The City of Hudson has chosen to participate in EcoSmart Choice, a “green pricing” program offered through American Municipal Power, Inc. (AMP). Because the City of Hudson is a member of AMP and is participating in the EcoSmart Choice program, all Hudson Public Power (HPP) customers can help to reduce their carbon footprint and provide for a cleaner, healthier, and safer energy supply by supporting this renewable energy program. Enrollment will be available to all HPP customers starting Monday, October 24.
EcoSmart Choice enables participating AMP member communities to extend the benefits of renewable generation to their customers, regardless of their power supply mix.
“Fifteen to twenty percent of Hudson’s Power Portfolio is energy from sustainable resources. We are continuing to look for ways to increase that percentage, and EcoSmart is a great way to accomplish that,” said Frank Comeriato, Hudson’s Assistant City Manager.
“Green pricing” programs rely on the use of renewable energy certificates (RECs) to offset customers’ electricity usage. Customer participation in EcoSmart Choice is supported by the purchase of wind, hydroelectric, or landfill gas RECs, which supports renewable energy projects. EcoSmart Choice is open to residential, commercial, and industrial customers, and there is no minimum required term for enrollment.
Participation in EcoSmart Choice supports renewable energy within regional power grids. Electricity will not be delivered directly to the customer’s home or business from a specific renewable energy generation facility.
By participating in the EcoSmart Choice program, customers help stimulate the demand for new renewable energy facilities. An average customer participating in the program can offset 8,500 pounds of CO2 emissions each year – the equivalent of not driving your car 10,000 miles.
For a minimal cost of $0.007 per kWh, residential customers are able to offset 100% of their electric usage with renewable energy. For example, if the customer uses 1,000 kWh in a given month, the EcoSmart Choice program will purchase an equal number of RECs to match that monthly usage. The customer would only pay an additional $7.00 ($0.007 X 1,000) on that month’s bill to cover his or her participation in the program.
Commercial and industrial (C&I) customers can offset their electric usage through the purchase of “blocks” of RECs. Each “block” obtained through the EcoSmart Choice program is equal to 1000 kWH (1 MWh) and is available for an additional $7.00 per block. For example, if a company uses 10,000 kWh in a month, the company would purchase ten blocks through the EcoSmart Choice program at an additional cost of $70.00 for that month.
“I'm excited that our City will begin offering this choice to Hudsonites who want the option of offsetting the energy their homes use with clean, renewable energy. This empowers our residents to make a material difference for about the price of a cup of coffee a month,” said Hudson City Councilman Casey Weinstein.
Customers can sign up or find out more information through the AMP website, www.EcoSmartChoice.org or by calling the Public Works Department at 330-342-1750.