Responding to growing concerns about global climate change, the company will offer more renewable energy options for customers who want to take action through their energy use.
As of January, 2008, new wind power projects in Wisconsin and Iowa and local solar PV installations will provide three times more renewable power for MGE customers to buy. The expanded green pricing program will allow customers who want even more renewables in their energy mix to pay a premium for new, additional wind resources that go above and beyond the state standards. With this program, a typical household (600 kilowatt-hours per month) will be able to offset the CO2 emissions from their home electricity use for less than $10.00/month.
The extra charge for MGE customers already purchasing green energy from the Kewaunee Wind Farm will go down. MGE is awaiting approval from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin to charge a new, lower rate for Green Power Tomorrow electricity.
If you are a Madison business or residential customer and want to help make Madison the clean, green energy capital, sign up online for Green Power today.
With a 30-megawatt purchase of Iowa wind announced late last year, all MGE customers will have 3.5% of renewable energy in their electricity mix by the end of January 2008. This will meet the statewide renewable portfolio standard for 2010, now required by law.
The company's expanded program will also introduce a new rate specifically designed to support the local development of solar photovoltaic systems on customer homes and businesses. MGE's current program provides about 15,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) per year of Wisconsin-based wind energy to about 4,300 customers. With its new plans, MGE will grow the program to at least 45,000 MWh per year, depending on customer interest.
The aggressive growth in the green pricing program complements other MGE activities that address global climate change. Last year, the company rolled out its Power Tomorrow initiative. The program gives customers simple, specific energy conservation and efficiency steps they can take to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated with their home energy use.
As part of its Energy 2015 Plan, the company will also be ending coal burning at its Blount Generating Station by the end of 2011, which will bring significant emission reductions. In addition, MGE has more than doubled its capture of methane at local landfills and uses it to produce electricity. A greenhouse gas, methane is 20 times more harmful than CO2. The company also reduces its greenhouse gas emissions from transportation by using biodiesel and compressed natural gas to help fuel its fleet vehicles.
MGE generates and distributes electricity to nearly 135,000 customers in Dane County and purchases and distributes natural gas to more than 138,000 customers in seven south-central and western Wisconsin counties. MGE has served the Madison area for more than 150 years.
