power 11,410 homes for a year.*
74.8k
tons
Provision customers have offset 74,847 tons of carbon, which is like avoiding over 191 million miles of driving.**
80.9k
trees
Provision customers have funded planting 80,888 trees, which may sequester 1,334 tons of carbon in their lifetime.***
Want to be included in our next impact update?
It’s easy to contribute to the positive impact we make each month. All Provision energy plans include CarbonBetter clean energy, which helps you make a difference automatically when you use energy at home.
Our customers help fund clean energy generation through renewable energy certificates, offset carbon through carbon credits, and plant trees to aid in reforestation and increase our natural carbon-capturing capabilities. It’s never too late to start using your energy for good.
August 2023 Impact Update: Cougar Dam – Cougar Dam G2 Project
About the Project
Cougar Dam is a hydroelectric dam in Oregon that was completed in 1963. It stands 519 feet tall and has a powerhouse with two turbines that generate 25 megawatts of electric power. Cougar Reservoir, created by the dam, has a storage capacity of 219,000 acre-feet.
It coordinates with Blue River Dam to control flooding and has prevented approximately $452 million in potential flood damages. The dam consists of a rock-fill embankment, a penstock, an emergency spillway, a regulating outlet, and a diversion tunnel that was later closed with a concrete plug.
Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) Explained
100% renewable electricity is included automatically in every Provision electricity supply plan, and we use renewable energy certificates, or RECs, to deliver on our clean energy promise. Homes are connected to the power grid by transmission lines, and the electricity that’s supplied is derived from a variety of generation resources, both renewable and non-renewable. This is because when clean energy is generated and put on the grid, it’s mixed with other fuel sources, making it difficult for environmentally conscious consumers to supply their homes with 100% clean energy.
Provision ensures more clean energy is put on the grid by funding renewable generators by purchasing RECs. These certificates support electricity generation equal to the volume consumed by Provision customers, thus leading to a cleaner grid and delivering on pour 100% clean energy promise. So far, Provision customers have helped fund over 70,000 Megawatt-hours (mWh) of renewable electricity using RECs.
How It Works
Cougar Dam is a hydroelectric dam located on the South Fork McKenzie River in the U.S. state of Oregon. The dam is a rock-fill embankment approximately 1,500 feet (460 meters) long, with a height of 519 feet (158 meters). It has a gated concrete spillway and a powerhouse containing two Kaplan turbines, with a total capacity of 25 megawatts of electric power. The turbines are driven by water that flows through a penstock, a pipe that carries water from the reservoir to the turbines.
The Cougar Reservoir, created by the dam, has a storage capacity of 219,000 acre-feet (270,000,000 cubic meters). The dam also has an emergency spillway capable of handling a flow of 76,140 cubic feet per second (2,156 cubic meters per second). The spillway is designed to prevent the overtopping of the dam during extreme flood events.
To regulate the flow of water downstream, the dam has a regulating outlet, a valve that can be opened or closed to control the flow of water from the reservoir. It helps to maintain a stable water level in the reservoir and downstream river.
Cougar Dam operates in coordination with the nearby Blue River Dam to control flooding in the area. Since the completion of the Cougar Dam, it is estimated that it has prevented approximately $452 million in potential flood damages.
Project Benefits
Cougar Dam, as a multi-purpose infrastructure project, has the potential to provide significant benefits to the surrounding area. These benefits significantly impact the surrounding communities and ecosystems, providing essential resources for various activities and uses. With its primary functions being:
- Flood risk management: Cougar Dam coordinates with Blue River Dam to control flooding in the area, preventing potential flood damages of approximately $452 million.
- Hydropower generation: The dam has a powerhouse containing two turbines, with a total capacity of 25 megawatts of electric power.
- Water quality improvement: The water stored in the Cougar Reservoir is used to improve water quality downstream by regulating the flow of water and reducing sedimentation.
- Irrigation: Water stored in the reservoir is used for irrigation in surrounding agricultural areas, supporting local agriculture.
- Fish and wildlife habitat preservation: The dam and reservoir provide habitat for fish and wildlife species, helping to preserve local ecosystems.
- Water storage: The reservoir has a storage capacity of 219,000 acre-feet, providing a reliable source of water for multiple purposes, including hydropower generation, irrigation, and water supply for surrounding communities.
By exploring the potential benefits of Cougar Dam, we can better understand the role of infrastructure projects in promoting sustainable development and addressing societal and environmental challenges.
Conclusion
The project’s success is evident in its ability to prevent potential flood damage, generate clean energy, and provide a reliable water source for multiple purposes. The Cougar Dam project is an excellent example of how infrastructure projects can promote sustainable development, improve the quality of life for people, and help address societal and environmental challenges.
Help promote sustainable infrastructure projects that provide a range of benefits to the surrounding communities and ecosystems. Consider taking action today and explore ways to support Provision, whether by advocating for more investments in renewable energy or supporting initiatives to protect natural habitats. Provision can help you streamline your operations, reduce your carbon footprint, and promote sustainable practices in your industry. Join us in using your energy for good and supporting sustainable projects.
Every Provision Customer Makes a Difference
About CarbonBetter Impact Calculations:
*The typical home in your area uses 9,300 kWh of electricity per year.
**https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gases-equivalencies-calculator-calculations-and-references#gasoline
***https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gases-equivalencies-calculator-calculations-and-references#seedlings
Impact is calculated based on our customers’ billings in the impact month, but planting, funding, and offsetting may not happen in that month. These activities must align with planting seasons and project life cycles to be effective. If you have any questions, please contact us at hello@getprovision.com.
