by Brianna Crandall — May 11, 2011—The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) released its annual assessment of leading utility green power programs.
Under these voluntary programs, consumers can choose to help support additional electricity production from renewable resources such as wind and solar. According to NREL, more than 850 utilities offer the programs, and their green power sales exceeded 6 million megawatt-hours (MWh) in 2010.
Using information provided by utilities, NREL developed “Top 10” rankings of utility green power programs for 2010 in various categories. Ranked by total sales of renewable energy (kWh/year), Austin Energy in Austin, Texas sold the largest amount in the nation. Rounding out the top five are Portland General Electric (OR), PacifiCorp (OR and five other states), the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (CA), and Xcel Energy (CO, MN, WI and NM).
Ranked by the percentage of customer participation, the top utilities are City of Palo Alto Utilities in California, with more than 20 percent of its customers participating in its green power program, followed by Portland General Electric, Farmers Electric Cooperative of Kalona (IA), Madison Gas and Electric Company (WI), and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (CA).
NREL notes that utility green pricing programs are one segment of a larger green power marketing industry that counts approximately 1.5 million customers, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies and colleges and universities among its customers. NREL also found that more utilities are developing community solar programs.
