National Renewable Energy Laboratory

According to the NREL analysis, more than 850 utilities across the United States now offer green power programs. Green power sales in 2008 increased by about 20 percent over 2007, and they represent more than 5 percent of total electricity sales for some of the most popular programs. Wind is the primary source of electricity generated for green energy programs nationwide.

“Despite the economic downturn, utility green power sales continued to expand nationally last year,” said NREL senior energy analyst Lori Bird. “These utilities are the national leaders.”

Using information provided by utilities, NREL developed “Top 10” rankings of utility programs for 2008 in the following categories: total sales of renewable energy to program participants, total number of customer participants, the percentage of customer participation, green power sales as a percentage of total utility retail electricity sales, and the lowest price premium charged for a green power program using new renewable resources.

Ranked by renewable energy sales (kWh/year), the green power program of Austin Energy (Texas) is first in the nation. Rounding out the top five are Portland General Electric (Ore.), PacifiCorp (Oregon and five other states), Xcel Energy (Minnesota and seven other states), and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (Calif.).

Ranked by the percentage of customer participation, the top utilities are City of Palo Alto Utilities (Calif.), Lenox Municipal Utilities (Iowa), Portland General Electric, Madison Gas and Electric Company (Wis.), and Silicon Valley Power (Calif.). (See attached tables for additional rankings).

Customer choice programs are proving to be a powerful stimulus for growth in renewable energy supply. “Participating in green power programs is one way that consumers can reduce their environmental footprint,” NREL analyst Claire Kreycik, who co-authored the report. In 2008, total utility green power sales exceeded 5 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh), about a 20% increase over 2007.  More than 600,000 customers are participating in utility programs nationwide.

Utility green pricing programs are one segment of a larger green power marketing industry that counts Fortune 500 companies, government agencies and colleges and universities among its customers, and helps support about  5,000 MW of new renewable electricity generation capacity.

Green Pricing Program Renewable Energy Sales (as of December 2008)

^a An "average megawatt" (aMW) is a measure of continuous capacity equivalent (i.e., operating at a 100% capacity factor).
^b Some products marketed in partnership with Green Mountain Energy Company.
^c Includes Pacific Power and Rocky Mountain Power.
^d Some Oregon products marketed in partnership with 3Degrees Group, Inc.
^e Product is Green-e certified. For Xcel Energy, the Colorado and Minnesota Windsource products are Green-e certified.
^f Includes Northern States Power, Public Service Company of Colorado, and Southwestern Public Service.
^g Includes Niagara Mohawk, Massachusetts Electric, Narragansett Electric, and Nantucket Electric.
^h Marketed in partnership with Community Energy, Inc., EnviroGen, Green Mountain Energy Company, Mass Energy, People's Power & Light, and Sterling Planet.
ⁱ Marketed in partnership with Community Energy, Inc

Total Number of Customer Participants (as of December 2008)

^a Includes Northern States Power, Public Service Company of Colorado, and Southwestern Public Service.
^b Product is Green-e certified. For Xcel Energy, the Colorado and Minnesota Windsource products are Green-e certified.
^c Some products marketed in partnership with Green Mountain Energy Company.
^d Includes Pacific Power and Rocky Mountain Power.
^e Some Oregon products marketed in partnership with 3Degrees Group, Inc.
^f Marketed in partnership with Community Energy, Inc.
^g Includes Niagara Mohawk, Massachusetts Electric, Narragansett Electric, and Nantucket Electric.
^h Marketed in partnership with Community Energy, EnviroGen, Green Mountain Energy Company, Mass Energy, People's Power & Light, and Sterling Planet.

Customer Participation Rate (as of December 2008)

^a Marketed in partnership with 3Degrees Group, Inc.
^b Product is Green-e certified (www.green-e.org).
^c Program offered in association with the Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities.
^d Some products marketed in partnership with Green Mountain Energy Company.
^e Marketed in partnership with Community Energy, Inc.
^f Power supplied by WPPI Energy.

Green Power Sales as a Percentage of Total Retail Electricity Sales (in kWh) (as of December 2008)

^a Power supplied by Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority.
^b Power supplied by WPPI Energy.
^c Marketed in partnership with 3Degrees Group, Inc.
^d Marketed in partnership with Green Mountain Energy Company.
^e Product is Green-e certified (www.green-e.org). 
^f Power supplied by Platte River Power Authority

Price Premium Charged for New, Customer-Driven Renewable Power^a (as of December 2008)

^a Includes only programs that have installed or announced firm plans to install or purchase power from 100% new renewable resources.
^b Premium is variable; customers in these programs are exempt or otherwise protected from changes in utility fuel charges.
^c Power supplied by Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority.
^d Product is Green-e certified (www.green-e.org).
^e The price for new customers enrolling in the program (fifth batch of renewable energy capacity).
^f Net premium of the Minnesota Windsource program.
^g Pacific Power Blue Sky Usage and Blue Sky Habitat products; only available in Oregon. Product marketed in partnership with 3Degrees Group, Inc.
^h A number of Basin Electric Power Cooperatives offer green power at a premium of 0.8¢/kW

NREL analysts attribute the success of many programs to persistent marketing and creative marketing strategies, including some utility partnerships with independent green power marketers.  In addition, the rate premium that customers pay for green power continues to drop.

The Green Power study was performed by NREL's Strategic Energy Analysis and Applications Center (SEAAC), which integrates technical and economic analyses and leads NREL's efforts in applying clean energy technologies to both national and international markets.

NREL released its first annual Green Power study in 2000.

NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. NREL is operated for DOE by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC.

Visit NREL online at www.nrel.gov