We've added Wind Power to our Green Power Choice Program to provide you with this great opportunity to help contribute to a cleaner environment ...

For this generation and the next.

What is the Green Power Choice Program?

Green Power Choice is a voluntary program offered to customers of the East Grand Forks Water and Light Department. The Green Power Choice program currently offers Hydropower (purchased from Manitoba Hydro) and as of April 1, 2005 is introducing Wind Power (purchased from the Dairyland Power Cooperative).

Why should I buy green power?

By using fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and natural gas to create electricity we help create air pollutants, which result in environmental hazards such as smog, acid rain and global warming.

An average US household also generates 35,000 pounds of CO2 every year - twice the amount used by an average household in Europe or Japan! -equivalent to cutting down 4 acres of forest or driving 19,000 miles!

By purchasing green power, you are supporting increased reliance on renewable energy sources, thereby reducing the burning of fossil fuels.

WIND

What is wind energy?

Wind energy is a converted form of solar energy. About 1 to 2 per cent of the energy coming from the sun is converted into wind energy.

Why is wind energy beneficial to the environment?

Wind energy system operations do not generate air or water emissions and do not produce hazardous waste. Nor do they deplete natural resources such as coal, oil, or gas, or cause environmental damage through resource extraction and transportation, or require significant amounts of water during operation. Wind power is a clean, renewable form of energy, which produces no carbon dioxide. Furthermore when wind farms are dismantled they leave no legacy of pollution for future generations.

Wind's pollution-free electricity can help reduce the environmental damage caused by power generation in the U.S. and worldwide.

HYDRO

Hydropower refers to the energy generated by directing flowing water through a turbine located inside a dam. Energy from the water flowing through rivers and streams is converted into electricity at hydroelectric power plants. Hydropower creates no air pollution and water from hydroelectric plants may be "recycled" into other uses (recreation, irrigation, and drinking).

In 2004 7% of our customers participated in our Green Power Choice Hydro program. We hope to increase this number in 2005.

Why should I participate in the Hydro Program?

By purchasing 1 "block" of hydropower each month for a year you can affect change equivalent to planting 1/2 acre of trees or not driving your car 2400 miles! (Buying 6 blocks each month for a year is like taking one car off the road for a year!)

How will purchasing green power affect my monthly bill?

Hydropower is offered in blocks of 100 kilowatt hours (kWh) for a charge of $1.75 per block. Wind power is offered in blocks of 100 kWh for a charge of $2.50 per block. You can choose to purchase any combination of wind or hydro blocks. Thus you decide how much you are willing to contribute to support the use of renewable energy. So if you wish to use a total of 500KWh of green power per month, you may decide to choose to buy 3 blocks (300 kWh) of hydropower and 2 blocks of wind power (200kWh). In this scenario, an additional $10..25 will be added to your bill (3 x $1.75 + 2 x $2.50 = $10.25). This example is worked out below.