1999: Start-up funding received from the Hewlett and Packard foundations. First BEF green-power sales are made jointly with the Bonneville Power Administration. First BEF Watershed projects selected in Chinook, Wash. and Mohawk, Ore. rivers.
--Energy from the sun and wind is often referred to as green power because it is clean and renewable.

2000: The first BEF Renewable Energy Certificate, or "Green Tag" sales, are made to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and CH2MHill. Total sale: 611 Green Tags. First BEF solar project, at 30 kW, the largest grid-connected installation in the Northwest - installed in partnership with the City of Ashland, Oregon and others.
--BEF Offsets (formerly known as Green Tags), represent the environmental benefits of renewable energy that displace traditional energy from coal or gas that pollutes our environment. The significance is that for the first time, businesses and consumers voluntarily chose to offset their business or personal carbon emissions through the purchase of these offsets, therefore beginning the nation’s voluntary carbon offset market.

2001: BEF Green Tag sales were up 1800 percent to 11,173. BEF supplied Idaho Power Company with Green Tags for its retail green-power program; first utility program nationally to use Green Tags. By year-end, BEF signed four large Washington utilities as well. First Web sales of BEF Green Tags (by year-end, Web customers in over 20 states.) First community solar partnership with Chelan PUD in Wenatchee, Wash. (20kW); first building-integrated photovoltaic system with solar shingles on Orcas Island, Wash. BEF joined MileElectric Cooperative; small publicly owned utilities joined together to develop utility-scale wind.
--On a large scale, both the voluntary purchase of carbon offsets and the --proliferation of photovoltaic (solar systems) and commercial wind farms begins to take off.

2002: BEF Green Tag sales up 600 percent. New, largest Northwest grid-connected solar project at 38kW, at Hanford Nuclear Reservation, Wash. Newest building-integrated solar, (22kW) at Brewery Blocks development in Portland, Ore. BEF offers first Wind and Solar Green Tag; and first skiers’ Mini-Green Tags sold at Mt. Hood Meadows resort to offset a day trip to the slopes. BEF Green Tags earned national certification from Green-e Climate Neutral Network. BEF and partners set up solar wind cooperatives to stimulate new home/business wind and solar projects by buying Green Tags at above market prices. BEF launched Solar 4R Schools initiative to install solar panels at regional high schools, and energy choices curricula in classrooms. First three projects completed.
--From children to skiers, the consumer outreach continues. It is clear that children will eventually lead our nation's efforts in renewable energy programs and so we began an initiative to introduce curriculum to build awareness and enthusiasm for alternative energy solutions.

2003: BEF Green Tag sales up 64 percent. BEF launched a Model Watershed strategy: a long-term, 10-year funding program, and technical support to watershed partners who agree to rigorous monitoring & evaluation protocols for projects. First agreements signed with Sea Resources in Chinook River, Wash. and Kootenai Tribe in Kootenai River, Idaho. First BEF customers to earn Green Building points using Green Tags (Issaquah, WA, Highlands Fire & Rescue); first BEF biomass Green Tags from dairy manure-to-energy project in Tillamook, Ore.; largest BEF commercial sales of Green Tags nationally with WhiteWave Silk® Soymilk, offsetting 100% of company energy use, BEF offsets the Rolling Stones concert in Los Angeles. BEF & other Last Mile Electric Cooperative members lease 28,000 acres in southern Washington; prepare to build 200 megawatt White Creek wind project. --Wind farming becomes a new occupational choice. Wind turbine farms are planned for rural communities with access to ideal wind conditions. BEFs innovative 10-year watershed restoration & funding program allows appropriate time to measure restoration progress.

2004: BEF and 12 Western ski resorts launched the SkiGreen initiative using BEF Green Tags and Mini-Green Tags. BEF went multinational, bought Canadian wind-based Green Tags from Alberta for resale to customers in Canada and the United States. Three Seattle-area utilities - Puget Sound Energy, Tacoma City Light and Snohomish Public Utility District - teamed with BEF, Belo Marketing and Batdorf & Bronson Coffee Roasters to promote retail green-power sales. Campaign grew utility programs by an average of 40 percent; won an Emmy and other awards. National rock groups including Pearl Jam, R.E.M., Bonnie Raitt and the Dave Mathews Band staged the Vote for Change national tour, with the commitment to leave a new solar project in each state visited; BEF agreed to manage project installations. BEF Green Tag sales up 52 percent.
--Diverse groups from entertainment to utility and to ski industry partners join in the enthusiasm for the growth and promotion of alternative energy projects.

2005: BEF launched a Renewable Energy Project Management Services business line to develop small solar installations: $625,000 in revenues from 20 projects completed or underway in year one; more than 30 are in the pipeline. Coeur d’Alene Tribe of Idaho and BEF entered into third 10-year model watershed agreement for Benewah Creek, Idaho. BEF launched a new Brighter Future Green Tag, with 10 percent solar, 90 percent wind content. BEF Green Tag sales up 47 percent.
--The solar installation market experiences rapid growth, requiring a dedicated team of staff members to manage the requests and program information.

2006: Deschutes (Central Oregon) Model Watershed project approved. Green Tag sales up 60 percent.
--The efforts of the watershed team prove to be successful as projects continue to grow.

2007: Entiat (near Wenatchee, Wash.) Model Watershed project selected. BEF greened the Oscars® and the White Creek Wind Farm Klickitat County, Wash. Phase I and II. First Latin America Green Tags purchase: Los Premios MTV Latin America. BEF wins Green Power Leadership Awards for Clif Bar and SkiGreen partnership and Washington Green Power Campaign. Green Tag sales up 61 percent.
--Growth! Nearly every program area from watersheds to the number of customers served, including the number of staff nearly doubled during this year.

2008: Margie Gardner joined as new CEO. Angus Duncan continued as president, part-time and chaired Oregon Governor’s Committee on Climate Change. Senator Mark Hatfield retired. Green Tags undergo a name change and are now known as BEF Carbon Offsets. BEF Carbon Offsets earn Green-e Climate ® Certification (an independent standards and verification body). New brand identity and marketing makeover. BEF greens part of the Grammies, the Tampa Bay Rays Baseball team, and provides solar array for hot water system at Fenway Park in Boston. Coos Watershed Association project announced. Announced the formation of a "C" Corporation to promote renewable energy projects.
--Evolution and mission refinement. The makeup of the board changed as Senator Hatfield retired; the handover in day-to-day leadership from Angus to Margie set in motion an organizational makeover that clarified and reaffirmed the mission of BEF as well as extended the goals and outreach efforts to manage the growth that occurred since 2007.

2009: New BEF Web site launched! Stay tuned for more info.