Maine Green Power

Buying Guide

Green Power Buying Guide Purchasing green power benefits the environment, the economy, and national security. It also reduces greenhouse gas emissions, leads to improved air and water quality, and is socially and environmentally responsibile. But where and how do you purchase green power?

Basics

  • When you buy green electricity, you are paying to ensure that the electricity going in to an electrical grid is generated from clean and sustainable sources.
  • Consider your electricity use. An average Maine home uses 6,000 kilowatt-hours per year.  At 2c more per kWh, clean electricity would add $10 per month.

On-Site Generation

  • Interested in generating your own green power?  Installing a solar system has never been easier, or more cost-effective. For information about on-site generation, please refer to the solar and green building sections of this website.

Supply or Certificates

  • To buy green power, you have two choices -- "green supply," or "renewable energy certificates" (RECs).  Compare these two product families and decide which approach you like best.

Green Supply
Ever since Maine deregulated electricity in 2000, it has been possible for consumers to choose their electricity providers.

Today, green supply options are available to both large and small consumers.  Green Supply appears on the traditional utility bill and comes from local, renewable sources.

To select a Maine-based Green Power Supplier that best suits your needs, visit the Green Power Product Menu.

RECs - Renewable Energy Certificates
Purchasing renewable energy certificates (RECs) secures the environmental benefits of renewable energy.  These benefits –cleaner air, use of renewable resources, etc. – can be added to the electricity you get now. This means that your electricity bill remains unchanged.

Buying RECs can bring the benefits of clean energy to anyone.  Whether you rent or own; drive or take mass transit, you can offset the pollution you create with RECs.  In fact, RECs provide a mechanism for offsetting your entire environmental footprint. 

There are many available REC products.  Through RECs, you can support new wind from the Midwest, established wind and solar from the west coast, or new generation closer to home!  RECs are easy to buy and cost effective.  The best part is, you choose your quantity.  You can displace as much or as little dirty power as you like.

To select a Maine-based Green Power Supplier that best suits your needs, visit the Green Power Product Menu HERE.

info @RenewMaine.org - www.RenewMaine.org - (207) 729-9665