Green Option Reflects PG&E’s Commitment to Clean Energy and
Customer Choice
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) today received permission from
state regulators to offer electric customers a new clean energy program
that will provide up to 100 percent solar power for a modest cost
premium each month. PG&E expects to start enrolling customers in the
fourth quarter of this year.
“Our green option is all about giving customers the power to choose and
about bringing the benefits of solar to our communities. Our customers
already enjoy some of the cleanest power in the United States, but we
want to help them do even more to support clean energy and the green
economy. Our green option will let them buy into a pool of clean solar
energy, locally produced in our service area, to meet all of their
electricity needs,” said Chris Johns, president of PG&E.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) found that only a
quarter of residential rooftop area is suitable for solar due to
structural, shading, or ownership issues. “Clearly, community options
are needed to expand access to solar power for renters, those with
shaded roofs, and those who choose not to install a residential system
on their home for financial or other reasons,” concluded
an NREL report.
PG&E will buy energy for the program from newly developed small and
mid-sized solar projects located within its service area. Participating
residential and commercial customers can choose to cover either 50 or
100 percent of their energy use. They will pay the incremental cost of
the new solar energy they consume, as well as related program costs. The
initial estimated premium of two-to-three cents per kilowatt-hour likely
will fall over time as solar costs decline relative to the cost of
PG&E’s standard power, which is more than 25 percent renewable today.
Under a separate program option, customers will be able to contract
directly with a third-party developer for a share of the output of a
local solar project.
Elected leaders from cities around PG&E’s service territory have
supported PG&E’s efforts to give local residents options for greener
energy. So have leaders of several environmental organizations.
"This program offers a great opportunity for PG&E customers who want to
reduce carbon pollution and buy 100 percent clean energy," said Peter
Miller, a senior scientist with the Natural Resources Defense Council.
"PG&E’s green option is a big win for Californians and the environment."
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E
Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas
and electric utilities in the United States. Based in San Francisco,
with more than 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the
nation’s cleanest energy to nearly 16 million people in Northern and
Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/
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Source: Pacific Gas and Electric Company