where does new york
get its power?Why Use Clean and Green Power?
Clean and green power supplies us with the electricity that we need to live in a modern world, but with far fewer negative impacts on the environment.
The largest industrial air polluters in the state are power plants that use such old-fashioned fuels as coal and oil to produce electricity. The millions of tons of pollutants these plants belch out each year lead to poor air quality, mercury poisoning and even global warming.
- Particulate matter—or soot—from power plants causes over 1,200 premature deaths and 2,500 heart attacks every year in New York State alone.
- Mercury pollution has contaminated water bodies throughout the state, but particularly in the Adirondacks and Catskills to the point where the Department of Health warns that eating certain fish populations can impair a child's ability to walk, talk and learn.
- Global warming is expected to cause about a 3-ft rise in the sea level along the coast of Long Island, New York City and the Hudson Valley all the way up to Albany, as well as a 40% decrease in the state's agricultural yield this century.
While nuclear power plants pollute less, there are serious safety issues and no long-term storage plans for highly radioactive waste.
Where Does New York Gets its Power?
The electricity in New York is generated using a mix of technologies including nuclear reactors, fossil-fuel fired power plants, hydro and others.
To help increase the percentage of green power in New York's energy mix, the Pataki administration created a standard that requires almost a quarter of the electricity sold in New York State come from clean renewable sources such as wind, solar and small hydro by 2013. The renewable standard is an important first step, but New York consumers can take the initiative to buy more green power to help create a cleaner and more sustainable energy future. For a power source comparison chart, see Table 1.
How Buying Renewable Power Works in New York
The power you use every day is pulled from "the grid" in your area, and when you buy green electricity it's supplied to your regional grid. What that means is when you buy green power more of the electricity in your grid is from clean and green sources. In other words, by purchasing green power you're greening your grid and the electricity you use at home. To find out where you can purchase green energy, see below.
NYPIRG Green Energy Guide | Power Source Comparison Chart Type Technology Polluting? Pros Cons Wind Large blades on top of long poles catch wind currents and turn a turbine to create electricity. No -provides a great deal of energy
- relatively inexpensive
- almost always produces energy, but tends to produce the most at night, or in the winter ~ energy demands are highest on hot summer days- can face opposition due to visual and bird impacts ~ these concerns can be overcome with improved technology and by working with communities to choose turbines' sites Small Hydro Running or falling water in rivers and streams turn turbines to create electricity. No - provides moderate amounts of constant power
- inexpensive- can impair fish migrations, but new technologies used in most Western states can protect fish while generating power Solar Sunlight is directly converted into electricity using photovoltaic cells made up of a semi-conductor material. No - provides the most power when electricity demand is highest — hot and sunny days - to generate large amounts of electricity solar panels demand large amounts of space
- expensive for large projectsBiomass Broken down or raw organic waste, such as landfill gas and wood, is burned to create steam that turns turbines to create electricity. Yes - biomass-produced gas can be used in "fuel cells," a technology that uses chemical reactions instead of combustion of fuel to produce power - burning biomass creates pollution that contributes to global warming and poor air quality, and can contain toxic heavy metals and carcinogens if derived from landfill gas
NYPIRG Green Energy Guide | Who Supplies Green Energy? CLICK ON YOUR REGIONAL UTILITY: NiMo RG&E
Green Electricity Suppliers Utility Region Renewable Electricity Supplier Generation Technology Price (cents per energy unit) Billing Statewide Community Energy Blocks 100% Wind 2.5/kWh (blocks of 100kWh) Direct to Credit Card NIMO-National Grid Community Energy Option 1 100% Wind 2.5/kWh NiMo Bill NIMO-National Grid Community Energy Option 2 60% Wind & 40% Hydro 1.3/kWh NiMo Bill NIMO-National Grid Community Energy Blocks 100% Wind 2.5/kWh (blocks of 100kWh) Separate Credit Card Charge NIMO-National Grid Energy Cooperative of NY-Renewables 45% Hydro, 30% Biomass, 25% Wind 1.1/Kwh NiMo Bill NIMO-National Grid Energetix Option 1 50% wind & 50% hydro 0.75/kWh (50% energy) NiMo Bill NIMO-National Grid Energetix Option 2 50% wind & 50% hydro 1.5/kWh (100% energy ) NiMo Bill NIMO-National Grid EnviroGen 75% Biomass (landfill) & 25% Small Hydro 1.0/kWh NiMo Bill NIMO-National Grid Green Mountain 30% Wind & 70% Small Hydro 1.5/kWh NiMo Bill NIMO-National Grid IDT Energy 100% Hyrdo 1.5 to 2.5/kWh NiMo Bill NIMO-National Grid Sterling Planet 50% Wind & 50% Small Hydro 1.5/kWh (100%, 75% or 50% of monthly usage) NiMo Bill NIMO-National Grid Sterling Green Electricity 40% Wind, 30% Small Hydro & 30% Biomass (including landfill gas) 1.5/kWh NiMo Bill NIMO-National Grid US Energy Partners 75% Biomass (landfill) & 25% Small Hydro 1.0/kWh NiMo Bill RG&E Community Energy 100% Wind 2.5/kWh (blocks of 100kWh) Separate Credit Card Charge RG&E ConEd Solutions Green Energy 65% Small Hyrdro & 35% Wind 1.0/kWh RG&E Bill RG&E Energy Cooperative of NY-Renewables 45% Hydro, 30% Biomass,
25% Wind1.1/kWh RG&E Bill RG&E Energetix Option 1 50% wind & 50% hydro 0.75/kWh (50% energy) RG&E Bill RG&E Energetix Option 2 50% wind & 50% hydro 1.5/kWh ( 100% energy) RG&E Bill RG&E IDT Energy 100% Hyrdo 1.5 to 2.5/kWh RG&E Bill \NYSEG Community Energy 100% Wind 2.5/kWh (blocks of 100kWh) Separate Credit Card Charge NYSEG ConEd Solutions Green Energy 65% Small Hyrdro & 35% Wind 1.0/kWh NYSEG Bill NYSEG Energetix Option 1 50% wind & 50% hydro 0.75/kWh (50% energy) NYSEG Bill NYSEG Energetix Option 2 50% wind & 50% hydro 1.5/kWh ( 100% energy) NYSEG Bill O&R Community Energy 100% Wind 2.5/kWh (blocks of 100kWh) Direct to Credit Card O&R Community Energy 35% New Wind & 65% Small Hydro 1.0/kWh Credit Card O&R Community Energy Blocks 100% Wind 2.5/kWh (blocks of 100kWh) Separate Credit Card Charge O&R ConEd Solutions Green Energy 65% Small Hyrdro & 35% Wind 1.0/kWh O&R Bill O&R IDT Energy 100% Hydro 1.5 to 2.5/kWh O&R Bill Central Hudson Community Energy 100% Wind 2.5/kWh Directly to Creidt Card Central Hudson Energetix Option 1 50% wind & 50% hydro 0.75/kWh (50% energy) Central Hudson Bill Central Hudson Energetix Option 2 50% wind & 50% hydro 1.5/kWh (100% energy ) Central Hudson Bill Central Hudson IDT Energy 100% Hydro 1.5 to 2.5/kWh Central Hudson Bill ConEd Community Energy 65% Small Hyrdro & 35% Wind 1.0/kWh (blocks of 100kWh) ConEd Bill ConEd Community Energy 100% Wind 2.5/kWh ConEd Bill ConEd Community Energy Blocks 100% Wind 2.5/kWh Separate Credit Card Bill Bill ConEd ConEd Solutions Green Energy 65% Small Hyrdro & 35% Wind 1.0/kWh ConEd Bill ConEd ConEd Solutions Wind Energy 100% Wind 2.5/kWh ConEd Bill ConEd Sterling Planet 50% Wind, 50% Small Hydro $10-$20/month Sterling Planet Bill ConEd Accent Energy Option 1 75% Hydro & 25% Wind 1.0/kWh ConEd Bill ConEd Accent Energy Option 2 100% Wind 3.0/kWh ConEd Bill ConEd IDT Energy 100% Hydro 1.5 to 2.5/kWh ConEd Bill ConEd Energetix Option 1 50% Wind and 50% Hydro 0.75/kWh (50% energy) ConEd Bill ConEd Energetix Option 2 50% Wind and 50% Hydro 1.5/kWh (100% energy) ConEd Bill LIPA Community Energy Option 1 100% Wind 2.5/kWh LIPA Bill LIPA Community Energy Option 2 60% Wind & 40% Small Hydro 1.3/kWh LIPA Bill LIPA Sterling Planet Option 1 (New York Clean 10% Wind, 55% Small Hydro & 35% Biomass (including landfill gas) 1.0.kWh LIPA Bill LIPA Sterling Planet Option 2 (Sterling Green) 40% Wind, 30% Small Hydro & 30% Biomass (including landfill gas) 1.5/kWh LIPA Bill LIPA US Energy Partners 75% Biomass (landfill) & 25% Small Hydro 1.0/kWh LIPA Bill What You Can Do
Buy Renewable Electricity Today!
When choosing a renewable energy supplier you may want to:
- think about the pros and cons of the technology used to generate your electricity;
- consider your ability to pay any additional monthly cost;
- find out how and when you can end your agreement if you choose; and
- investigate a company's record with consumers (the Better Business Bureau is a great resource)
Tell Your Electricity Provider to Add More Renewables to Their Mix!
The largest utility companies aren't greening their grids. They serve so many customers that by purchasing more clean and green electricity they can make a huge impact on the greening of the grid that supplies energy to all of our homes.Take a moment to call your utility and let them know the time has come to green the grid!
Central Hudson Gas and Electric 1-800-527-2714
Consolidated Edison 1-800-752-6633
New York State Electric and Gas 1-800-356-9734
Niagara Mohawk, A National Grid Company 1-800-642-4272
Orange and Rockland 1-877-434-4100
Rochester Gas and Electric 1-800-743-2110
Long Island Power Authority 1-800-490-0025Generate green electricity at your home.
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has a couple of programs that could pay 40-70% of the cost of installing a residential solar power system. (www.powernaturally.org/Programs/Solar/incentives.asp)NYSERDA also has a program that could pay up to 50% of installing the cost of a wind power system for New York residents. (www.powernaturally.com/Programs/Wind/incentives.asp)
The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) has a program that could pay 50% of the cost of installing a residential solar system. (www.lipower.org/cei/solar.html)
Additional Resources
New York State Public Service Commission - www.askpsc.org
Long Island Power Authority - www.lipower.org
New York Public Interest Research Group - www.nypirg.org
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