There are three problems with the existing system of generating electricity:

1. Our national energy security is compromised by the current system. This vulnerability is caused by two factors: Relying on foreign oil to generate our electricity, and the vulnerability of traditional powerplants. Continued…
2. Price increases will probably result from our reliance on too few sources of electricity. Continued…
3. Our existing energy sources create high levels of pollution, which causes health complications for people across America. Continued…

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The large wind turbines we use create enough power for thousands of homes. This electricity goes into the US power grid, and it offsets electricity that would otherwise have to be made from traditional, polluting sources.

By supporting the generation of electricity from WindCurrent's renewable sources, you will help to strengthen America's energy independence, help to stabilize the future price of electricity, help improve air quality, and help to reduce emissions that are linked to global warming.

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President Bush's National Energy Plan includes room for growth in the renewables sector. The president's main concerns, as outlined in his plan, include reducing America's dependence on foreign oil, and diversifying our energy sources. Wind power can help achieve both goals, but in the President’s plan, “diversifying” means expanding the role of coal and nuclear power. The National Energy Plan includes incentives for renewable power, but it has a lot of room for improvement towards creating a level playing field between renewables and traditional power. For example, the current incentives for renewables are temporary, while incentives for coal and nuclear power are permanent.

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Electricity from a wind turbine acts the same as electricity generated from any other source. Once the energy is generated and goes into the grid (the "power pool"), each electron is indistinguishable from another.

However, the generation and the sale of renewable energy is tracked by unique Renewable Energy Certificates (also called "Green Tags"). When a renewable powerplant (such as a windfarm) creates a unit of power, it also generates a unique, corresponding certificate, the Green Tag, for that unit of power. Therefore, one of these certificates corresponds to one unit of power generated at a renewable powerplant.

This gives a lot of flexibility to the whole process: Generators and users of power can be some distance from each other, and the clean attributes of the power can be shipped using a 37-cent stamp. These certificates have a clear audit trail from the generator to the end-user, and this audit trail is tracked by an independent third-party non-profit: The Center for Resource Solutions’ Green-e program is a nationally-recognized certification program.

So now, each of us can help to diversify the national energy portfolio with wind power, which will add stability to our energy future, and will offset the air pollution caused by traditional sources. The important goal is to change the mix of the electricity sources that go into the electrical grid. Your purchase of Green Tags does just that.

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WindCurrent's "renewable energy certificate" or "Green Tag" represents the environmental attributes associated with electricity generation from new renewable technologies like wind energy.

A renewable energy facility produces two distinct "products." The first is the electricity commodity. The second is the package of environmental benefits resulting from not generating this electricity -- and emissions -- from a conventional gas or coal-fired power plant. The renewable electricity displaces the dirtier power that would otherwise have been generated and delivered to the power pool. These environmental benefits are delivered to the customer as a "renewable energy certificate" or Green Tag.

For example, 12,000 kilowatt-hours (KWh) generated using the average mix of power plants in the US (that's about as much as 1 home uses in a year) will result in the release of approximately 8 tons of carbon dioxide, and significant amounts of mercury and other pollutants. These emissions affect air & water quality, and the earth's climate.

The same electricity generated from wind power produces none of these pollutants. The Green Tags that you purchase reflect the avoided pollution that results from using new sources of wind power, instead of traditional sources like coal or gas. WindCurrent applies part of the net revenues realized by selling Green Tags to help develop the next generation of renewable energy facilities.

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No. When you buy Green Tags from WindCurrent, your relationship with your local utility company will remain the same as it is today. You will continue to buy your electric commodity from your local electric company. The Green Tags reflect the environmental benefits of new renewable energy coming into the Mid-Atlantic power pool, displacing power from fossil fuel plants. So the money you pay to WindCurrent goes first to cover the higher costs of generating the cleaner, renewable power. A portion of the remaining net revenues are reinvested into the next generation of renewable energy.

Purchasing Green Tags from WindCurrent will not alter or complicate the quality, quantity, reliability or terms of service for your electricity service. Your relationship with your local electric utility remains unaffected by a purchase of Green Tags.

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We utilize windfarms across the Mid-Atlantic and the Midwest. The specific areas were chosen because the wind is so strong. And in many places, like the Appalachian Mountains, the local people are anxious to diversify away from the coal industry. Since the wind turbines take up so little actual land, the landowners can continue to use their property like they always have.

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Not at all: Across the US, hundreds of thousands of people are buying renewable energy products. In addition to residential buyers, an increasing number of businesses, non-profits and government agencies have also signed up.

Organizations like the World Bank, and the City of Takoma Park Maryland, are among WindCurrent’s recent customers.

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Yes, we encourage anyone who uses electricity to sign up, even if you do not have utility service in your name. So even if you live in a dorm, a hospital room or a jail cell, you can still sign up.

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Yes: Businesses, non-profit organizations and government agencies are signing up. Organizations like the World Bank, and the City of Takoma Park Maryland, are among WindCurrent’s recent customers.

WindCurrent helps organizations who are renting their office space to estimate their power usage and “go green”.

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American Energy Independence - WindCurrent's power is generated strictly from wind located within the United States, not from imported fossil fuels.

Environmental Benefits - Revenues from Green Tags are invested in new renewable resource development.

Simplicity - If you're buying for your business, only one transaction is required to purchase Green Tags for all company facilities, however widely distributed. This significantly reduces transaction costs.

Reliability - With a Green Tag purchase, the relationship between your home or business and its serving utility does not change. Purchasing Green Tags will not alter or complicate the quality, quantity, or reliability of your present electrical services.

Availability - WindCurrent's Green Tags can be purchased for any location in the US.

Product Integrity - All WindCurrent Green Tag sales are audited by a third-party non-profit who verifies the movement of the certificates' attributes

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Yes, big companies are getting into this industry, on both sides of the fence:

On the 'supply' side, General Electric has started making wind turbines at their new factory in California. Shell Oil and British Petroleum are putting up their own windfarms.

On the 'demand' side, many large companies are buying renewable power, as part of their voluntary commitment to be environmentally responsible. General Motors, Johnson & Johnson, and Kinko's are just a few of the companies who are buying renewable energy products.

And on the 'policy' side, President Bush wants our national energy policy to encourage the creation of additional windfarms across the US.

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The environmental reason: In the short-term, toxic airborne emissions get into our water supply, and into our lungs. In the long-term, climate change could affect every aspect of our lives.

The patriotic reason: Generating power within the US is strengthening America's energy independence.

The health reason: Wind power creates electricity with no air pollution.

The economic reason: New wind farms are creating jobs in rural areas which suffer from high unemployment.

The religious reason: "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." -Genesis 1:1
Renewable energy makes the best use of the resources that God gave us.
On the sixth day, God created man. Man harnessed electricity, and then we had utility companies, and wind turbines - and the rest is history.

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Stop by our "Sign Up" page.