[Greenbuilding] Wind power question

[Chris Green]

requiredemail1 wrote:
> <snip>  
> -- by paying 50% more for "100% wind
> power," I'm making it more profitable to operate wind turbines, which might
> mean that operators would invest in bringing online more wind turbines in
> the future than they otherwise would.  In this way, my choice wouldn't
> affect the balance of energy sources used today but might affect the balance
> of sources used in the future.  
>   
That's the whole point of paying a premium for renewable power: You're 
offering an incentive to investors to put the money out.
> On the other hand, maybe I, and other residential energy customers, should
> use our $250-300 per year in a way that has more direct effects on fossil
> fuel emissions.  
>
> Thoughts?   
>   
Since you expect there will be a $300 increase, perhaps you can do a 
full inventory of your total energy usage and reduce your consumption by 
$300? As Ben Franklin said, a penny save is a penny earned. Those 
pennies add up.
Furthermore, as coal, nuclear, and oil-based energy prices rise, the $ 
amount of the renewable energy premium will shrink as time passes.
There may be annual grants and tax incentives available in your area 
that will pay for the extra costs as well. They'd be worth looking into 
and applying for, I'd say.

Just curious, why is the contract for the odd period, 11 months? What 
about the 12th month?

Cheers,

Chris Green.