Choose Green Electricity
Can’t add solar to your home? No problem! You can still choose Green Electricity. In fact, it is one of the most important choices you can make. Green electricity is easy to choose, low cost, and immediately removes up to 20% or more of your direct impact.
Your Impact
Action Steps & Tips
Introduction
The best news—it doesn't cost much to switch! Green power generally costs an extra 1 to 2 cents per kWh, adding generally only $5-$15 per month to your bill. Recycle a bit more or do an energy efficiency action and you can easily save enough money to make up for the extra cost. Check with your utility or the resources section below for information on pricing and Green Power programs available in your area.
1Learn more about Green Electricity
Benefits of Green Power. Did you know that electricity generation is one of the largest sources of pollution in the country? Burning fossil fuels like coal and natural gas to generate electricity creates both climate emissions and air pollution. If we switched to 100% clean renewable power in the U.S. we would eliminate a significant amount of our air pollution and climate emissions.
Natural Gas? No. There is some talk about natural gas having a lower impact and being a good fuel source for generating electricity. However, most natural gas is extracted using a process called fracking. Fracking creates additional emissions, including large amounts of methane which is a very powerful greenhouse gas. Fracking can also pollute the soil and groundwater. If we account for the additional emissions from fracking, natural gas is almost as polluting as coal—not a good choice for protecting our future and creating a safe and healthy environment for our children.
Renewable energy is affordable. Luckily, we have clean renewable options that are ready to go and affordable. The price of solar and wind has dropped rapidly in recent years and renewable energy is an affordable, cost-effective option. Solar power is already cheaper than nuclear and coal-generated electricity across the U.S. It is also now cheaper than natural gas in many places and will be cheaper nearly everywhere in just a few years.
Renewable energy creates jobs! A lot. In addition, renewable energy creates local, U.S. jobs. In 2018, solar and wind energy together employed 5x more people than electricity from nuclear power, almost twice the number of jobs from coal, and more than half the jobs from natural gas. All this, even though it counts for only 7% of U.S. electricity. Solar is the strongest job creator of all the electricity fuels. For every 1% of U.S. electricity generated by solar, it creates 150,000 jobs. Coal creates only 7,000 jobs and natural gas creates 18,000 jobs for the same amount of energy. If we increase solar generation by only 10%, it will create over 1 million U.S. local jobs! With solar energy priced competitively in most of the U.S., going solar is a smart choice for our energy prices, local jobs, and protecting our future with clean, renewable energy.
2Learn about the types of Green Power Programs
Utility Green Power. This is the most common and often easiest to choose. It’s a program provided through your utility where you can choose to purchase green energy for a small premium. It’s easy—you just call your utility or go online and sign up. Many utilities offer these programs. Premiums are on average about $5-$15/month, which you can easily make up by doing an energy efficiency or recycling action.
Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). Another way to choose green power is through an independent company offering renewable energy certificates. They purchase renewable power somewhere in the country and attribute the emissions reductions to you. It is generally low cost, or can even be free! The renewable power they purchase may not be local to you, but it is renewable power somewhere in the U.S. and will lower your impact. Since climate emissions create an impact globally, even if the reduction is not in your backyard, it still works.
Community Renewable Energy. In some areas, you can join a community solar program which allows customers to buy a share of a local renewable system and receive the benefits. If you can't put solar panels on your home but want to be part of a local solar project, this is a great option. Participants generally purchase shares and then receive a credit on their bill each month for the energy generated.
Which to choose? If you have a choice of different programs, consider the cost, renewable percentage and any extra benefits of the particular program. In general, with all else equal, the best option is to choose a program where the renewable energy is installed locally. This will create local jobs and improve your local air pollution. The closer to home, the more benefits for your community.
3Sign up and celebrate!
Check with your utility or the resource section below to find information on program options in your area. Then choose a program and signup! With this one action, you may have met your initial household goal or possibly moved up a badge level! This is a BIG, yet simple and low-cost step to protecting our future!