PSE’s murals are beautifying public spaces and boosting the utility’s brand
In an innovative pairing of art and purpose, Puget Sound Energy is installing art projects in each of its service areas to beautify public spaces and eliminate maintenance and graffiti cleanup costs.
About 130 gallons of paint went into the first ARTility project—a 560-foot-by-40-foot mural by local artists Gretchen Leggitt and Max McNett. Located at PSE’s Encogen Generating facility in Bellingham, Washington, the mural represents PSE’s commitment to wind and other renewable energy. Fourteen other ARTility installations in each of PSE’s service areas include vinyl transformer wraps and cyclone fencing in addition to murals.
“Working to reduce graffiti and vandalism through art has been a practice of successful placemaking, another of which is being a positive steward of community,” Nick Hartrich, PSE outreach manager, told American Gas. “ARTility worked with seven internal PSE departments to streamline low-cost best practices for infrastructure that has been vandalized.”
Besides accolades from local public officials, environmental groups and arts organizations, PSE is receiving an unexpected bonus—free advertising. The Encogen mural generated 2.9 million media impressions, equal to $40,000 in advertising, with an additional 1 million cars expected to drive by annually, Hartrich said. —Carolyn Kimmel