 Green pricing is a service provided by utility companies that gives customers the opportunity to support the utility company’s investment in renewable energy research and technology. Customers who wish to participate pay a premium on their electric bills, which covers the incremental cost of the additional renewable energy. To date, more than 750 utility companies, including investor-owned, municipal utilities, and cooperatives, offer a green pricing option.
Green pricing is a very generic term, but in essence it refers to electricity generated from clean, environmentally-preferred (renewable or green) powers such as solar, wind, geothermal and hydro sources. This concept was created in 1992 and has been growing in interest ever since. Along with the hundreds of green pricing options available for electric companies, many other utility companies are conducting research to figure out how they can become a part of this initiative.
Green pricing supports the idea of green power. Many individuals believe green power and renewable sources are synonymous when they are in fact not. Green power is one of many power options. Each power option (conventional power, renewable power and green power) has many benefits, although most of those benefits are reaped geared more towards the consumer rather than the environment. Green power is the most beneficial form of power, both when considering the environment as well as the cost. It is often easy to select green power on your energy bill simply with the check of a box.
It is important to understand that renewable energy and green power are not synonymous. This is due the fact that they do not share the same sources of power generation and they have different environmental benefits and costs. Green power is simply a subset of renewable energy. It has higher environmental benefits and is defined as electricity produced from solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, biomass and low-impact small hydroelectric sources. Green power is appealing to many who lead green lifestyles because of its positive, eco-conscious focus.
Whether or not to take interest and invest in green pricing is a matter of personal choice. It is important to keep in mind that not all green power is equal. Before selecting the green power option on your energy bill or taking part in green pricing, you need to ask your utility company how they generate their green power. Some practices offer greater economic and environmental benefits.
EnviroCitizen.org has a list of companies that offer green pricing. Consider taking part in efforts for a healthier, brighter tomorrow by consuming less resources and supporting the environment through green pricing!
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