Maine Green Power - A Look Into Maine’s Renewable Energy: A GrowSmart Maine Breakfast Forum

100% Maine-MadeRenewable EnergyLocal and Green Electricity Options for Maine Residents and Businesses

100% Maine-Made Renewable Energy for Residents and Businesses


Electricity in Maine

+ The structure of our grid

+ Maine’s electricity needs

+ What is renewable energy?

+ Local complimentary programs supporting renewable energy


01 Electricity in Maine 03 Know Your Power02 Maine Green Power

What are you supporting each time you flip a switch?



RENEWABLE GENERATORS

Wind Solar Biomass Tidal Hydro

ELECTRICITY RECs



The electricity grid connects us to many other states and provinces.Some generators are located in Maine—some even owned by Mainers—others are not.



In Maine, suppliers aggregate unique mixes of electricity from a variety of these generators.Unless the customer chooses a competitive energy supplier, they will receive the standard offer.



Similar to nutrition labels, on packaged food...



Details of the mix from each supplier are available on a required standard disclosure label.

Explore more at www.maine.gov/mpuc/electricity/ standard_offer/disclosure_labels.shtml

RESIDENTIAL AND SMALL NON RESIDENTIAL STANDARD OFFER SERVICECONSUMER INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

September 2013

Electricity suppliers in Maine must, by Maine law, provide fact sheets, or “uniform disclosure labels” from time to time to educate consumers about their electricity service. Your electricity is delivered by Maine Public ServiceCompany, but the electricity itself is supplied by:

New Brunswick Power Generation Corporation

This fact sheet provides consumer information about the power sources and air emissions of service provided by the electricity suppliers.

Air Emissions(January 2012 - December 2012)

This table compares air emissions from this supplier’selectricity mix to average emission levels from all Regionalpower sources.

Supplier’s Mix

(lbs/MWh)

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)1303.1

This is 19.77% less than the Maritimes Control Area Average*

Nitrogen Oxide (NOx)0.07


Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)0.08

This is 99% less than the Maritimes Control Area Average*

Notes: lbs/MWh = pounds per Megawatt-hour 1 Megawatt-hour = 1,000 kilowatt-hours

*Maritimes Mix is based on New Brunswick System Operator figures

Power Sources(January 2012 - December 2012)

The suppliers provided electricity with the following resources:

Supplier’sMix

Maritime Mix*

Biomass 38.1% 2.6%Municipal Waste 3.2%Fossil Fuel Cogeneration 0.0% 0.0%Fuel Cells 0.0% 0.0%Geothermal 0.0% 0.0%Hydro 36.6% 29.7%Solar 0.0% 0.0%Tidal 0.0% 0.0%Wind 5.0% 3.6%Other ChoicesNuclear 6.5% 0.0%Gas 8.6% 23.0%Oil 1.0% 12.1%Coal 1.0% 29.0%

TOTAL 100.0% 100.0%


Additional Information and Required Notes:

Power Sources—Maine law requires retail electricity providers to periodically provide information to their customers on the mix of power sources used by the provider to serve their Maine customers’ load.

Emissions—Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is released when certain fuels are burned. It is considered a greenhouse gas and a major contributor to global warming. Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) form when certain fuels are burned at high temperatures. They are considered contributors to acid rain and ground-level ozone (or smog). Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) is formed when fuels containing sulfur are burned. Major health effects associated with SO2 include asthma, respiratory illness and aggravation of existing cardiovascular disease. The production of electricity can produce other harmful emissions and have other environmental impacts. Environmental impacts differ among individual power plants.

If you have questions or need further explanation, please contact NB Power Generation Corp at 1-888-415-5055 or the Maine Public Utilities Commission, toll-free, at 1-800-452-4699. Additional information can also be found at http:www.maine.gov/mpuc.



Every supplier is required to tell you what their electricity is made from and what emissions it causes.

RESIDENTIAL AND SMALL NON RESIDENTIAL STANDARD OFFER SERVICECONSUMER INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

September 2013

Electricity suppliers in Maine must, by Maine law, provide fact sheets, or “uniform disclosure labels” from time totime to educate consumers about their electricity service. Your electricity is delivered by Maine Public ServiceCompany, but the electricity itself is supplied by:

New Brunswick Power Generation Corporation

This fact sheet provides consumer information about the power sources and air emissions of service provided bythe electricity suppliers.

Air Emissions(January 2012 - December 2012)

This table compares air emissions from this supplier’selectricity mix to average emission levels from all Regionalpower sources.

Supplier’s Mix

(lbs/MWh)

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)1303.1


Nitrogen Oxide (NOx)0.07


Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)0.08

This is 99% less than the Maritimes Control Area Average*

Notes: lbs/MWh = pounds per Megawatt-hour 1 Megawatt-hour = 1,000 kilowatt-hours


Power Sources(January 2012 - December 2012)

The suppliers provided electricity with the following resources:

Supplier’sMix

Maritime Mix*

Biomass 38.1% 2.6%Municipal Waste 3.2%Fossil Fuel Cogeneration 0.0% 0.0%Fuel Cells 0.0% 0.0%Geothermal 0.0% 0.0%Hydro 36.6% 29.7%Solar 0.0% 0.0%Tidal 0.0% 0.0%Wind 5.0% 3.6%Other ChoicesNuclear 6.5% 0.0%Gas 8.6% 23.0%Oil 1.0% 12.1%Coal 1.0% 29.0%

TOTAL 100.0% 100.0%


Additional Information and Required Notes:

Power Sources—Maine law requires retail electricity providers to periodically provide information to their customers on themix of power sources used by the provider to serve their Maine customers’ load.

Emissions—Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is released when certain fuels are burned. It is considered a greenhouse gas and a majorcontributor to global warming. Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) form when certain fuels are burned at high temperatures. They are considered contributors to acid rain and ground-level ozone (or smog). Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) is formed when fuels containing sulfur are burned. Major health effects associated with SO2 include asthma, respiratory illness and aggravation of existing cardiovascular disease. The production of electricity can produce other harmful emissions and have other environmentalimpacts. Environmental impacts differ among individual power plants.

If you have questions or need further explanation, please contact NB Power Generation Corp at 1-888-415-5055 or the Maine Public Utilities Commission, toll-free, at 1-800-452-4699. Additional information can also be found at http:www.maine.gov/mpuc.



Maine utilities provide both the transmission & distribution of electricity.



Utilities are regulated by the Maine Public Utilities Commission. They include:

+ Emera Maine (with Maine Public Service & Bangor Hydro Service Districts)

+ Central Maine Power

+ Consumer-owned, cooperative and municpal utilities

Source: maine.gov/mpuc/electricity/ElectricSupplier/t&d.htm



Through the utility lines it goes until finally—the electricity reaches you......the one who uses and of course, pays for it.



The average home in Maine uses an average of 530 kWh a month

for their electricity (EIA).(Often powered by fossil fuels, or sourced out-of-state.)



That’s 8 lbs of pollution from electricity every day.

(equivalent to over 500 5lb sacks of potatoes per year)



Luckily, there are other ways to produce that 530 kWh of power...

SOLAR PANELS WIND TURBINES STATEWIDE MIXES


There are a number of renewable energy projects in Maine.




There are many ways to support local renewable energy and efficient

energy use in Maine.



1. Energy efficiency measuresReduce consumption, implement audits and measures to save yourself money while making a positive impact on the environment and your local economy.


2. Fund researchDonate to funds dedicated to researching new renewable resource technologies



3. Generate your own powerProcure your own energy by installing solar panels or wind turbines on your business or residence.



4. Participate in community projectsPurchase a share of a community project to produce your energy off-site. For a list of community energy projects check out the Maine Public Utilities Commission website.



5. Buy RECsPurchase Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). RECs allow you to directly support renewable generators and send clean energy into the grid.



What is a REC?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_12VYXms6-c

RECs: Making Green Power Possible - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_12VYXms6-c


Questions to Ask About RECs

+ Where the RECs made?

+ What types of resources make the RECs?

+ What is the cost of the REC?

+ Is the cost bundled with my electricity supply?

+ Is there a contract?

+ What can you tell me about the REC provider?

+ Is there any oversight or verification?


6. Choose Maine Green PowerSupport a mix of renewable facilities throughout the state by enrolling in the Maine Green Power program.




Know your power.MGP offers 100% Maine, 100% renewable energy from these facilities:



How the program worksFrom the consumer’s side, the process is fairly simple:

You sign up for a certain number of kWh / month.

You pay your utility’s electricity bill with the additional charge for Maine Green Power.

You tell a friend how great this program is, and what a difference you’re making.



How the program worksBehind the scenes—it’s a bit more complicated:

MGP purchases the renewable aspects of the power from

generators producing Maine-made renewable energy.

We cooperate with Central Maine Power & Emera Maine

to charge you for your participation in the program

The Maine Green Power program appears as an

additional line item charge on your electric bill



How the program worksBehind the scenes—it’s a bit more complicated:

We obtain that revenue and pay the Maine generators

for their RECs

We let you know you can feel good about your power usage

because you’re supporting local renewable generators



Our standards make us unique...

+ We were developed and overseen by the Maine Public Utilities Commission

+ We can only support generators located in Maine

+ We need to use 100% renewable energy

+ Our nonprofit referral program gives $30 to local nonprofits for every person they refer to us

+ We are program that works with your current utility and bill structure

+ We require no contract; you can cancel/change your enrollment level at any time

+ We donate renewable energy to events throughout the state



If every Mainer purchased MGP for all of the kWhs they needed, our portion of the grid would

be 100% renewable + 100% Maine-made!(Imagine that impact on the health, wealth & wellbeing of our

communities & environment)



You can enroll today or online at megreenpower.com.


Know your power—use it wisely.Thank you.

Maine Green Power - A Look Into Maine’s Renewable Energy: A GrowSmart Maine Breakfast Forum

Environment

Transcript of Maine Green Power - A Look Into Maine’s Renewable Energy: A GrowSmart Maine Breakfast Forum