KUB and the city of Knoxville, along with their initiative partners, recently celebrated the purchase of 400 blocks of green power by downtown residents and businesses through the "Make Downtown Green, Block by Block" campaign. The 400-block goal was a representation of the 400 city blocks in downtown Knoxville.

Mayor Bill Haslam and Susan Edwards of KUB reveal the success of the "Make Downtown Green, Block by Block" campaign.The April 30 celebration on Market Square included comments from Mayor Bill Haslam and recognition of the downtown residents and businesses that made the campaign a success. In honor of the environmental commitment of these customers, KUB distributed 400 dogwood saplings during the event.

The downtown Green Power Switch initiative was launched in April 2008 by KUB, the City of Knoxville, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE), the Central Business Improvement District, and the Knoxville Chamber.

Green power, which is energy created by renewable resources such as wind, solar power and methane gas, is provided by KUB through TVA's Green Power Switch program. Each 150-kilowatt-hour block of green power purchased costs $4 per month. KUB remains the leader among all TVA power distributors in the number of blocks purchased per month by its customers. 
 
"Downtown residents and businesses have demonstrated a sustaining commitment toward environmental improvement," said Mayor Bill Haslam. "Many individuals and businesses have stepped up through this challenge to help improve our environment through the purchase of green power. We applaud their efforts." 
 
Mintha Roach, KUB President and CEO said, "KUB's role in the community goes beyond providing reliable utility service. We have a long history of making environmental responsibility a priority. I want to thank the many KUB customers who continue to show their environmental commitment through the purchase of green power." 
 
As an example, the purchase of 400 blocks of green power for one year will have the environmental impact of planting two hundred acres of trees or recycling 3,206,400 (96,000 pounds) of aluminum cans or recycling 353,200 pounds of paper.

KUB and TVA would like to thank participating residents and the following downtown businesses for joining us as Green Power Switch customers and helping to reach the goal:

AC Entertainment Alcoa Inc Arts & Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville The Benefield Richters Company Brewer Ingram Fuller Architects, Inc Cafe 4 and The Square Room City of Knoxville Elizabeth Eason Architecture, LLC Furrow Services, LLC United States General Services Administration: Baker Building and Duncan Building Knoxville Chamber Knoxville Tourism & Sports Corporation Mast General Store McCarty Holsaple McCarty Architects & Interior Designers Moxley Carmichael The O'Hanlon Group Partners Development Public Building Authority Salon Visage Market Square Southern Alliance for Clean Energy Tennetic Ventures The Tomato Head Toppenberg & Burke, P.C. The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

The following downtown businesses also provided support during the campaign: Clayton Bank and Trust; Coffee & Chocolate; Fiveman Productions, Inc; Ritchie Family Partnership, LP.

Other downtown residents and businesses, as well as all KUB customers, are encouraged to sign up for green power. For more information or to sign up, visit the Environment section online at www.kub.org.