NREL Ranks Top 10 Utility Green Power Programs

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http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=48026

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) released its annual ranking of leading utility green power programs.

"Higher prices for conventional energy sources, as well as increasing environmental concerns, are focusing greater attention on renewable energy options." -- Blair Swezey, NREL, principal analyst

Using information provided by utilities, NREL develops the Top 10 rankings of utility programs in the following categories: total sales of renewable energy to program participants, total number of customer participants, customer participation rate and the lowest price premium charged for a green pricing service using new renewable resources.

In Green Power Program Renewable Energy Sales, from the top: Austin Energy (wind, landfill gas); Portland General Electric (PGE -- existing geothermal and hydro, wind); Florida Power & Light (FPL -- landfill gas, biomass, solar); PacifiCorp (wind, biomass, solar); Xcel Energy (wind); Basin Electric Power Cooperative (wind); Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD -- wind, landfill gas, small hydro); National Grid (biomass, wind, small hydro, solar); OG&E Electric Services (wind); and Puget Sound Energy (PSE -- wind, solar, biogas).

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