I have been enlightened and it feels great! For so long I have heard the word, "Renewable Energy Credits, RECs," etc. and it sounded like a great project for me to add to my list of future 'to-do's, so add it I did. I added it right to the bottom of the list.
Most of my procrastination on RECs stemmed from the assumption that I'd probably have to pay more to jump onto this environmentally-friendly option because usually I do have to pay more for my eco-friendly addiction. I pay the premium for my eco-habit and suck it up because I believe in the ideal that supporting 'green' will change the world one consumer at a time. I buy organic food, natural & plant-based skincare, recycled products, organic bedding, solar chargers for my small electronics, etc. and it doesn't come cheap. I love my planet and am willing to pay whatever price necessary to support green companies if it will make a real difference but the reality is I'm not rich. Therefore, I have to prioritize my eco-ambitions. The RECs have been so foreign to me that they fell to a spot pretty low on my list of to-dos.
Fast forward to this weekend - I attended a Grassroots Leaders conference yesterday and met some amazing people representing fascinating organizations that are champions of the environment. The biggest gain that came out of the the conference was a new awareness of just what it means to buy Renewable Energy Credits. I can switch to 100% renewable energy by tomorrow and not only does it not cost a penny more but will actually REDUCE the money I pay for electricity beginning Day 1! I couldn't believe it. I've been kicking myself since yesterday for my ignorance. I could have had my family consuming only renewable energy from the sun or wind years ago but didn't because I didn't have the right information or knowledge about it.
Don't let this happen to you. Here is what you NEED to know: the United States has 23 deregulated energy states and the District of Columbia. You can check here to see if you live in one of them http://twurl.nl/fxkjes. A deregulated energy state means the residents are assigned a default power company but has the freedom to choose any power supplier it wishes to supply its home or business electricity. You have the freedom to choose an 100% renewable energy source! If you live in a deregulated state, your default power company typically burns coal and/or uses nuclear energy to power your electricity. In these states, you can switch the source of energy the default energy provider bills you for to solar or wind energy. For example in the state of Maryland, many residents have the power company, PEPCO. PEPCO's energy source is over 50% coal and much of the remainder is nuclear. Maryland residents can actually switch their power to 100% wind energy through CleanCurrents. All they have to do is go to CleanCurrents' website and fill out the information to switch their home. There is nothing else to do. CleanCurrents' takes over sourcing your power and coordinates with your default power company (PEPCO). You still get your electricity bill from the same power company, PEPCO, because they are the default but it shows that 100% of your power is coming from wind energy! Here's the kicker: PEPCO sells their electricity for ~12.1¢/kWh (predominantly sourced from coal & nuclear). If you buy your electricity from CleanCurrents, 100% USA wind energy, the cost is ~10.9¢/kWh! It really is that simple. You switched to clean energy, you cut the cost of the energy and there's nothing else involved. If you live in Maryland, DC, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey or Connecticut this works exactly as described. Who would've known it was so easy in a deregulated energy state?
Each state has slightly different options. If you're a resident of other deregulated energy states you will need to research what is available there. To locate a renewable energy provider in your state, google the following search words: [Name of Your State] RECs provider ie. New York RECs provider. You can add the words "solar" and "wind" to your search for more options. What you especially want to look for is the cost per kWh of the renewable energy being offered. This will allow you to make an informative comparison to the current cost per kWh you are paying. Committing to purchase the solar or wind energy credits for 1 or 2 years is common so don't let this scare you.
Of course, if you live in a regulated energy state there are less options available and probably a much longer road ahead of you to get proper access to clean energy. My home state of Florida is a regulated energy state. For my friends in Florida, I would recommend each of them to contact the power company and ask what percentage of the energy portfolio is renewable solar or wind energy. Remember not all hydro-energy is clean and you would need to research your region's hydro-energy power to determine its impact on the environment. Knowing the percentage is valuable information because you want this number to be as high as possible. Whatever the answer, if the number is less than 90%, inform them that you would like to see their portfolio of energy include more renewable energy sources. Some power companies will give you an option to buy your energy source from solar or wind at a premium. Here again, if you want to pay more and have the peace of mind of knowing you did your part, then it's completely worth it. Pushing for deregulated energy in your state however, will bring the country another step closer to allowing more people to exercise their individual might to choose a cleaner future.
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