Why Act?

Electricity production is the leading cause of industrial air pollution in the United States. Most of the electricity used in our region is produced by burning fossil fuels (mostly coal). Burning coal depletes natural resources, pollutes the air, and contributes to global warming. Air pollution comes in the form of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, ozone, mercury, particulate matter, and greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide. These pollutants cause acid rain and smog and can be very harmful to human health. You can help support cleaner renewable power generated by the wind. Companies that invest in wind power sell “credits” that help support the generation.

Action Steps

1. Select a company that sells wind power credits.

2. Purchase the credits online to offset your energy usage at home.

You are purchasing “credits” for wind power in a separate transaction from your household electrical usage. You will continue to receive electric service and a bill from your local utility company (e.g., Dominion Virginia Power).

Materials

You’ll need some time to research and a computer for online ordering. To offset your conventional electricity use, you need to check your electric utility bill to see how much electricity (kWh) you use in a typical month.

Time

The time commitment depends on how much research you want to do. Ordering takes a few minutes

Resources

Arlington County Green Power factsheet (pdf)
www.arlingtonva.us/Departments/Topics/Documents/10381GreenPower.pdf

Clean Currents, Inc. www.cleancurrents.com

Community Energy Inc. (wind energy produced in the mid-Atlantic) www.newwindenergy.com

EPA’s Green Power Partnership
http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/buygreenpower/guide.htm

Green-e
http://www.green-e.org/