Signing Up For Green Power

When it comes to ethical energy (green energy), many people think that it’s something only the big cities can provide. After all, states like California and Oregon have ample opportunities to buy green energy. But what about small towns in, say, Missouri or Iowa? What about Montana, or North Carolina?

The good news is that most of us can get green power piped to our house. According to the Green Power Network, almost half of energy users in the United States now have the option of getting clean energy. But, you have to take the steps to sign up.  

So, what do you have to do in order to get green energy in your home?

Step 1: Find Your Green Power

If you want clean energy you’ve got to find out if you can even get it in your area. Fortunately, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a handy map that shows you if clean energy is available in your area.

Click here to get to the EPA Green Power Locator.

Step 2: Sign Up With Your Local Provider

All you have to do is sign up (either by calling or on your local provider’s website) to let your power company know you want to switch to green energy.

Now, the good news is that most power companies have made this a relatively painless process. But the bad news is that most companies are going to charge you a bit more for clean energy.

For instance, DTE Energy in Michigan allows you to buy a block of 100 kWh for $2.50 per month. And, you can buy up to 10 blocks.

This means you get to use up to 100 kWh of energy that’s created from wind and biomass. But you’ll see an extra $2.50 on your bill each month. You can also “match” your exact usage for an extra 2 cents per kWh.

If you’d like to see how all the utility companies pan out across the nation for their green energy programs, the Green Power Network has a breakdown for every state, which you can see here.

To me, it’s worth it to pay a bit more each month and know that my energy is coming from ethical sources like wind and biomass. But what about you? Is it worth it to you to pay more for clean energy? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this issue!