NSTAR Green

[kareid]

NSTAR has started allowing people to pre-enroll for their 'NSTAR Green' option, which will let people pay extra to get their power from a windfarm instead of NSTAR's standard sources.  I expect to enroll in this, but one thing I'm wondering and not entirely sure how to find out is: is NSTAR under a mandate to use a certain percentage of renewable power or something similar?  If they are, this could feel like them trying to get customers to foot the bill for something they're required to do anyway.  Does anyone know if they are or where I could find out?  I can try calling NSTAR, but I don't expect the phone droids to be able to tell me this.

Comments

[galadhelsul.livejournal.com]

All electric companies in the state are required to buy a certain percentage of their power from new renewable energy. The percentage is increasing every year, although I can't remember the numbers right now. I am fairly certain that the NSTAR green option is in addition to this requirement. There is some official agreement between NSTAR and the state that specifies how NSTAR Green will affect NSTAR's electricity purchases. The Conservation Law Foundation and the State Attorney General were involved in creating NSTAR Green, so you can probably assume that they verified that they won't count the NSTAR Green power towards their renewable requirement.

Electricity in New England is actually purchased by ISO New England (the grid management company). NSTAR and other utilities pay for power without knowing where it was generated. The way that the new renewable energy actually gets regulated is that power plants which meet certain requirements get to sell renewable energy certificates in addition to selling power. Utility companies are required to purchase enough certificates or else pay fines to the state.

If you don't like the way that NSTAR Green works, you can buy the renewable energy certificates indirectly through various organizations. It is also tax-deductible when you buy them through a charity. I like the MassEnergy New England Wind Fund.

[kareid.livejournal.com]

Thanks! This is good info.