When I learned about NSTAR Green 100%, I signed up right away. I really liked getting electricity that was certified by a third party, Green-e, as being produced by Maple Ridge Wind Farm in Upstate New York and Kibby Wind Farm in Maine. I was glad my monthly payments for electricity were no longer being applied to carbon-emitting generation that contributes to global warming. I felt as if I had just bought organic tomatoes -- even if it cost more, it was a wholesome and worth it.
Today, there are more options for electricity generation
available in the Boston area. In
addition to electricity generation options provided by NSTAR and National Grid,
residents can now purchase electricity generated by other providers, such as Mass
Energy Consumer Alliance and Easy
Energy. For customers who choose
one of these new providers, the electricity will come through the same lines, and
there will continue to be electricity delivery charges from your current
provider. The generation charges will continue
to appear on the bill from your current provider, but the charges will be
according to the electricity generation option selected by the resident.
Mass Energy Consumer Alliance is a non-profit organization
that organizes green power generation options available via NSTAR and National
Grid. One of their offerings, New
England GreenStart, is generated from wind, solar, low-impact hydro, and cow
power. Their New England Wind offering
is wind only. NSTAR customers can also
choose NSTAR
Green, which is wind-generated electricity, purchased by NSTAR from
for-profit wind farms. Easy Energy is
another source of electricity generation available through NSTAR and National
Grid. Easy Energy offers alternative
rates and a pricing option that adjusts month to month. Customers in Massachusetts have the option to
generate their own electricity and sell some back to the electric company. A process called net-metering will measure
the amount the resident sells back to the electric company. Not all options are available in all
communities, so check with your electric utility for details.
The Mass Energy Consumer Alliance offerings include
electricity generated right in Massachusetts.
If you choose New England Wind to generate your electricity, a portion
of your electricity will come from turbines in Scituate. Plans are in place to include electricity
from wind turbines in Gloucester, Ipswich, Wrentham, Plymouth, Lynn, and
elsewhere. If you choose New England
GreenStart, a portion of your electricity will be cow power, which is an energy
by-product from dairy farming, produced in Rutland, Massachusetts.
Your decision on electric provider is like a vote that will
help determine the way electricity is produced.
There are a few things to think about in deciding on your electricity
generator. Do you want to reduce your environmental
impact? Do you want to buy from a
non-profit? Do you want to have local
sources of electricity? How important is
price? If you don’t choose any other
electricity generator, you’ll continue to receive electricity generated by the utility
that currently serves you, such as NSTAR or National Grid. If you decide you’d like something different,
there are options out there.
You’ve been able to choose your telephone service provider,
and your network provider. Now you can
choose your provider of electricity generation. Use your choice to get the electricity that
best suits your needs and choose what’s best for the local and global
community.
