GB#20 – Minnesota Utilities Offer SolarChoice
February 25, 2006 by admin
Filed under Green Living
Three Minnesota municipal utilities—Austin Utilities, Owatonna Public Utilities and Rochester Public Utilities—have launched a unique program through which their customers can support the development of small-scale local solar electric projects. With the SolarChoice program, clients can pay a premium through their monthly electric bills that will provide annual incentive payments to utility customers with solar systems, with 100% of those revenues going to these producers. From the Owatonna Utilities website…
SOLARCHOICE makes solar electricity affordable today by connecting customers that want to produce solar electricity with other customers that want to support the development of renewable energy by paying a small premium on their utility bill. Customers can actively promote the development of local renewable energy in their communities by becoming either SOLARCHOICE producers or SOLARCHOICE purchasers.
SOLARCHOICE is unique in that it encourages the installation of local, clean, renewable energy by relying on free-market supply and demand principles rather than rebates, tax incentives, or other government subsidies. This allows our customers to choose whether or not they want to support renewable energy development in their community. Your support of SOLARCHOICE is essentially a vote for renewable energy.
This is the first time that I’ve seen program like this one. Is anyone know of similar programs in their region?
The SolarChoice webpage at Owatonna Public Utilities.
[via Green Power Network News]
