Have you been scratching your head at the seemingly endless barrage of “weather anomalies” we’ve been subjected to, wondering what role human-induced climate change is playing?

A new scientific study out this week may help fill in some of the blanks for you.  NASA’s senior climate scientist, Dr. James Hansen and two co-authors published a study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences about extreme heat waves and droughts.  Their main finding: The percentage of Earth’s land surface hit by extreme heat during summer has expanded from less than 1% in the years 1951-1980, to as much as 13% from 1980 to now.

The authors use the metaphor of “climate dice” to explain what we are doing to our planet by burning fossil fuels and destroying forests.  A normal set of dice gives a standard set of outcomes based on statistical likelihood of hitting a certain number.  For example, the odds of rolling a “7″ with two dice are about one in six.  However, if you “load” the dice in such a way that makes them almost always land with a “4″ on one dice and a “3″ on the other dice, you are substantially increasing the odds of rolling a 7; likewise with climate.  By significantly increasing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, we are in essence loading the climate dice to land more frequently on “extreme weather”.

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Domestic wind power has been the fastest growing source of energy in the U.S. for the past several years, adding over 1/4 of all new electric generating capacity in 2010.  And just yesterday, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar presided over the opening of the country’s latest wind farm in Nevada, pushing the total installed wind power capacity in the U.S. over 50 Mega Watts – or enough to power over 10 million homes.  But we’re not breaking out our party hats quite yet.  This is because the Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit (PTC), which reduces the federal income taxes of a qualified tax-paying owner of renewable energy projects based upon the electrical output of its grid-connected renewable energy facilities, is set to expire at the end of this year.  The credit of 2.2 cents per kilowatt-hour (KWh) of electricity generated has been a critical source of financing for wind farm owners, and the uncertain state of its future is causing havoc in the industry.

With the Presidential election only three months away, we’re nearing the zenith of political and partisan fanaticism.  And of course, the state of the domestic economy–specifically the persistent high unemployment rate and the mounting deficit–is top of mind.  Understandably, this has made many lawmakers skeptical about extending or proposing any new tax breaks for business in general.  The basic argument being: if a business or industry can’t float on its own then perhaps it should sink.  Add in the fresh memory of Solyndra, a bankrupt maker of solar modules that defaulted on a federal loan, and the image of America’s renewable energy industry begins to look a little sullied.

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Clean Currents Neighborhood Wind™ Now Sourced from Pennsylvania Wind Farm

For the past two years, Clean Currents has offered customers the choice between being powered by National Wind RECs or Neighborhood Wind™.  The main difference between the two product offers is the location of the energy generating wind farms.

Both our National Wind RECs and Neighborhood Wind™ products are Green-e Energy certified; the highest standard of renewable energy certification and verification.  Whereas our National Wind RECs product is sourced from domestic wind farms located in the continental United States (specifically Elkhorn Ridge Wind Farm in Bloomfield, Nebraska, Adair County Wind Farm in Adair, Iowa, Benton County Wind Farm in Fowler, Indiana, Turkey Track Wind Farm in Blackwell, Texas, and the Heartland Consumers Power District in Wessington Springs, South Dakota), our Neighborhood Wind™ product was sourced from a regional wind farm called the Big Sky Wind Farm in Bureau & Lee Counties, Illinois.  But we are happy to annonuce that our Neighborhood Wind™ product is now sourced from the Highland North Wind Farm in Cambria County, Pennsylvania (pictured below).

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Commercial Customer Spotlight: Boundary Road  

Things have been heating up on H Street NE for a little while now.  This bustling neighborhood’s streetscape is almost unrecognizable compared to its worn look just a few years ago.  Bars and late night clubs like Rock and Roll Hotel and Biergarten Haus have clustered towards the eastern end of the strip at 14th St. and H NE, just a few doors down from neighborhood anchor Atlas Performing Arts Center.  But Clean Currents wind powered customer Boundary Road, which bills itself as a true “neighborhood restaurant”, chose to open on the less raucous–if more accessible–end of H Street between 4th and 5th streets NE.

Clean Currents staff member Eric Vermeiren had a chance to chat with Karlos Leopold, general manager and owner of the relatively new (circa Feb. 2012) Boundary Road, about opening a restaurant that’s focused on seasonal ingredients and sustainable operations.

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As a resident of Maryland, Washington, DC, or Pennsylvania you can choose your electric supplier – but what does that mean exactly?  Deciphering your electric bill can be confusing!

Below is a brief explanation of the different components of electricity delivery and what to look for when reviewing your monthly utility bill:

Charges

Overview

There are three main components that comprise your monthly utility bill: Generation, Transmission, and Distribution.  When you choose to switch electric suppliers, your new supplier is responsible for the Generation & Transmission portion of your bill. These two sections are often referred to as “Supply Charges”. The Clean Currents rate which you select upon enrollment will replace both the Generation & Transmission charges from your utility. There are no other charges or fees associated with making the switch to Clean Currents. The Distribution portion will not change and will continue to go directly to the utility.

On average, the Generation section of your utility bill constitutes about 75% of the total monthly cost. Your local utility remains responsible for Distribution, which includes billing, maintenance, and service issues.  (Below is a scanned Pepco bill, showing the three components)

Generation

This is the cost of energy produced by a facility (power plant/wind farm) before being delivered to the “grid.”  This cost is dependent upon the type of power, time of year, and the length of the contract, and how these variables are impacted by commodity markets. When you switch your electric supplier from your local utility to a competitive electricity supplier (like Clean Currents), this section will be replaced by the Clean Currents rate you select upon enrollment.

Transmission

This is the cost to bring high-voltage electricity from power plants to distribution points near to you and includes the cost of high-voltage power lines and towers, as well as monitoring equipment. This section will also be replaced by Clean Currents rate you select upon enrollment.

Distribution

This charge is the cost to deliver electricity through power lines strung on utility poles, across transformers, to where you use it. This charge also includes repair crews and emergency services.  Regardless of what company you choose to supply you with electricity, your local utility will continue to charge you this portion of your bill.  

Service Options

Standard Offer

Maryland, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania have deregulated electricity markets.  Residential and commercial customers in deregulated electricity markets can elect to switch to a competitive electricity supplier (like Clean Currents).  But if you do not select a competitive electricity supplier, your local utility will supply you with their “standard offer service”.  These standard offers are seasonally adjusted unlike Clean Currents wind power rates, which are fixed for one or two years.

Power Options

Renewable Power vs. Standard Power

The beauty of a deregulated electricity market is customer choice.  In Maryland, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania you have a choice when it comes to not only what company supplies your electricity, but also the source of that power.

Standard power produced in the Mid-Atlantic region comes primarily from fossil fuel sources – mainly coal.  With Clean Currents, you can choose to be powered by clean, renewable wind power at your home or business.  To learn how you can switch to Clean Currents wind power.

There’s more to Clean Currents than Wind Power!

1)  To Learn About the Clean Currents Solar PPA (Solar PV) –

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Partnership allows Maryland and DC homeowners to install solar panels for free while paying for their solar electricity and utility power on a single bill

Clean Currents, a leading supplier of green electricity, today unveiled a new clean energy purchasing program that allows Maryland and Washington DC homeowners to pay for electricity from solar panels at a discount to utility rates on a single, consolidated electric bill. Rockville’s Clean Currents is partnering with SolarCity—a national leader in clean energy products and services with local offices in Jessup, MD and Washington, DC—to create the program.

Under the new program, homeowners sign a fixed-price Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Clean Currents and get a free solar panel installation on their roofs from SolarCity. The pricing of the PPA will be available at rates lower than current utility rates, saving homeowners money in the short-term, while allowing them to protect their family budgets in the long term. SolarCity also insures and monitors the systems, guarantees their performance and provides necessary repairs for no additional cost.

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The Green Neighborhood Challenge (GNEC) is Clean Currents’ hallmark community engagement program for groups to get involved in clean energy, fundraise, and help build a more sustainable community!

GNEC GOALS:

• Educate Friends and neighbors about clean energy and living sustainably
• Encourage Community members to adopt eco-friendly habits
• Inspire Individuals to get involved in the clean energy movement!

TIMELINE:
Program Runs October 1st – Earth Day (April 22nd) Annually

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With Clean Currents Thermal, Installing a money-saving Solar Hot Water System at Home is Easy and Affordable

A Solar Hot Water system is the most energy efficient way to heat water – and hot water is the second biggest energy hog in your home.  That equates to a potential savings of hundreds of dollars a year!

Clean Currents Thermal uses the latest technology in solar hot water systems, exclusive to our partner Sunnovations.

Why Solar Hot Water?

An average American household spends up to 25% of its total energy use on heating water (second only to space heating and cooling). For most homes in the Mid-Atlantic, a solar hot water system will provide anywhere between 65% to 80% of a home’s hot water needs from the sun’s rays.

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Clean Currents staff member Nicole Dvorak had a chance to sit with Ruthie Mundell at Community Forklift to chat all things sustainable interior design.

Community Forklift is the area’s leading thrift store for new and reclaimed flooring, cabinets, lumber, appliances, paint, doors, windows, bricks, lighting, radiators, hardware, insulation, sinks, tubs, toilets and more.

Here’s what Nicole learned about the ins and outs of shopping for reclaimed furniture and decor:

The Scoop

Everyone is looking for a great piece of furniture, filing cabinet, sink, something to re-purpose for our living space while not dropping a wad of cash on it.  And while we’re out there desperately trying to find a coffee table that *might* fit our style and not break the bank, if we could be eco-savvy AND help the community at the same time, we’d feel even groovier about it.  Enter Community Forklift.

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What do jet engines, computers, transistors, the internet, and the Global Positioning System (GPS) have in common?  They all owe their existence to early stage investment by the U.S. Government.

When it comes to emerging technologies and industries, very often the barriers to market entry can be prohibitively high for purely private sector investment.

Government funding can mitigate the high costs and risks of initial research and development (R&D) and through its huge power of procurement, government funding allows private industry to take bigger gambles on R&D.  With early stage investment, government funding aims to bring embryonic technologies to commercially viable products and services.  The experimentation that accompanies these new technologies can be very costly and entail considerable risks.  If private enterprise can imagine commercial promise in a radically new technical idea then it will gamble.  But there are limits to a firm’s willingness to gamble – and this is where government funding can step in.

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Clean Currents, a leading retail provider of wind power in Maryland and the District of Columbia, announced today that The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) will purchase renewable energy for its organizational locations. The CBF has committed to purchasing Green-e Energy certified wind power from Clean Currents for 100 percent of its facilities electricity usage.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s stunning headquarters (also known as The Philip Merrill Center) located in the Bay Ridge neighborhood east of downtown Annapolis, has won international acclaim as a model for energy efficiency, low impact design, and water conservation. It also has the distinction of being the first building in the United States to receive a Platinum rating through the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating program.

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June 2011 Brief on Hydraulic Fracturing in Shale Gas Deposits / Update from September, 2010 Report

Background:
Recent discoveries of vast natural gas resources in the Marcellus Shale region (spanning PA, NY, MD and DE) and in other parts of the country are driving down natural gas prices and sparking a modern “gold rush” of companies seeking to cash in on new drilling opportunities. This abundance is leading many energy industry experts and politicians to tout the promise of natural gas as a major piece in meeting US energy needs and reducing dependence on foreign resources. Because natural gas typically has a lower carbon emissions profile than coal,  progressives (including President Obama and the Natural Resources Defense Council)  have joined more conventional allies of natural gas, calling it a ”bridge fuel” between coal-fired generation and renewable options. However, recent studies have found that shale gas may not be as an environmentally or climate friendly and a shift to this fuel source may actually lead to increased greenhouse gas emissions.

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Annapolis Green’s mission is to make Annapolis the greenest city in Maryland, a place where sustainability is a way of life and a source of pride.

Clean Currents is proud to support Annapolis Green’s initiatves and mission. Sign up for wind power today, and we’ll donate $25 to Annapolis Green.

By making the switch, you will:

• Support the development of domestic wind power
• Reduce your home’s carbon footprint
• Join a community of thousands who have already made the switch to wind power

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CLEAN CURRENTS BECOMES FIRST BENEFIT LLC IN UNITED STATES

Green Energy Company’s Action Demonstrates Leadership in Sustainability

(ROCKVILLE, MD, June 1, 2011) – Clean Currents, a leading green energy provider in the Mid-Atlantic, today announced it has become the first company in the country to be designated a “Benefit LLC”.  This designation legally adds Clean Currents’ environmental and social commitments into the company’s legal charter.  Today was the first day that limited liability companies (LLC’s) could register as a “Benefit LLC” with the state of Maryland – which is the first state in the nation to recognize the designation.

“It’s natural for Clean Currents to be the first Benefit LLC” said Gary Skulnik, Co-Founder of Clean Currents.  “We were among the first companies in the state to have our energy products certified by Green-e Energy, the first to have our headquarters certified as sustainable by Montgomery County, and the first and only energy company in the state to be certified as a B-Corporation.”
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By making the switch, you will:

• Support the development of domestic wind power
• Reduce your home’s carbon footprint
• Join a community of thousands who have already made the switch to wind power

Clean Currents wind power for home is an easy option:

• No special equipment or installation required
• No change in billing or electricity service
• No change in dependability of power
• Rates are competitive with standard utility rates

Learn more about how Clean Currents wind power works

Weighing the options? Learn more about Neighborhood Wind vs. National Wind RECs

As of July 15, 2011 Clean Currents is no longer affiliated with WGES and is now a full-fledged & independent electricity supplier

For anyone who enrolled with Clean Currents AFTER July 15, 2011, Clean Currents will serve as your sole electricity supplier.

If you enrolled with Clean Currents BEFORE July 15, 2011 this transition from wind power broker to wind power supplier will NOT affect the terms of your contract or the delivery of wind power to your home!  You will continue to receive reliable power and service through the end of your current contract!  But in order to remain a Clean Currents customer, you will have to take action as your current electricity contract approaches expiration!

• As the expiration date of your current contract approaches you should expect to receive a renewal letter in the mail from WGES
• If you would like to be supplied directly by Clean Currents, you will have to REJECT WGES’s renewal offer and enroll through our website
• *Be sure to check when your current electricity contract expires before enrolling, otherwise youmay face an early termination fee from WGES!  You can do this by calling WGES at 888.884.9437

If your current electricity contract is nearing expiration and you have received a renewal notice in the mail from WGES, you will need to contact them at (888-884-9437) and reject their renewal offer.  *If you do not do this, you will be automatically renewed directly with WGES and will no longer be a Clean Currents customer.  Once you have rejected the WGES renewal offer, you will be free to enroll in a new electricity contract with Clean Currents.   

If you have time remaining in your electricity contract and have not yet received a renewal notice from WGES you do not have to take any action at the moment.  If you attempt to enroll in one of our wind power offers you may face a cancelation penalty from WGES.  To avoid this you will have to wait until you receive a renewal notice from WGES before acting.

Clean Currents will continue to offer its affordable 50% and 100% wind power sourced from wind farms across the country with our National Wind RECs product.

But we have also rolled out our newest offer, Neighborhood Wind™, which is a premium wind power product produced by local wind farms located within our regional grid.

• Our commitment to our customers and the communities in which we operate
• Our passion for clean energy and reducing our nation’s carbon emissions
• Our focus on sustainability – Clean Currents is the ONLY energy company in the region that exclusively offers Green-e Energy certified wind power and the only energy company that is both acertified B-Corp and a registered Benefit LLC

Clean Currents is stronger than ever, with our transition to a full-fledged electricity supplier, we are able to better serve our customers and ensure that the products we provide meet rigorous third party verified environmental standards.

• Truly Green:  Be sure to check the facts behind a company’s green claims.  Are their claims certified by an impartial third-party?  Have they gone through reputable green screening processes?  Any company can say they are green, but it’s meaningless without verification.  Clean Currents is the only energy company in the Mid-Atlantic that is certified for sustainable operations by two separate, independent groups – Montgomery County’s Department of Environmental Protection Green Business Certification Program, and B Corporation.
• A Different Kind of Business:  We are a Certified B Corporation, one of only a dozen in the Maryland and DC area, and the only energy company with this designation.  This means that we put our commitment to sustainable operations, stakeholder engagement, and transparency right into our legal operating agreements.  In other words, our green claims are real and not just marketing ploys.
• Advocating Green Solutions:  When you support Clean Currents with your wind power purchase, you are getting an environmental “two-fer.”  We not only sell wind power, but we support several partner organizations in advocating for positive environmental legislation.  For example, Clean Currents has been integral in pushing for the Offshore Wind bill in Maryland, which will bring large wind farms to our coastal areas.  Our competitors may sell wind power, but many have lobbied to kill good environmental and clean energy bills like the Offshore Wind Bill.  Only Clean Currents has a 100% record of supporting clean energy legislation in Maryland and Washington, DC.
• Local:  Clean Currents was started by local Maryland entrepreneurs and is an integral part of Maryland and Washington DC’s civic life through the many groups our team is a part of as well as the deep connections we have in the greater community. 
• Flexible Options:  Clean Currents offers LOCAL as well as NATIONAL wind.  You can choose which you prefer.
• Highest Standards:  All of our energy products are Green-e Energy certified.  This is important because having a third party independently verify that our products meet the highest environmental quality standards ensures that you, the consumer are getting exactly what you pay for.  When other energy companies tell you they are selling you green power, you have no guarantee on exactly the kind of green power they are selling you!
• What We Don’t Sell:  Unlike our competitors, some of whom try to say they are “green”, we do not make the vast majority of our money by selling carbon-emitting energy. In fact, Clean Currents doesn’t sell ANY polluting energy products!

We hope that this guide helped clarify our current situation and we hope that you will join us in this next phase of growth!

CONTACT US if you have any questions or comments and thank you for your continued support.

~Team Clean Currents

Clean Currents is a proud member of the USGBC and is able to provide LEED^®certification and energy efficiency consulting services.

Building owners that pursue LEED^® certification have three ways to earn points in the rating system from renewable energy.

Clean Currents provides all three!

1. Utility green power purchase
2. Onsite clean energy generation, such as solar PV
3. Green-e^® certified Renewable Energy Credits (RECs)

Renewable energy certificates (RECs) are a key tool in the purchase of clean, sustainable power. Clean Currents is a  seller of “Green-e” certified RECs for commercial customers.

Special discounts are offered to USGBC members through an exclusive partnership.

How can I switch my home to wind power?

Maryland, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania have deregulated electricity markets. This means that residents (or businesses) in these places can choose their electricity supplier (you don’t have to remain with your local utility). When you switch to Clean Currents Wind Power, you are switching the source of your home’s electricity to carbon-neutral wind power.

Clean Currents offers TWO distinct wind power products:

1. Neighborhood Wind™  Get the highest quality Green-e Energy certified wind power locally produced in Pennsylvania. You’re helping to increase the share of renewable energy in the Mid-Atlantic’s regional electricity grid.
2. National Wind RECs  Support the domestic wind power industry with Green-e Energy certified National Wind sourced from wind farms located across the United States.  Wind power that’s affordable.

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Over 10,000 of your neighbors have already made the switch to wind power with Clean Currents, and so can you!

Clean Currents is the only energy company in the Mid-Atlantic to exclusively offer Green-e Energy certified Local and National wind power.  (How does it work?)

• Residents of Maryland, DC, and Pennsylvania can choose their electricity provider
• Clean Currents offers low fixed-price electricity rates
• Switching to Clean Currents involves NO installation of equipment and NO fees
• Your local utility will continue to handle billing and service issues
• There will be NO change in the dependability of power to your home
• Switching to Clean Currents wind power at home is one of the easiest steps you can take to support a cleaner, greener future

By choosing 100% Clean Currents wind power at home, you are actively supporting domestic renewable energy development.  Your wallet will thank you too because Clean Currents offers the most affordable green power in the region.