#GreeningtheGrid: December ESCO and Subscription Solar Update

​Note: To power your home with renewable energy, see the most recent Subscription Community Solar update and 100% Renewable Electricity update.

​By Gerri Wiley, HeatSmart volunteer and Energy Navigator

Do you know anyone who still buys their electricity supply from NYSEG or any other New York State utility? If they do, what exactly are they buying? Solar? Wind? Hydro? You might expect that, over the years, renewables would be an increasing percentage of utility purchases on our behalf. Is this true?

The percentages for year 2019 just rolled this month, and here is the 2019 data, along with data from 2016, 2017, and 2018. 

As you see, overall, the utilities purchased the same percent of natural gas for you in 2019 as in 2018, about 2.4% more nuclear, about 2.6% less hydro, slightly less wind, and slightly less coal.

So, if we’re planning to green the grid, we certainly can’t wait for the utilities to do it on our behalf. It’s time to grab the reins. The updated Subscription Solar and 100% Renewable Electricity ESCO options available as well. I invite you email me with your questions and send people my way so I can help them find solutions to their clean energy needs and their wish to make a difference.