Comments on: Environmentally Friendly Electricity: Why I Am Opting Out

By: Felix

Felix — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 18:25:18 +0000

I agree that it pays to read the fine-print before joining any of these programs. They have to be worthwhile to be given money.

I strongly disagree with your argument that since your personal green energy will not actually be delivered to your home but fed into the grid is a reason not to join. It is not like receiving green energy makes your life any better, supporting alternative fuels to hopefully someday have a carbon free society is what these programs intent. If the green energy was produced and used in China instead, your contribution would still have the exact same effect: namely that 1,363 kwh of electricity more than before will be produced in a more environmentally friendly manner. Not more and not less.

By: Carnival of the Green #147! « Confessions of a Closet Environmentalist

Carnival of the Green #147! « Confessions of a Closet Environmentalist — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:34:59 +0000

[...] And, according to Saving Advice, green electricity is not worth the extra cost. [...]

By: Kirsten

Kirsten — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 03:28:02 +0000

We’ve signed up for Bullfrog Power, which is the same kind of program you describe.

I don’t see why them not routing the “green” power to your house is a problem. The more people who sign up, the higher a percentage of our power has to come from green (in our case, solar, wind, and low-impact water) sources.

We spent three months using a Kill-A-Watt meter to measure and reduce our electricity consumption before switching. As a result, our bill hasn’t gone up, because we only needed to use about 15% less electricity.

By: justme

justme — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:02:09 +0000

my business gets tons of junk mail from our utility about this and if we join we get an ad in the paper saying we are green, honestly we just cannot aford this we have cut our use put everything on timers only offer bags and packaging when required or asked we cannot pay money to say we are supporting the enviroment I guess corporations and such can do this but mom and pops it a little harder
they already charge us a higher business rate anyway
I wish I could get people to send my business money without offering aditional services

By: Debbie M

Debbie M — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:46:02 +0000

Are you sure that amount isn’t replacing one of your other charges? That’s how my company does it. It might not be as expensive as you think.

My company also did figure out a way to give us something for our participation. They locked in our rates for ten years. Since the price of oil has jumped, my rates are actually lower than the regular rates now. (Of course that was only a possible benefit and it will expire for me in five years.)

By: Somone

Somone — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:39:14 +0000

Speaking of the hybrid car buyers getting a tax rebate– why don’t those of us who opt not to have a car AT ALL get a rebate? That’s FAR more environmentally friendly than owning a hybrid.

By: Monkey Mama

Monkey Mama — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 13:24:55 +0000

I don’t mind supporting green energy “because it is the right thing to do.” Personally.

But you bring up a good point. Blindly buying into these programs is not exactly wise. I actually pay an extra $60 a year to support green energy initiatives through my small, government-owned electric company. They are very affordable, don’t raise rates very often, and have a strong proven commitment to green energy.

Our gas comes from PG&E and they try to pass of a similar program – theirs is “carbon offset purchase” program. From what I can tell it has no substance. It looks like little more than a gimmick to make more money and so I don’t participate. You have to be skeptical with these things.