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Do I have to install special equipment to get clean energy? Why should I purchase clean energy? What is the price difference between regular and clean energy?
Clean energy is electricity generated from a renewable resource, such as wind, solar, methane from landfills, or biomass, which emits little or no pollution. You may be surprised to know that the average American home (using standard electricity) pollutes more than your average car! This is because much of our electricity is generated by burning fossil fuels. Solar and wind technologies emit no pollution, while energy generation systems using sustainable biomass produce significantly less pollution than electricity generated from fossil fuels. Changing electricity generation sources reduces pollution associated with fossil fuels and helps to wean us off of foreign sources.
Do I have to install special equipment to get clean energy?
No, you don't have to do a thing. What changes is that your energy supplier chooses to buy the amount of electricity you use from clean energy sources like wind or solar. Third-party regional transmission operators (PJM-GATS for Maryland) and government regulators (Maryland Public Service Commission) help to assure consumers that energy suppliers have purchased clean energy on their behalf.
However, this does not ensure that the exact electron you purchased from a wind farm is powering your home. Electricity from multiple generation sources mix together as the current flows through the transmission lines. Consider for a moment that the electricity grid is like a big pool that is being filled with water from many hoses. Once the water is in the pool you cannot tell from which hose it came.
The same is true with electricity. Imagine that each hose represents a different type of electricity generation -- coal, nuclear, wind, solar, etc. Though clean energy was generated using a renewable resource, it cannot be picked out of all the millions and millions of electrons flying through the wires to get to your house. The energy supplier, PJM-GATS, and the Public Service Commission will know, however, that you, the consumer, chose to buy clean energy and that the amount of clean energy you purchased was added to the electricity pool.
So, you don't have to make upgrades to your home in order to get clean energy. All you have to do is choose a clean energy supplier to be powered by clean energy. Get started here!
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How do I buy clean energy?
The energy market in Maryland is deregulated so you can choose your energy supplier and the type of energy you want to purchase. Learn more about energy deregulation and choosing an energy supplier through the Maryland Attorney General's web site.
Buying clean energy can be done on line. All you need is your utility account number and your address and you can sign-up for clean energy through the supplier’s web site. The supplier will contact you via mail to approve your account.
If you are a Montgomery County resident, business, congregation, or other non-governmental organization you will automatically be enrolled in Clean Energy Rewards and will start receiving clean energy within one to two billing cycles. The rewards will appear as a line item credit on your electricity bill. The electricity bill will still come from your utility (Pepco, BG&E, or Allegheny Power) and will be updated with your new supplier information. Click here for a sample Clean Energy Rewards bill.
If you have not already entered into a contract with a competitive electricity supplier, then you can switch suppliers today. However, if you switched electricity suppliers in the past, please be sure to check your current contract before switching products or suppliers! You may have to wait until the contract expires to change suppliers in order to avoid penalties.
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Why should I purchase clean energy?
When you make the switch to clean energy you are choosing an electricity source that emits little or no pollution, which helps to improve our air quality, and you are helping to increase the demand for clean energy and wean our nation off its dependence on fossil fuels.
Plus, consider how fossil fuels are detrimental to the environment before they ever reach the power plant. The exploration, extraction, and transportation of fossil fuels have significant impacts our environment. Reducing the amount of fossil fuels used to generate electricity will decrease the need for additional fossil fuels to operate machinery, and to mine and move the resources to the power plant.
What is the price difference between regular and clean energy?
Clean energy costs a little more than standard power. Why? There are several reasons; mainly that renewable energy does not receive the same incentives and subsidies as other fuel sources. Therefore, renewable energy generators have to price their product higher in order to cover their production expenses.
Additionally, the market and the government, through compliance programs, place a premium on clean energy. This value often represents the environmental benefits of not polluting. So consumers, businesses, governments and others seeking ways to “offset” their impact can choose to invest in renewable energy, which helps to decrease our environmental impact.
An estimate for the difference in pricing is listed below.
Cost per kilowatt-hour (kWh)
Total Cost per Month (1,000 kWh)
Total Cost After Rewards
Environmental Impact
Standard Electricity
$0.1176
$117.60
$117.60
1,293 lbs. CO2,
8 lbs. sulfur dioxide,
3 lbs. nitrogen dioxide*
Average Monthly Cost** (100% wind power)
$0.12
$120
$115
0
**Cost of clean energy products are averaged across participating suppliers. Actually cost of clean energy will vary per supplier and product selected, i.e., 100% wind power, 50% wind power, etc. Prices updated 4/3/09.
Updated April 3, 2009.