Hello All,

My power company recently started offering a green power option and it sounds really good. What the deal is: I pay an added premium on top of my normal per kwh rate. This premium is really small. Less than a penny per kwh. This is added to my bill and really doesn't make a big difference even in the winter.

What they provide (or say they do) is clean green energy produced from a number of sources. They have different levels of participation, but I just go with the 100% option.

I was wondering about something though. I have never seen any green power production sources in my area or even in my region. Where are they getting this power from then? Is it really green power or is the power company just taking my money because I want to be green, taking advantage of this new trend?

Geo, yes you are probably buying renewable energy. If not directly, you are paying an added premium to assist you power company in buying carbon offsets. While there is some drawback to carbon offsets compared to direct production it is still a way to get renewable energy.

Research and find out if your power company or its providers are Green-e certified. This is the largest and most well respected certification for green power. If its not there, you might want to ask a few more questions.

Geo, you might be hepling to pay for a renewable energy project in another state: wave energy in Oregon or wind in Texas, or .... Thaks for promoting renewable enrergy!

It's a carbon offset and trade program most likely. While a good option for now, I question if this is the right approach for the long haul. Is allowing a coal plant to use customer money to pay to pollute really helping make things greener or lining the pockets of executives on both sides of the energy production industry?

Carbon offsets may not be the end all be all solution to the sustainable energy production problem as it does pollute, but what it does do is help fund and promote green energy sources while they grow and take over more and more of the energy market. Over time, most power companies will try to shift some if not most of their energy production to renewable resources. This won't happen overnight, but with the help of conscientious consumers and carbon trade programs, we will foster the growth of this industry for the future.

has anyone had success getting your local utility to go for a green-e certification. I don't know the process but I have talked with a few managers at my local power company and they just aren't very responsive. They have a green power option but no certification. I would just feel better about paying the extra if I could verify that they were following through with their end of the bargain.

green power options are a great way to make an impact in the environmental movement. The price isn't bad at all, but I wonder what would happen if a large percentage of the customer base opted in. Would the system be able to handle the load. I doubt it, but would they refund that small premium?

If everyone pushed for green power now, there would be a lag on the ability to deliver but with an influx in green energy incomes, the amount of renewable resource energy production would likely increase at a good rate.

I opted in to my power company's green option and I hardly notice the difference on my bill. I don't know how much help this little bit of money is actually doing and I would even pay more to see the technologies more well funded.

I have been using the green power option in my community for a few years now and really don't see much difference in my power bills. It just makes me feel good that I am doing my part when it comes to energy sources. I knew it wasn't enough though. I reduced my actual electrical consumption as well. That combination is what is going to help us more. The reduce part is so much more powerful.

It may not be how we do power in the future, but I like carbon trade and the idea of green power options for where we are now. If you have the opportunity, I say go for it!!