Where is green power available?
Last updated 11/30/2022
In recent years, policymakers and consumers have contributed to greater demand for clean energy options, and green power programs have sprung up across the country as a result. The first step in moving to a green power program is making sure there are green power options available in your state and utility service area.
States with green power programs
13 states have passed legislation mandating that utilities operating within the state provide green pricing program for their customers:
- Washington
- Oregon
- Montana
- Colorado
- New Mexico
- Minnesota
- Iowa
- Virginia
- Delaware
- New Jersey
- Connecticut
- Vermont
- Maine
If you live in one of these states, your utility is required to offer some type of green power program. Of the remaining 37 states, all but three (Arkansas, Louisiana, and West Virginia) have at least one utility that offers a green power purchasing option, even though there is no requirement.
Utilities offering green power programs
Many utilities offer green power options, regardless of state laws mandating them. Of the many utilities engaging in green power programs, some stand out above the rest. Below is a table ranking the utilities with the highest numbers of green program power participants, as of the beginning of 2017.
| Rank | Utility | Operating States |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland General Electric | Oregon |
| 2 | PacifiCorp | California, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming |
| 3 | Xcel Energy | Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin |
| 4 | Sacramento Municipal Utility District | California |
| 5 | Puget Sound Energy | Washington |
| 6 | Dominion Virginia Power | North Carolina, Virginia |
| 7 | National Grid | Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island |
| 8 | Avangrid | Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New York |
| 9 | We Energies | Michigan, Wisconsin |
| 10 | Austin Energy | Texas |
In addition to these top green power utilities, many of the largest electrical utilities in the country also offer green power, and some even have their own unique program names:
- Pacific Gas and Electric (“Green Option” program)
- Duke Energy
- Consolidated Edison
- DTE Energy (“GreenCurrents” program)
- Public Service Electricity and Gas
- Consumers Energy (“Green Generation” program)
- Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
The odds are good that your utility, or a utility servicing your area of the country, offers a green power program. As green power continues to surge in popularity, look out for even more utilities and states to get on board with the green power trend.
In the rare case that you cannot purchase green power through your utility, there are plenty of other options available to support clean energy. Both RECs and carbon offsets are green energy options that are location agnostic, meaning they are available no matter where you live in the country. You can also install a solar power system on your own roof, which has the added benefit of saving you money on your electricity bills.
