Before we figure out how to buy green power, we need to figure out what green power actually is:
The essence of green power marketing is to provide market-based choices for electricity consumers to purchase power from environmentally preferred sources. The term "green power" is used to define power generated from renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, geothermal, hydropower and various forms of biomass. Green power marketing has the potential to expand domestic markets for renewable energy technologies by fostering greater availability of renewable electric service options in retail markets. Although renewable energy development has traditionally been limited by cost considerations, customer choice allows consumer preferences for cleaner energy sources to be reflected in market transactions. In survey after survey, customers have expressed a preference and willingness to pay more, if necessary, for cleaner energy sources.
Would you be willing to spend more on your utility bills, if you knew you were:- reducing your carbon footprint,
- reducing air pollution,
- reducing water consumption, and
- supporting efforts to make American energy-independent?
Additional tax and cash incentives for home energy savings offered by state and local governments, as well as individual utility companies, can be found here.