Electric Energy On-Line, News -
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Published on: 4/10/2003
Last Visited: 4/12/2003
"Green Mountain Energy Company's mission is to change the way power is made," stated A. Clifton Payne Jr., eastern region president for Green Mountain Energy Company."Our Niagara Mohawk Renewable Energy Program customers are already helping support new renewable electricity generation in New York State.Thanks to their demand for pollution-free electricity, Green Mountain Energy Company will support the Madison Windpower facility with wind purchases for the next two years."
Payne explained that under the new program, approved by the New York State Public Service Commission (NYSPSC), Niagara Mohawk utility customers can elect to have their electricity produced from cleaner and renewable resources -- without switching electric providers.As a result, residential and commercial customers from Albany to Buffalo can now choose 100 percent pollution-free Green Mountain Energy(R) electricity.
Green Mountain Energy(R) electricity consists of 50 percent new wind and 50 percent water (hydro generation sources), and is available to Niagara Mohawk customers for 1.3 cents per kilowatt hour in addition to their base rate charged by Niagara Mohawk.The 100 percent pollution free electric service costs just about $7 more per month than customers currently pay for more polluting electricity -- the cost of a gourmet cup of coffee a week.Further, the price is guaranteed not to change through December 31, 2004."This means that no matter how much energy prices increase over the coming months, the rates that Niagara Mohawk customers who choose Green Mountain Energy(R) electricity pay will not change," concluded Payne.
"New York households now have an easy and powerful way to reduce their share of CO2 pollution.In fact, an average* New York household purchasing Green Mountain Energy(R) electricity for an entire year can avoid over 3,100 pounds of CO2, said, Thomas H. Rawls, Chief Environmental Officer for Green Mountain Energy Company."That's as much CO2 as a car makes in over 3,400 miles of driving.It would take over 200 trees an entire year to remove that much CO2 from the air."
Green Mountain Energy Company began marketing its 100 percent pollution- free electricity to Niagara Mohawk customers in upstate New York in September 2002.