Global warming and air pollution threaten our children’s future, while supplies of the fossil fuels that power our electric generators come from increasingly unstable parts of the world. Though most of the coal for our power plants comes from the U.S., it is often mined now by a practice called Mountain Top Removal, an environmentally destructive practice that is harming communities in places such as West Virginia.

Almost two-thirds of the electricity in the Chesapeake region comes from coal, oil and natural gas generators. Nationally, their share is even higher. These fossil fuels produce a range of air pollutants and greenhouse gases that cause global warming. By switching to clean, renewable energy, you are decreasing the demand for these polluting fuels that come from unstable parts of the world. The more clean energy we buy the cleaner our environment will be, the less smog and acid rain, the less global warming and the more energy independent the United States will be.

How Do We Purchase Clean Power?

Business and individuals in the Chesapeake region can purchase clean power through Clean Currents.  You can switch to clean wind energy for your utility service, via an energy supplier contract.  If unable to change your service, you can purchase renewable energy certificates that equal your power usage.  Lastly, you can install your own clean generation with a new solar electric or small wind power system.  All three will make an important impact and could save you money now and into the future!


What are differences between buying clean energy on my utility bill, installing solar PV system on my home or purchasing renewable energy credits (RECs)? 

All three of these options make an impact upon the overall environment, by reducing the demand for power from fossil fuel driven power plants.  Purchasing clean power from an energy supplier through your utility is managed by the buying and selling of renewable energy credits.  Federal, state and grid organizations recognize this method.  Therefore, purchasing RECs independently of your utility bill has the same impact. 

If you elect to invest in a solar power system on your home or business, you are going to reduce the amount of energy you purchase from the utility, thereby reducing the supply for standard "grid" power and save money over time.  However, by doing this with a clean source, solar, you are reducing the amount of power generated in the marketplace from sources primarily tied to fossil fuels.  As a generator, you produce RECs that can be held or sold to the utility to be counted as part of the generation of clean energy on the grid.  In all three cases, the impact to the fight of global warming is the same.