The improbable changeover was made possible by Solar Data Centers (SDC), a company that uses solar energy exclusively to run its clients' Internet operations. SDC deals primarily with companies and associations interested in environmental issues. For POVA, whose tourism slogan is "It's not easy being green," the switch to a clean, renewable energy source made sense.
The cost is also nearly identical to what POVA paid for its previous, more conventionally powered Web site
"People think of Portland as a green destination, both in terms of the scenery and the city's environmental commitment," explained Joe D'Alessandro, POVA's president and CEO. "This is just one way that we can live up to Portland's impressive international reputation."
According to POVA, the switch to 100 percent solar power is the monthly equivalent of:
- 1.72 acres of forest acres not being cut down
- 16,286 auto miles not being driven
- 4.32 tons of coal not being burned
- 14,482 pounds of CO2 not being produced