Green energy -- how to research?

uppereastgirl

Can you recommend how to pick a green energy provider that is actually green and reputable?

Right now we have ConEd Solutions because that is the easiest option to sign up for in NYC.  But of course, it is part of a huge, non-green company so I don't expect that it is the greenest option out there.  I'd like to do some research into who we really should be using, but don't know where to start.

Thanks so much! 

Lucyboo25

I find it pretty confusing, too. I live upstate, and there seem to be like only three "green" energry providers available here through National Grid. I spent a lot of time on all their websites. Plus the way it works- someone correct me if I'm wrong please- is when you switch to a clean energy provider, the supplier/distributor increases the amount they use from that provider in the overall grid for your area. It doesn't mean your specific residence's energy comes from that supplier.

 I think???

Pamela05

Lucyboo25:

I find it pretty confusing, too. I live upstate, and there seem to be like only three "green" energry providers available here through National Grid. I spent a lot of time on all their websites. Plus the way it works- someone correct me if I'm wrong please- is when you switch to a clean energy provider, the supplier/distributor increases the amount they use from that provider in the overall grid for your area. It doesn't mean your specific residence's energy comes from that supplier.

 I think???

Sort of correct, but really, there is no net change in the energy sourcing.  Maybe if a ton of people signed up, but the numbers required for that would be super high.  Really, by you agreeing to pay more, your neighbor can end up paying less because there will be more of the cheaper energy available for their provider to buy up. 

The same amount of power is still produced from the same sources.  Most clean sources are operating at 100% power whenever they are not down for maintenance and are called "baseload plants".  Natural gas and coal plants go up and down based on demand and are called "peaking power plants".  So no matter what, the wind farm is going to remain operating at 100% whenever they can regardless of how many people sign up for it.