Local utilities across the nation offer customers the option to purchase renewable energy instead of electricity generated from nonrenewable sources. Essentially acting as an offset, the company will purchase green electricity equal to the amount consumed by the customer. For instance, homes that use 1,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy a month can purchase renewable energy equivalents from their provider. These offsets typically invest in local energy generation in the form of wind farms, solar (photovoltaic) plants, biogas or other renewable energy programs. In previous posts, the issue of offsets has been discussed, but these programs purchase renewable energy from local producers, avoiding some of the concerns (i.e non local projects) broached by 2nd Green Revolution.

Xcel Energy, based in Minnesota and serving parts of eight states, recently expanded its renewable energy program in Colorado, New Mexico and Minnesota. The offering, known as Windsource (be sure to select the state above the link on the left column), began ten years ago. According to Xcel, Windsource has “delivered more than 1 billion kWh of clean wind energy” since its inception. The National Renewable Energy Lab in Golden, Colorado, recognized Windsource as “the largest voluntary renewable energy program in the country”. In fact, the program has outgrown its suppliers of wind energy and has recently begun purchasing electricity from other renewable energy projects. For an extra 2 cents per kWh (on average) customers can support renewable energy generation. The program does charge a slight premium. However, the true cost is often much less than 2 cents per kWh due to other fuel charges from Xcel which do not apply to Windsource participants. For a detailed discussion of this point please read this post from Solarkismet.

Several other utilities offer renewable energy programs. In Missouri and Illinois, Ameren UE has provided a renewable energy option since 2007. Known as Pure Power, the program is available to customers for 1.5 cents per kWh. Last year the United States Department of Energy (DOE) named Ameren UE’s Pure Power program “the ‘most successful’ New Green Power Program of the year” according to Ameren’s MediaRoom.

For a complete list of programs throughout the country check, the Green Power Network’s interactive map. By purchasing renewable energy through the utility, demand for these energy supplies increases, bringing economies of scale and reducing future costs and dependence on nonrenewable sources of energy.

- Eric Wilson