Austin Energy's GreenChoice® is nation's most successful utility-sponsored...

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At 750 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) in subscriptions and growing, Austin Energy's GreenChoice® is the nation's most successful utility-sponsored green energy program. GreenChoice electricity comes from clean, renewable sources.

GreenChoice subscriptions are again available to the public.

For the first time, two price options are available: customers opting for a 5-year term subscribe to a GreenChoice charge of 8.0 cents per kWh; those opting for a 10-year term subscribe to a charge of 9.5 cents per kWh. These charges replace Austin Energy's fuel charge of 3.65 cents per kWh. An average residential customer consuming about 1,000 kWh per month will pay about $43.50 per month more if opting for a 5-year subscription or $58.50 per month more if opting for a 10-year subscription.


 

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GreenChoice®—Frequently Asked Questions

What is renewable energy or green power?
It is electricity generated from natural sources such as wind, sun, and methane gas released from landfills. Because green power comes from renewable sources, like the wind and the sun, it is limitless and clean—it does not add pollution to the atmosphere.

How will I benefit by subscribing to GreenChoice?By joining GreenChoice®, you make a lasting contribution to Austin's quality of life. Our reliance on fossil fuels will decrease along with the air pollution created by fossil fuel combustion. Also, the price for fossil fuels such as natural gas is currently rising. As a GreenChoice subscriber, your green power fuel charge remains fixed for up to 15 years.

If I sign up, will my home or business receive electricity generated from renewable energy?
When you subscribe to GreenChoice, Austin Energy contracts for green power to meet your needs. Green power then is delivered to our electric system daily. This means less electricity is needed from natural gas or coal-fired power plants.

The green power reaches Austin over the statewide transmission system. Once it enters our system, it mixes with power from the generating plants. This means the electricity generated from "green" sources is not be directed to a specific home or business. Rather, as more customers subscribe to GreenChoice, the proportion of green power in that mix grows larger and larger.


GreenChoice®—Program Details

Green Power is Flowing into Austin
Most of Austin Energy's green power comes from wind turbines in McCamey and Sweetwater, Texas. The McCamey turbines have been operating since summer 2001. The Sweetwater turbines came online in December 2005. We expect more online very soon.

Austin Energy also receives electricity from several solar installations and three landfill gas projects in Austin and San Antonio.

Protection Against Rising Fuel Prices
Austin Energy signs multi-year contracts for renewable energy. This allows us to offer subscribers a fixed, long-term price.

The GreenChoice charge replaces the regular fuel charge.


http://www.austinenergy.com/Energy%20Efficiency/Programs/Green%20Choice/programDetails.htm

[HelenJames]

I think this topic was already mentioned at this forum