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What is Green Power? The
term "green power" generally refers to electricity supplied
in whole or in part from renewable energy sources, such
as wind and solar power, geothermal, hydropower, and various
forms of biomass. Increasingly, electricity customers are
being given electricity supply options, either as retail
power markets open to competition or when their regulated
utilities develop green pricing programs. About 40% of retail
customers in the United States now have an option of purchasing
a green power product directly from their electricity supplier.
In addition, consumers can support renewable energy development
through the purchase of green energy certificates.
Why Buy Green Power?
By choosing to purchase a green power product, you can support
increased development of renewable energy sources, which
can reduce the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil,
and natural gas. Greater reliance on renewable sources also
provides economic benefits and can improve our national
energy security. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory's
web site provides an additional discussion of the benefits
of renewable energy.
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Green Power Providers
The table shown here summarizes utility green pricing programs
by state.
Table
of Green Pricing Programs
(as of October 2003) |
| State |
Utility
Name |
Program
Name |
Type |
Size |
Start
Date |
Premium |
| AL |
Alabama
Power Company |
Renewable
Energy Rate |
biomass
co-firing |
TBD |
2003 |
6.0¢/kWh |
| AL |
TVA:
City of Athens, Cullman Electric Coop, Cullman Power
Board, Florence, Hartselle, Huntsville, Joe Wheeler
EMC, Muscle Shoals, Scottsboro, Sheffield, Tuscumbia
|
Green
Power Switch |
wind,
landfill gas, solar |
joint
8.7 MW |
2000 |
2.67¢/kWh |
| AZ |
Arizona Public Service |
Solar
Partners |
central
PV |
616 kW |
1997 |
$2.64/15kWh |
| AZ |
Salt
River Project |
EarthWise
Energy |
central
PV, landfill gas, small hydro |
4.4 MW |
1998/2001 |
3.0¢/kWh |
| AZ |
Tucson
Electric |
GreenWatts |
landfill
gas, PV, wind |
400 kW |
2000 |
7.5-10¢/kWh |
| CA |
City
of Alameda |
Clean
Future Fund |
various,
electric vehicles |
— |
1999 |
1.0¢/kWh |
| CA |
Los
Angeles Dept. of Water and Power |
Green
Power for a Green LA |
wind,
landfill gas |
27
MW |
1999 |
3.0¢/kWh |
| CA |
Palo
Alto Utilities/3 Phases Energy Services |
Palo
Alto Green |
wind,
solar |
purchase
from WECC |
2003 |
1.5¢/kWh |
| CA |
Pasadena
Water & Power |
Green
Power |
wind |
purchase
from PPM |
2003 |
2.5¢/kWh |
| CA |
Roseville
Electric |
RE
Green Energy |
geothermal,
hydro, PV |
26.8
kW |
2000 |
1.0¢/kWh |
| CA |
Sacramento
Municipal Utility District |
Greenergy |
wind,
landfill gas, hydro |
70.3
MW |
1997 |
1.0¢/kWh |
| CA |
Sacramento
Municipal Utility District |
PV
Pioneers I |
rooftop
PV |
1.9
MW |
1993 |
$4/month |
| CO |
Colorado
Springs Utilities |
Green
Power |
wind |
1
MW from Xcel |
1997 |
3.0¢/kWh |
| CO |
Holy
Cross Energy |
Wind
Power Pioneers |
wind |
5 MW
from Xcel |
1998 |
2.5¢/kWh |
| CO |
Holy
Cross Energy |
Local
Renewable Energy Pool |
small
hydro, PV |
50 kW |
2002 |
2.5¢/kWh |
| CO |
Platte
River Power Authority: Estes
Park, Fort Collins,
Longmont, Loveland |
Wind
Power |
wind |
5.8 MW |
1996 |
2.5¢/kWh |
| CO |
Tri-State
Generation & Transmission: Gunnison County Electric,
K.C. Electric, La Plata Electric, Morgan Co. Rural Electric
Association, Mountain Parks Electric, Mountain View
Electric, Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association,
San Isabel Electric, San Luis Valley Rural Electric
Coop, San Miguel Power, United Power, Y-W Electric
(16 of 44 coops offer program) |
Renewable
Resource Power Service |
wind,
landfill gas |
660 kW
from PRPA |
1999 |
2.5¢/kWh |
| CO |
Xcel
Energy |
Renewable
Energy Trust |
PV |
100
kW |
1993 |
Contribution |
| CO |
Xcel
Energy |
WindSource |
wind |
52.7
MW |
1997 |
2.5¢/kWh |
| CO |
Yampa
Valley Electric Association |
Green
Power |
wind |
450 kW
from Xcel |
1999 |
3.0¢/kWh |
| FL |
Southern
Company: Gulf Power Company |
EarthCents
Solar |
PV
in schools; central PV |
14
kW; joint 1 MW |
1996/1999 |
Contribution;
$6/100 watts |
| FL |
City
of Tallahassee/Sterling Planet |
Green
for You |
biomass,
solar |
TBD |
2002 |
1.6¢/kWh |
| FL |
City
of Tallahassee/Sterling Planet |
Green
for You |
solar
only |
TBD |
2002 |
11.6¢/kWh |
| FL |
Tampa
Electric Company (TECO) |
Smart
Source |
PV,
biomass (co-firing) |
1.5
MW |
2000 |
10.0¢/kWh |
| FL |
Utilities
Commission City of New Smyrna Beach |
Green
Fund |
local
PV projects |
9.8
kW |
1999 |
Contribution |
| GA |
Georgia
Electric Membership Corporation: Carroll EMC, Coweta-Fayette
EMC, Flint Energies, GreyStone Power, Habersham EMC,
Irwin EMC, Jackson EMC, Lamar EMC, Ocmulgee EMC, Sawnee
EMC, Snapping Shoals EMC, Tri-County EMC, Walton EMC
of Monroe
(13 of 42 coops offer program) |
Green
Power EMC |
landfill
gas |
8
MW |
2001 |
TBD |
| GA |
Southern
Company: Georgia Power |
Green
Energy |
landfill
gas, wind, solar |
TBD |
2003 |
5.5¢/kWh |
| GA |
Southern
Company: Savannah Power |
Green
Energy |
landfill
gas, wind, solar |
TBD |
2003 |
6.0¢/kWh |
| HI |
Hawaiian
Electric |
Sun
Power for Schools |
PV
in schools |
22
kW |
1996 |
Contribution |
| ID |
Avista
Utilities |
Buck-A-Block |
wind |
— |
2002 |
1.8¢/kWh |
| ID |
Idaho
Power |
Green
Power Program |
various |
TBD |
2001 |
Contribution |
| IL |
City
of St. Charles/ComEd and Community Energy, Inc. |
Green
Power |
landfill
gas, wind |
TBD |
2003 |
Contribution |
| IN |
Hoosier
Energy: Southeastern Indiana REMC, South Central
Indiana REMC, Utilities District of Western Indiana
REMC, Decatur County REMC, Daviess-Martin County REMC
(5 of 16 coops offer program) |
EnviroWatts |
landfill
gas |
— |
2001 |
2.0¢/kWh-4.0¢/kWh |
| IN |
Indianapolis
Power & Light |
Elect
Plan Green Power Program |
geothermal |
— |
1998 |
0.9¢/kWh |
| IN |
PSI
Energy |
Green
Power Rider |
wind,
solar, landfill gas, digester gas |
TBD |
2001 |
Contribution |
| IN |
Wabash
Valley Power Association: Boone REMC, Hendricks
Power Cooperative, Kankakee Valley REMC, Miami-Cass
REMC, Tipmont REMC, White County REMC, Northeastern
REMC
(7 of 24 coops offer program) |
EnviroWatts |
landfill
gas |
7.5
MW |
2000 |
0.5¢/kWh-1.0¢/kWh |
| IA |
Alliant
Energy |
Second
Nature |
landfill
gas, wind |
4.6 MW |
2001 |
2.0¢/kWh |
| IA |
Basin
Electric Power Cooperative: Lion Rural, Harrison
County, Nishnabotna Valley Cooperative, Northwest Rural
Electric Cooperative, Western Iowa |
Prairie
Winds |
wind |
2.6
MW |
2000 |
2.5¢/kWh |
| IA |
Cedar
Falls Utilities |
Wind
Energy Electric Project |
wind |
1.5
MW |
1999 |
Contribution |
| IA |
Waverly
Light & Power |
Iowa
Energy Tags |
wind |
900
kW |
2001 |
2.0¢/kWh |
| KY |
East
Kentucky Power Cooperative: Blue Grass Energy, Inter-county
Energy, Owen Electric |
EnviroWatts |
landfill
gas |
3.2
MW |
2002 |
2.75¢/kWh |
| KY |
TVA:
Bowling Green Municipal Utilities, Franklin Electric
Plant Board |
Green
Power Switch |
wind,
landfill gas, solar |
joint
8.7 MW |
2000 |
2.67¢/kWh |
| MI |
Consumers
Energy |
Experimental
Green Power Program |
wind,
various |
1.8
MW |
2001 |
3.2¢/kWh |
| MI |
Detroit
Edison |
Solar
Currents |
central
PV |
55
kW |
1996 |
$6.59/100
watts |
| MI |
Lansing
Board of Water and Light |
GreenWise
Electric Power |
landfill
gas, small hydro |
— |
2001 |
3.0¢/kWh |
| MI |
Traverse
City Light and Power |
Green
Rate |
wind |
600
kW |
1996 |
1.58¢/kWh |
| MI |
We
Energies |
Energy
for Tomorrow |
wind,
landfill gas, hydro |
8.2
MW |
2000 |
2.04¢/kWh |
| MN |
Alliant
Energy |
Second
Nature |
landfill
gas, wind |
4.6 MW |
2002 |
2.0¢/kWh |
| MN |
Basin
Electric Power Cooperative: Minnesota Valley Electric
Coop, Sioux Valley Southwestern |
Prairie
Winds |
wind |
2.6
MW |
2000 |
2.5¢/kWh |
| MN |
Great
River Energy: Agralite, Arrowhead, BENCO Electric,
Brown County Rural Electric, Connexus Energy, Co-op
Light & Power, Crow Wing Power, Dakota Electric
Association, East Central Electric Association, Federated
Rural Electric, Goodhue County, Head of the Lakes, Itasca
Mantrap Cooperative, Kandiyohi Power Cooperative, Lake
Country Power, Lake Region, McLeod Cooperative Power,
Meeker Cooperative Light & Power, Mille Lacs, Minnesota
Valley, Nobles Cooperative Electric, North Itasca, Redwood,
Runestone Electric, South Central Electric Association
, Stearns Electric, Steele-Waseca, Todd-Wadena , Wright-Hennepin
Electric
(all 29 coops offer program) |
Wellspring
Renewable Wind Energy Program |
wind |
6
MW |
1997 |
1.28¢/kWh-2.0¢/kWh |
| MN |
Minnesota
Power |
WindSense |
wind |
— |
2002 |
2.5¢/kWh |
| MN |
Minnkota
Power Cooperative: Beltrami, Clearwater Polk, North
Star, PKM, Red Lake, Red River, Roseau, Wild Rice, Thief
River Falls |
Infinity
Wind Energy |
wind |
900 kW |
1999 |
3.0¢/kWh |
| MN |
Missouri
River Energy Services: Adrian, Alexandria, Barnesville,
Breckenridge, Detroit Lakes, Elbow Lake, Henning, Jackson,
Lakefield, Lake Park, Luverne, Madison, Moorhead, Ortonville,
St. James, Sauk Centre, Staples, Wadena, Westbrook,
Worthington (23 of 55 munis offer program) |
RiverWinds |
wind |
1.8 MW |
2002 |
2.0¢/kWh-2.5¢/kWh |
| MN |
Moorhead
Public Service |
Capture
the Wind |
wind |
1.5
MW |
1998 |
1.5¢/kWh |
| MN |
Otter
Tail Power Company |
TailWinds |
wind |
900
kW |
2002 |
2.6¢/kWh |
| MN |
Southern
Minnesota Municipal Power Agency: Fairmont Public
Utilities, Wells Public Utilities, Austin Utilities,
Preston Public Utilities, Spring Valley Utilities, Blooming
Prairie Public Utilities, Rochester Public Utilities,
Owatonna Public Utilities, Waseca Utilities, St. Peter
Municipal Utilities, Lake City Utilities, New Prague
Utilities Commission, Redwood Falls Public Utilities,
Litchfield Public Utilities, Princeton Public Utilities,
North Branch Water and Light, Mora Municipal Utilities,
Grand Marais Public Utilities
(all 18 offer program) |
SMMPA
Wind Power |
wind |
1.9
MW |
2000 |
1.0¢/kWh |
| MN |
Xcel
Energy |
WindSource |
wind |
1.8
MW |
TBD |
2.0¢/kWh |
| MS |
TVA:
City of Oxford, North East Mississippi Electric Power
Asssociation |
Green
Power Switch |
wind,
landfill gas, solar |
joint
8.7 MW |
2000 |
2.67¢/kWh |
| MO |
Boone
Electric Cooperative |
TBD |
wind |
purchase
from Aquila |
2003 |
3.0¢/kWh |
| MO |
City
Utilities of Springfield |
WindCurrent |
wind |
purchase
from Western |
2000 |
5.0¢/kWh |
| MT |
Basin
Electric Power Cooperative: Lower Yellowstone |
Prairie
Winds |
wind |
2.6
MW |
2000 |
2.5¢/kWh |
| MT |
Northwestern
Energy |
E+
Green |
wind,
solar |
purchase
from BEF |
2003 |
2.0¢/kWh |
| MT |
Vigilante
Electric Cooperative |
Alternative
Renewable Energy |
wind,
hydro, solar |
purchase
from BPA |
2003 |
1.1¢/kWh |
| NE |
Lincoln
Electric System |
LES
Renewable Energy Program |
wind |
1.32
MW |
1998 |
4.3¢/kWh |
| NE |
Nebraska
Public Power District |
Prairie
Power |
TBD |
TBD |
1999 |
Contribution |
| NE |
Omaha
Public Power District |
Green
Power Program |
landfill
gas, wind |
3.9
MW |
2002 |
3.0¢/kWh |
| NE |
Tri-State:
Chimney Rock Public Power District, Northwest Rural
Public Power District |
Renewable
Resource Power Service |
wind,
landfill gas |
planned
2.66MW |
2001 |
2.5¢/kWh |
| NM |
El
Paso Electric |
TBD |
wind |
TBD |
TBD |
3.19¢/kWh |
| NM |
Public
Service of New Mexico |
TBD |
wind |
TBD |
TBD |
1.8¢/kWh |
| NM |
Tri-State:
Kit Carson Electric Cooperative |
Renewable
Resource Power Service |
wind,
landfill gas |
planned
2.66MW |
2001 |
2.5¢/kWh |
| NM |
Xcel
Energy |
WindSource |
wind |
660
kW |
1999 |
3.0¢/kWh |
| NC |
Dominion
North Carolina Power |
NC
GreenPower |
biomass,
wind, solar |
TBD |
TBD |
4.0¢/kWh |
| NC |
Duke
Power |
NC
GreenPower |
biomass,
wind, solar |
TBD |
TBD |
4.0¢/kWh |
| NC |
ElectriCities |
NC
GreenPower |
biomass,
wind, solar |
TBD |
TBD |
4.0¢/kWh |
| NC |
NC
Electric Cooperatives |
NC
GreenPower |
biomass,
wind, solar |
TBD |
TBD |
4.0¢/kWh |
| NC |
Progress
Energy/CP&L |
NC
GreenPower |
biomass,
wind, solar |
TBD |
TBD |
4.0¢/kWh |
| ND |
Basin
Electric Power Cooperative: Oliver Mercer Electric
Coop, Mor-gran-sou Electric Coop, KEM Electric Coop,
North Central Electric Coop, Verendrye, Capital , Northern
Plains, Dakota Valley, Burke Divide, Montrail Williams,
McKenzie Electric Coop, West Plains, Slope Electric
Coop
(49 coops offer program in 5 states) |
PrairieWinds |
wind |
5.2
MW |
2000 |
2.5¢/kWh |
| ND |
Minnkota
Power Cooperative: Cass County, Cavalier, Nodak |
Infinity
Wind Energy |
wind |
1.8
MW |
1999 |
3.0¢/kWh |
| OH |
American
Municipal Power-Ohio |
Nature's
Energy |
landfill
gas, small hydro |
TBD |
2003 |
1.3¢/kWh |
| OH |
City
of Bowling Green |
Bowling
Green Power |
small
hydro, PV |
2
kW |
1999 |
1.35¢/kWh |
| OK |
Oklahoma
Gas & Electric |
TBD |
wind |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
| OR |
Emerald
People's Utility District/Green Mountain Energy |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
| OR |
Eugene
Water & Electric Board |
EWEB
Wind Power |
wind |
6.5
MW |
1999 |
1.3¢/kWh |
| OR |
Midstate
Electric Cooperative |
Environmentally-Preferred
Power |
wind,
small hydro |
— |
1999 |
2.5¢/kWh |
| OR |
Oregon
Trail Electric Cooperative |
Green
Power |
wind |
— |
2002 |
1.5¢/kWh |
| OR |
Pacific
Northwest Generating Cooperative: Central Electric
Cooperative, Clearwater Power, Consumers Power, Douglas
Electric Cooperative, Umatilla Electric Cooperative
(5 of 16 coops offer program) |
Green
Power |
landfill
gas |
1.1
MW |
1998 |
1.8¢/kWh-2.0¢/kWh |
| OR |
PacifiCorp:
Pacific Power/Green Mountain Energy |
Green
Mountain Energy Electricity |
existing
geothermal, wind |
3
aMW |
2002 |
0.78¢/kWh |
| OR |
PacifiCorp:
Pacific Power/Green Mountain Energy |
Green
Mountain Energy Salmon-Friendly Plan |
existing
geothermal, wind |
0.9
aMW |
2002 |
0.78¢/kWh
+ $2.50 donation |
| OR |
PacifiCorp:
Pacific Power |
Blue
Sky |
wind |
purchase
from BPA |
2000 |
1.95¢/kWh |
| OR |
Portland
General Electric Company |
Clean
Wind Power |
wind |
purchase
from BPA |
2000 |
3.5¢/kWh |
| OR |
Portland
General Electric/Green Mountain Energy |
Green
Mountain Energy Electricity |
existing
geothermal, wind |
— |
2002 |
0.8¢/kWh |
| OR |
Portland
General Electric/Green Mountain Energy |
Green
Mountain Salmon-Friendly Plan |
existing
geothermal, wind |
— |
2002 |
0.99¢/kWh |
| SC |
Santee
Cooper: Aiken Electric Cooperative, Berkeley Electric
Cooperative, Horry Electric Cooperative, Mid-Carolina
Electric Cooperative, Palmetto Electric Cooperative,
Santee Electric Cooperative, and Tri-County Electric
Cooperative |
Green
Power Program |
landfill
gas |
2.2
MW |
2001 |
3.0¢/kWh |
| SD |
Basin
Electric Power Cooperative: Bon Homme-Yankton Electric
Assn., Central Electric Cooperative Association, Charles
Mix Electric Association, City of Elk Point, Clay-Union
Electric Corporation, Codington-Clark Electric Cooperative,
Dakota Energy Cooperative, Douglas Electric Cooperative,
FEM Electric Association, H-D Electric Cooperative,
Kingsbury Electric Cooperative, Lyon-Lincoln Electric
Cooperative, McCook Electric Cooperative, Northern Electric
Cooperative, Oahe Electric Cooperative, Renville-Sibley
Coop. Power Assn., Sioux Valley Southwestern Electric
Coop, Southeastern Electric Coop, Union County Electric
Cooperative, Whetstone Valley Electric Cooperative,
Black Hills Electric Coop, LaCreek Electric Coop, West
River Power Association, Butte Electric Coop, Cherry
Todd Electric Coop, Moreau Grand, Grand Electric Cooperative,
Rosebud |
Prairie
Winds |
wind |
2.6
MW |
2000 |
2.5¢/kWh |
| TN |
TVA:
Appalachian Electric Coop, Bristol Tennessee, Caney
Fork Electric Coop, Clarksville, Clinton, Cookeville,
Cumberland EMC, Duck River EMC, Elizabethton, EPB (Chattanooga),
Erwin, Gibson Electric, Greeneville, Johnson City Power
Board, Jackson, Knoxville, Lawrenceburg, Lenoir, McMinnville,
Middle Tennessee EMC, Morristown, Mountain Electric
Coop, Murfreesboro, Nashville, Newport, Oak Ridge, Paris
BPU, Powell Valley Electric Coop, Pulaski, Sevier County,
Tullahoma |
Green
Power Switch |
landfill
gas, solar, wind |
joint
8.7 MW |
2000 |
2.67¢/kWh |
| TX |
Austin
Energy
(City of Austin) |
GreenChoice |
wind,
landfill gas, solar |
97
MW |
2000/1997 |
1.076¢/kWh |
| TX |
City
Public Service of San Antonio |
Windtricity |
wind |
1
MW |
2000 |
3.0¢/kWh |
| TX |
El
Paso Electric Company |
Renewable
Energy Tariff |
wind |
1.32
MW |
2001 |
1.92¢/kWh |
| UT |
Pacificorp:
Utah Power |
Blue
Sky |
wind |
joint
3 MW |
2000 |
1.95¢/kWh |
| VT |
Green
Mountain Power |
CoolHome/CoolBusiness |
wind,
biogas |
purchase
from NativeEnergy |
2002 |
Contribution |
| WA |
Avista
Utilities |
Buck-A-Block |
wind |
— |
2002 |
1.8¢/kWh |
| WA |
Benton
County Public Utility District |
Green
Power Program |
landfill
gas, wind |
1
MW |
1999 |
Contribution |
| WA |
Chelan
County PUD |
Sustainable
Natural Alternative Power (SNAP) |
PV,
wind, micro hydro |
31
kW |
2001 |
Contribution |
| WA |
Clallam
County PUD |
Green
Power Rate |
landfill
gas |
— |
| | |
