| Most individuals and businesses support the idea of | | | | going green, because the proceeds from RECs are |
| going green, but few can manage the cost of making | | | | used to fund renewable energy projects. |
| the switch to renewable resources like solar, hydro | | | | There are several different REC programs available. If |
| wind or geothermal power. While these sources are | | | | you're an Nstar customer, you can purchase either |
| essentially free, provided by nature, the cost of | | | | 50% or 100% of your monthly electric usage as |
| converting our homes and offices to these systems | | | | green energy and pay an additional .00837¢ and |
| is perceived by many to be prohibitive. | | | | .01396¢ cents per kilowatt hour above the basic |
| The use of these sources is growing in the U.S., but | | | | service rates. National Grid offers a "greenup" option |
| the growth is painfully slow. Renewable energy's | | | | that allows you to purchase RECs as a separate line |
| share of total U.S. energy consumption increased by | | | | item on your monthly invoice. And Glacial Energy |
| only one percent between 2004 and 2008. The slow | | | | offers a flexible REC that allows you to decide what |
| climb can be attributed to several reasons: | | | | percentage of your usage to purchase and whether |
| 1. The costs involved in building renewable power | | | | you want Basic or 100% wind, for an additional cost |
| plants are higher than for fossil-fuel burning plants. | | | | of approximately .0025¢ per kilowatt hour. |
| 2. Transforming this energy into electricity and | | | | If you're already purchasing electricity from an |
| delivering it for consumption is costly, because the | | | | alternative energy supplier, you're probably already |
| electric grid has to be updated and extended. | | | | saving 10 to 20% over what the utility charges. But |
| 3. More energy-generating facilities would have to be | | | | even if this is the case, there are still benefits in |
| built, especially in remote areas where the most | | | | purchasing RECs, because a combination of RECs and |
| effective renewable resources are found. | | | | the low alternative price you're getting may still be |
| While integrating renewable energy into our current | | | | lower than traditional electricity. |
| infrastructures may seem like a daunting task, | | | | If your business has the resources, on-site renewable |
| inventive new options are being developed all the | | | | generation -- the installation of solar panels or |
| time. One of the most effective of these options is | | | | windmills at your location -- is also an option. There |
| a collection of tax incentives being offered to | | | | are several government-sponsored rebate programs |
| alternative energy producers to support the building | | | | that can help offset the cost of this approach. |
| of more renewable energy facilities, and while this | | | | In this tough economy, businesses are more |
| may not lower costs in the immediate future, it will | | | | concerned with staying profitable than protecting the |
| decrease our reliance on fossil fuels over time. | | | | environment, so choosing a green alternative is |
| According to the Energy Information Administration, | | | | difficult to justify. The primary choice a business has |
| Office of Coal, Nuclear, Electric and Alternate Fuels, | | | | to make when considering alternative energy sources |
| this program has encouraged a quadrupling of wind | | | | is this... do I get the lowest price possible for my |
| energy capacity over the past few years. | | | | electricity, or do I forgo the savings and opt for |
| Another effective option is the availability of | | | | renewable energy? But perhaps the real question is |
| Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), even if your | | | | an ethical one rather than a financial one. By |
| utility doesn't have access to green power. Each | | | | supporting renewable energy, even if it costs your |
| certificate represents a credit for one megawatt | | | | business a few extra dollars, you can make a |
| hour of the renewable electricity that's being | | | | difference in the world while creating a positive image |
| generated on the power grid. While these certificates | | | | for your clients and your community. |
| don't actually deliver green energy to your home or | | | | And that's probably something you can't afford not |
| office, they identify you as someone who supports | | | | to do. |