Green Energy: A Sustainable Electricity Source

“Green energy” is often used interchangeably with “renewable energy,” but the two terms are technically different. Green energy is the subset of renewable resources that has the least environmental impact. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), green power sources include “solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, eligible biomass, and low-impact small hydroelectric sources.”

Renewable energy refers to resources that naturally replenish themselves over time. However, not all renewable energy sources are considered green because some may have an impact on the environment. For example, large hydroelectric power is renewable, but it can negatively impact fish populations and their ecosystems.

Renewable and green resources can be harnessed to generate electricity through various methods, depending on the resource.

• Solar energy: Solar panels contain photovoltaic cells that capture and convert sunlight into energy.
• Wind power: This type of energy is produced by connecting turbines to a generator, which spins as wind pushes the blades, creating electricity.
• Geothermal energy: Power plants use hot water and steam from underground reservoirs to run a turbine and produce electricity.
• Eligible biomass: Organic material from plants and animals is burned and converted to fuel.
• Hydropower: Hydropower harnesses the kinetic energy of moving water by connecting to turbines or a generator.

As renewable resources become more commercially available, consumers in deregulated states can choose plans that support green energy generation. Using the latest data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), we’ve compiled a list of prominent deregulated states that use renewable sources and the amount of renewable energy they produced.

Shop green energy plans on Choose Energy

We partner with numerous energy providers nationwide to bring green energy products to our customers. Some of our top green energy suppliers include Gexa Energy, Green Mountain Energy, Rhythm Energy, Clearview Energy, Brighten Energy, and more. Here’s how to shop competitive renewable plans on our free marketplace:

1. Enter your ZIP code: Enter your location to browse the latest rates from local providers in your area.
2. Filter for green energy: Our marketplace is equipped with convenient filters, like green energy, to help refine your results. You can also filter by provider, rate type, home size, and more.
3. Sign up online or over the phone: Once you’ve found a suitable plan, you can sign up online in minutes. If you’d like assistance from one of our agents, call the number on your screen.

Gexa Energy is one of our most popular electricity suppliers in Texas, thanks to its affordable plans. Consider some of its top green power products for your home.

Green Mountain Energy serves deregulated customers in Texas, Illinois, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and New York. Explore some of its best renewable energy solutions.

In many deregulated energy markets, businesses can also take advantage of deregulated energy plans, including renewable options. A commercial green energy plan can help reduce your business’s carbon footprint at an affordable cost. Contact our business electricity agents to learn more about your options.

What is a renewable energy certificate?

A renewable energy certificate (REC) enables energy suppliers to purchase renewable energy on behalf of consumers. When you purchase a green electricity plan, your provider buys renewable energy from a power plant using RECs to match your energy consumption. This way, green electricity is fed to the power grid.

Can green energy replace fossil fuels?

The short answer is yes, but it will take time to fully shift away from fossil fuels. In 2024, fossil fuels accounted for 84% of total U.S. energy consumption, indicating that the country remains heavily dependent on them. The good news is that you can take steps to reduce your household’s reliance on fossil fuels by choosing a green energy plan.

What is the benefit of green energy?

Green energy sources are naturally replenishable and emit little to no harmful chemicals. Compared to fossil fuels, which release a significant amount of carbon dioxide and other harmful gases into the atmosphere, green energy is a sustainable alternative to traditional electricity sources.

Green energy refers to electricity generated from sources that do not add significantly to the planet’s carbon footprint. The idea is that the growing use of green electricity will forestall global warming. Suppliers in deregulated states across the U.S. offer green products, some with energy generated by 100 percent green methods and others with varying percentages of green generation.

Green energy and renewable energy are often used interchangeably, but there is a small difference. All green energy is renewable, while some renewable products aren’t always green. Biomass can fall into this category, but there is ongoing scientific debate over it.

 

The Energy Information Administration considers the following generation methods and sources renewable: hydroelectric, wind, geothermal, biomass, wood and wood-derived, other biomass, and solar. Generation from those sources increased 28.6 percent from 2015 through 2020. Together, those generation methods made up more than 22 percent of the country’s electricity.

Following is the amount of green energy produced in prominent deregulated states and the largest contributor to that total, according to EIA data for December 2020:  

• California: 45.8 percent, solar.
• Connecticut: 4.8 percent, solar.
• Illinois: 11.7 percent, wind.
• Maryland: 14.3 percent, hydro.
• Massachusetts: 27.4 percent, solar.
• New Hampshire: 26.1 percent, hydro.
• New Jersey: 9.5 percent, solar.
• New York: 34.3 percent, hydro.
• Ohio: 3.8 percent, wind.
• Pennsylvania: 4.8 percent, wind.
• Texas: 25.5 percent, wind.

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• Geothermal – uses hot water and steam from underground reservoirs. Power plants convert the heat and steam and use it to drive a turbine to produce electricity.
• Solar – photovoltaic panels perform as semiconductors, with negative and positive layers. Conductors attached to both layers create an electronic circuit, turning electrons from sunlight into electricity.
• Wind – spins turbines, turning rotors connected to a generator.
• Hydro – dams channel water through turbines, feeding generators.
• Biomass – plant and animal material is converted to liquid or gas biofuels, which can be burned.

Texas leads in electricity generated by wind, California tops solar, and Washington state leads in hydroelectric power.

Every deregulated electricity plan in Texas includes renewable energy. You can find the percentage in a plan’s Electricity Facts Label. Our buying guide can help with sorting through plans for great value. Most providers also sell plans fueled by additional green energy, as much as 100 percent.

The following providers only sell green plans:

• Gexa Energy
• Chariot Energy
• Green Mountain Energy
• Iberdrola Texas

Green energy plans are sold outside Texas as well, and you don’t have to do a web search for “renewable energy plans near me” or “green electricity providers in my area” to find them. Simply enter your ZIP code and Choose Energy will return plans available to you. You can sort by green energy, price, term, and more to find what you need.

Other factors that may influence your decision include no-deposit plans or prepaid electricity.   

Deregulation doesn’t just apply to residential customers, and neither does green energy. Both are available to business energy customers as well. More and more businesses are trying to reduce their carbon footprints, and green energy plans can accomplish or at least help with that.

Choose Energy offers business energy solutions tailored for your company. Our energy experts need a little information about your average usage and when you use the most energy. Give us a call at the number on this page or fill out this form for help.

Will green energy be sent to my house if I sign up for a 100 percent green plan?

No. Your provider will buy renewable energy credits to offset 100 percent of your energy use. Green energy delivered to the grid mingles with electricity from fossil and other fuels.

How do renewable energy credits work?

The credits are used to help pay for expansion of other green energy efforts, thereby raising the amount of renewable energy in the grid.

Does generation of green energy harm the environment in any way?

Some of it does. For example, solar panels use some toxic metals. Wind turbine blades, once they’re no longer useful, can sit for years in landfills. But the reduction in carbon dioxide remains a positive.

What if my power goes out? What do I do?

In every deregulated state, green and other types of energy are delivered to homes and businesses by utilities. These companies are in charge of maintaining and repairing the equipment used for transmission. If you experience an outage, contact your utility.

Ready to shop for green energy rates? Just enter your ZIP code in the space on this page. Filter the results for green energy and find a plan that’s right for you. Your new provider will help with setting up service so there’s no interruption.

You also can contact one of our energy experts at the phone number on this page.

Start now to reduce your carbon footprint with a renewable energy plan.

Updated 3/3/2021