Northwest burger chain switches to pure wind power

Fans of Pacific Northwest fast-food purveyor Burgerville will soon be noshing on burgers and onion rings cooked up with clean energy. The Holland Inc. — parent company of both the Burgerville and Noodlin’ regional chains — has announced that all of its restaurants will use regionally produced wind power for 100 percent of their electricity needs. The move may increase the company’s overall energy costs, but will reduce its carbon-dioxide contributions by about 17.4 million pounds a year — the equivalent of taking 1,700 cars off the road. Burgerville has long felt the Pacific Northwest love by featuring regional foods such as Tillamook (Oregon) cheese and Walla Walla (Washington) onion rings. The energy switch is just one more commitment “to business practices that benefit our guests and enhance the communities we live in,” said chief operating officer Jeff Harvey. Makes us want to weep with joy, right into our organic ketchup.