North Carolina's Green Power | Green Energy News

May 26, 2002 – Vol.7 No.9

NORTH CAROLINA’S GREEN POWER.

If proposals submitted by electric utility companies operating in the state are approved by its Utilities Commission, North Carolina will be the first state in the U.S. to offer the option of renewable energy statewide.

Under the NC GreenPower Program consumers would pay an additional fee on their electric bill for the generation of renewable energy in their name. The fee would be collected by their utility company and sent to the non-profit organization NC Advanced Energy. That organization would, in turn, disburse the funds for the development and promotion of more renewable energy as well as help keep existing renewable sources, such as low impact hydro and land fill gas operations, in business.

Two utilities, Duke Power and CP&L have filed proposals with the Commission that would allow for 100 kilowatt-hour blocks of renewable power to be sold for $ 4.00 each. The surcharge would be in addition to their regular utility bill and customers can buy as many blocks as they like. As with other green power plans, customers aren’t guaranteed that they will actually receive green power at their homes or businesses, only that the power they purchase will displace power from other sources on the grid.

After approval of the submitted proposals by the Commission, companies can begin to offer the renewable power option in six months. Other utilities in the North Carolina are expected to offer similar plans. Visit NC Advanced Energy at http://www.advancedenergy.org/ Duke Power at http://www.dukepower.com/ CP&L at http://www.cpl.com/ .