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Clean
Energy - It's here. It's real. It's working.
The Interreligious
Eco-Justice Network is part of the 20% by 2010 Campaign to increase
the use of clean, renewable energy.
Clean Energy - What it is and other frequently asked questions
 Turn
on clean energy!
If
you imagine the New England electrical pool as a bath, each dollar
you spend on clean energy is turning up the faucet for clean energy
and turning down the faucet from polluting fossil fuel power stations.
Q:
What is clean energy?
A:
Clean energy is energy from solar, wind, small hydro (water) and
other clean energy resources.
Q:
When I'm choosing, how do I know which products are clean?
A:
Look for the Green-e label. Products carrying it have been certified
by the Center for Resource Solutions, an independent nonprofit organization.
Q:
Is clean energy as reliable as the power
I
get now?
A:
Yes. There is no difference. You will still receive the same reliability
from the grid, and the same utility company you have now will continue
to deliver power to your house.
Q:
Will clean energy be delivered directly to my home?
A:
No - it will be delivered into the grid. We all pay for energy to
be supplied to the power grid on our behalf. Right now, you're paying
for the standard mix of resources. When you sign up for clean energy,
you will pay a small additional cost for solar, wind, small hydro,
and other clean sources.
Q:
Why is there an extra charge for clean energy?
A:
Creating clean, renewable energy through wind power, small hydro-electric
or landfill generation currently costs the producers a few cents
more per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to produce. The more clean energy that
is produced the more money clean providers have to invest in new
research and facilities and the quicker the price of clean energy
goes down to match that of fossil fuels and other traditional energy
sources.
Q:
What would I do if my power goes out?
A:
You would call your regular utility. It will continue to serve you.
Q:
What are the environmental benefits of using clean energy?
A:
In the U.S. ,
electric power generation accounts for two-thirds of the country's
emissions of sulfur dioxide (a pollutant that causes acid rain)
and more than a third of the carbon dioxide (the leading cause of
global warming).
Conventional
electricity production also creates nitrogen oxides (a cause of
smog), mercury, nuclear waste and other environmental pollutants
When
clean electricity is generated, that displaces electricity generation,
from conventional sources such as coal, oil, nuclear, large hydro
or natural gas.
For
every kilowatt-hour (kWh) of clean electricity there is one less
kWh of conventional generation that is occurring. Clean, renewable
electricity has lower or zero air emissions, does not produce nuclear
waste and has other health and environmental benefits.
Q:
What difference does my purchase make?
A:
We already need more power plants. If there is demand for clean
energy, new power plants can be built with clean energy technologies.
Your individual choice to buy clean energy sends a powerful market
signal that these are the energy sources the region wants.
Clean energy
already supplies far more of America's energy needs than you knew.
It is estimated that in 2003 America will produce 124,510,335 megawatt-hours
from clean energy sources (Source: DOE/EIA). That's enough electricity
to power every home in New England!
Q:
How can I help promote clean energy?
A: Place
one of the articles below in your faith community newsletter.
Contact us at 860-231-8554 if you'd like more information.
Connecticut
Clean Energy Option is Here (224 words)
Bringing
Our Values to the Market Place (300 words)
Turn
on Clean Energy Q & A (685 words)
Or distribute
the sign up ballot to friends and family who might want to sign
up for clean energy.
Clean
Energy Sign up Ballot for CL & P customers
Clean
Energy Sign up Ballot for UI customers
More
on why to choose clean energy
 
Traditional energy derived from nuclear, coal,
oil and other fuels:
- contribute to a variety of health issues in our state;
- contribute to a number of environmental hazards - not the
least of which is global climate change;
- increases our dependence on foreign nations and risks our
national security and energy independence.
Coal
vs. Wind: You Judge Union of Concerned Sciences has an
interesting slide show. http://www.ucsusa.org/CoalvsWind/c01.html
For a more
extensive list of provideres and some general information on each
company: Green
Tag Suppliers Fact Sheet
Interested
but need more information? Contact
us at: (860) 231-8554. IREJN Email
In collaboration
with SmartPower, www.smartpower.org;
Clean Water Fund www.cleanwateraction.org
and Environment NorthEast, www.env-ne.org
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