Customer makes the choice

Things are looking up in the US for renewable energy, according to the latest figures from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The agency just released “Electric Power Industry 2007: Year in Review,” and for the first time, renewables (not including hydro-electric power) led the way in new electric generation capacity in the U.S.

Wind accounted for more than half of the new added capacity.

However, carbon dioxide emissions by electric generators and combined heat and power facilities increased by 2.3 percent in 2007, to 2.52 billion metric tons, up from 2.460 billion. That reverses a decline in CO2 emissions reported for 2006.

But the EIA report isn’t all about utility-scale power. The report also talks about some new experiments like homes feeding small scale renewable energy into the grid. With net metering, people get paid for electricity they feed into the grid. In the US during last year, there were over 40,000 people taking part in this experiment. In yet another ‘green pricing program’ users, both residential and industrial, bought green power from their utility.

Isn’t that a good way of encouraging green power? But if the prices are costlier than regular grid power, how many ‘conscientious’ buyers will the scheme see in a price conscious place? Maybe tagging along an incentive will help? Anyone out there with customer experiences care to tell us what you think?