You Can Still Make The Switch To Clean Energy

Each day we learn about the programs cut to eliminate next year’s Montgomery County budget deficit. Unfortunately the Clean Energy Rewards e-newsletter reports the program will be closing permanently on June 15, 2010. Clean Energy Rewards program participants will stop receiving rewards on their electricity bill, but will continue to receive clean energy or renewable energy certificates through the duration of the contract with their clean energy supplier.

Since 2007 over 6,000 residents and 300 businesses in Montgomery County have bought clean energy through the program, a 1000% increase. The switch avoided over 120,000 tons of carbon dioxide from fossil-fuel fired power plants.

Even though the program is closing, clean energy is competitive with 2010 summer utility rates for electricity supplied by utilities. In fact, in many cases clean energy costs less. I know one local nonprofit organization which is switching to wind power and expects to save $35,000 this year. You can compare for yourself by checking out the complete list of suppliers available to all Maryland residents and businesses on the Clean Energy Rewards page including Clean Currents located in Rockville Town Center.

The Clean Energy Rewards e-newsletter explains how to make the switch:

Switching energy suppliers is easy and can be done on-line. All you need to do is choose a supplier through the Clean Energy Rewards program web site, choose a 50% or 100% clean energy product, and follow the enrollment instructions on the supplier’s web site. It’s easy! A typical clean energy application involves entering your address and your utility account number in a form on the clean energy supplier’s web site, or providing this information to a customer service representative. The rest will be taken care of for you. Your electricity service will not be interrupted and your utility will provide the same emergency response service should there be a power outage. In fact, your clean energy service will still be billed by your utility company so there is no additional paperwork.

As I know there has been much interest in discussing going solar, Bethesda Green is holding “Solar Bethesda” this Saturday, June 12th from 10 AM to 4 PM. You can speak with industry experts and find out if solar is right for you. You don’t have to be a Bethesda resident and so Rockville residents are welcome. You do need to RSVP through the event web site.

You can learn more about solar and solar installers through the Department of Environmental Protection’s web site. You can also find out about all of the available financial incentives such as Montgomery County Property Tax Credits, State Grants and Federal tax incentives for solar and home energy efficiency projects. The County’s Renewable Energy Property Tax Credits have been exhausted for this year, but you can still apply and be in queue for when additional funds become available. Energy Efficiency Property Tax Credits are still available. See the Department of Finance’s web site for forms and more information.

Even though the Clean Energy Rewards program is closed, we can still make a switch to clean energy this summer.

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