Green Choice Virginia

What is Green Power?

Green Power, Green Energy and Renewable Energy refer to energy obtained from renewable sources such as wind, hydropower, solar and biomass.

How will Green Choice affect Virginia?

Green Choice encourages a local renewable energy industry that will create jobs, fuel the economy and reduce the amount of green house gasses produced by the Commonwealth.

Why do I need a Green Choice?

• Fossil fuels burned for electrical generation are among the leading pollutants in the United States.
• The utility green pricing option that Green Choice Virginia is advocating, gives you the option to purchase a certain portion of your electricity from a renewable energy source without changing service providers.
• By opting for green power, you are encouraging your electrical company to expand its investment in cleaner, more sustainable energy sources by demonstrating the market demand for Green Power.

How can I get it?

• Write letters to energy providers and attend cooperative meetings to demand more green choices and a green pricing option to drive investment toward green energy.
• Talk to your friends and family about renewable energy.
• Invest in Renewable Energy Credits (RECs).   Read more about RECs.
• Write letters to representatives asking for government to require green power choices.

How much will this cost?

• Renewable energy may initially cost slightly more but a consumer commitment to a green power option has shown both short and long run financial benefits for consumers.
• With long-term contracts between power transmitters and generators, renewable energy could become less expensive than conventionally produced energy.
• According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the average price premium for green power has dropped at an average annual rate of 8% since 2000.

A Successful Green Choice

• Austin Energy leads the country in total sales of renewable energy to program participants through its GreenChoice program.
• Its key to success has been fixed long-term pricing on the purchase of wind energy.
• The GreenChoice program began in 2001 and today every long-term subscriber is paying less than the current fuel charge of 3.65 cents per kilowatt hour.

What is Green Choice Virginia?

With over one million customers statewide, the rural electric cooperatives have the power to change the future of energy in the commonwealth. Since cooperatives give members' concerns priority over immediate profits, you have the opportunity to be leaders in the movement towards energy independence and environmental sustainability. The steps you take here can have a positive impact on energy choices for all Virginians, no matter which utility provides their service.

In the near future, our power generators will have to cut back on the amount of Carbon they put into the atmosphere. We, the energy consumers have the chance to make a choice that will affect generations to come. You can choose to accept proposed band-aid technologies, which fail to lead face the root of the problem, the burning of fossil fuels. Alternatively, you can demand research, development and access to renewable forms of energy.

As conventionally produced energy and fuel become increasingly expensive, there will be financial incentives to produce energy as locally as possible to reduce transmission costs. As members, you should encourage your cooperative to invest in renewable energy facilities such as biomass generation plants, which utilize farm and forest waste to create electricity. Additionally, cooperatives' investments in biomass energy production in our own communities, will provide jobs, enhance the local economy and stabilize the local tax base, which means better schools for your children and more money for community investment. If we create energy in our own backyards, we will revitalize our local economies and reduce our carbon footprints at the same time.

Cooperatives can look for long term Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) from renewable energy generators. PPAs protect consumers from having to pay more as fuel-costs increase. Utilities such as Austin Energy and Colorado-based Xcel Energy are good examples of utilities that pass on savings to renewable energy subscribers as "system mix" customers continue to see increases. Initially, renewable energy may be more expensive than "system mix" but since there is little variability in the cost of production, you save money down the road because your rate is fixed.

As electricity purchasers, you have been offered a green power option in which you pay an extra surcharge, tariff or rider on top of the normal base rate. This fee covers renewable energy or renewable energy credits purchased by your electricity provider. It is encouraging that your electric providers are moving in the right direction and participating in the renewable energy market. However, you have no choice as to what type of renewable energy you are purchasing or where the plant generating it is located. If your cooperative invests in Power Purchase Agreements, you will be able to pay a rate for electricity that more closely represents the cost of renewable energy production; a cost that is competitive with conventionally produced energy. Furthermore, you will be able to choose what type of renewable energy you want to purchase. Ask the board of your cooperative or power utility to investigate Power Purchase Agreements with renewable energy generators near your hometown. Exercise your right to a Green Choice.

Green Choice Virginia is an initiative by Public Policy Virginia, a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation that is committed to changing the energy culture of the Commonwealth.

In addition to encouraging and expanding renewable energy options in Virginia, Public Policy Virginia hopes to educate and influence citizens, administrators and elected officials to consider climate change when evaluating the worth and overall effect of any given ordinance, law or regulation.

For more information on how to get involved contact us!

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