Going Green

People who live in New York State can now choose to buy their energy supply from an Energy Service Company (ESCO) rather than from their local utility. This means that you can individually select what kind of energy you use, and make the switch to Green Power.

Green Power is electricity generated from renewable resources such as solar, biomass, wind and hydropower. For just a few cents more per day (about $2.00 per month in my case) you can select to have the energy in your home come from one or more of these sources, which, of course, helps safeguard our environment, as well as making a sizable dent in the happiness of the universe. It also helps to diversify the economy in your local region, creates healthier air, and significantly reduces your service provider's dependence on fossil fuels...which, if you extrapolate, could help us keep our military out of, ahem, unwaranted situations.

So, the utility still controls the delivery of the energy to your home (imagine the wires and the underground pipes) but you can choose the source.

For those of us who live in New York City, you can "Go Green" by visiting Con Ed's website. If you live in another part of New York State, go here, or if you live somewhere else in the U.S., you can go to this handy Green Power Locator, provided by the EPA, here, and see what options are available in your area.