Green Energy Consumers Alliance “Green Powered”
Pay a few cents more per kilowatt hour to support local renewable energy.
How does it work?
- Generators of Renewable Energy have two sources of revenue: 1) selling the electricity they generate, and 2) selling “Renewable Energy Certificates” or RECs. (They can sell one renewable energy certificate for each 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity generated.) Renewable Energy Certificates are an important financial incentive for renewable energy projects in New England.
- Green Energy Consumers Alliance (formerly Mass Energy) is a non-profit that will match your monthly electricity use (in kilowatt hours) with local green power. What does this mean? Green Energy Consumers Alliance uses your money to buy Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) from carefully chosen local projects. By entering into long term contracts to buy RECs, they help new projects to be developed that might not have been built without the guaranteed purchase of their RECs.
- Organizations promoting Green Energy Consumers Alliance’s Green Powered program include Mass Audubon, Mass Sierra Club, & Mothers Out Front.
More Details
- Green Powered gives you two choices when you sign up. One option matches your electrical use with 25% New England wind, solar, low-impact hydro and anaerobic digester gas, and costs 2.2 cents* for each kilowatt hour you use, in addition to regular electricity charges. There is also an option for matching your electrical use with 100% New England wind power. This costs 3.8 cents* for each kilowatt hour you use, in addition to regular electricity charges. (*Check their website to confirm. These prices are as of August 2023) Both are available for Eversource (formerly NStar) and National Grid customers. The average household pays a $10-$20 per month in addition to regular electricity charges.
Hull Turbine - Your electric bill will be the same as always. Eversource will let Green Energy Consumers Alliance know how many kilowatt hours you use. Depending on which program you choose, Green Energy Consumers Alliance will multiply that number by 2.2 or 3.8 cents. For Eversource customers, the charge is separate from your electric bill and is taken from your credit card each month. You may opt out at any time. Sign up.
- Green Powered is also available through several community choice electricity programs. Your town may offer a local program with a mix of wind, solar, hydro, and digester gas via Green Powered. Most offer 50% & 100% options. If your community is on this list, you can find pricing information on their website (provided on the list).
- If you would rather decide on a fixed amount to pay each month, you can contribute to the New England Wind Fund. The money is also used to buy RECs. (This is available to anyone, including residents of towns that have municipal electricity.)
Updated August 2023.
Resources
Documents
Resources on the Web
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Eversource's website to help consumers choose an electric supplier
Eversource customers can choose their energy supplier, and can choose more "green" electricity than what the state mandates | |
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Green Energy Consumers Alliance: "Green Powered" Program
Learn more about Green Energy Consumers Alliance's "Green Powered" Program |
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Green Energy Consumers Alliance's (formerly Mass Energy) "The Energy Consumers Bulletin"
New websites in MA & RI help you decode competitive electricity supply offers |
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Mass. Dept. of Energy and Environmental Affairs, "Helpful Resources for Consumers Regarding Electric Competitive Supply"
Get a better understanding of your electric service, compare products and prices, and file complaints. | |
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The Mass.gov website - Energy Switch Massachusetts
Interactive site that allows consumers to shop for their electricity, and allows them to include more "green" energy in their mix than the required minimum mandated by the state. |