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When you think of the southeast United States, you don't usually think of
renewables. NC GreenPower is working to change that, specifically in North
Carolina.
NC GreenPower focuses on engaging the consumer and even supporting economic
development in the renewables arena. Despite its renewables focus, NC
GreenPower's approach could serve as a model for organizations tasked with
engaging consumers in smart grid efforts and developing a more robust workforce
to support smarter technologies. The group also shows that consumer engagement
with energy doesn't always have to come from a utility.
Speak with your dollars
Established in 2003, NC GreenPower is the first statewide multi-utility
renewable energy program in the United States. The program gives all North
Carolina electric customers the opportunity to promote the use and development
of green power generated in the state. NC GreenPower's efforts include a
volunteer speaker's bureau, community outreach efforts and contribution
opportunities. "We want to help people understand renewables and have a
vote-with-your-dollars moment," said Martha Gettys, business development manager
at NC GreenPower. "Customers can let North Carolina know that renewable energy
matters to them. They are making contributions with a measurable result."
So how do contributions work? Electricity customers interested in NC
GreenPower can choose to subsidize the organization's Renewable Energy product
or Carbon Offset product. With the Renewable Energy contribution, a contribution
of about $4 per month adds 100 kWh of green energy to North Carolina's power
supply. For Carbon Offset, a $4 contribution mitigates 500 pounds of greenhouse
gas emissions. NC GreenPower actively recruits participants and these recruits
can make contributions directly to their utility bill -- or even skip the
utility relationship altogether and make contributions directly to NC
GreenPower.
Economic + workforce development
So what do these contributions mean for workforce and economic development?
"We give affirmation that North Carolinians want more renewable energy," stated
Gettys. "And we have a big emphasis on `buy local.' We keep it local and keep it
in the state."
Katie Shepherd, marketing and communications manager for NC GreenPower, added
that "our contributors and outreach efforts tie us in with job and economic
development. Projects that we support couldn't have happened otherwise. We're
glad to offer subsidies for green generation that are really working toward
making it feasible."
NC GreenPower uses contributions to support renewable energy projects, help
new renewable generators get started and expand new technologies. So, the group
is working to bring new green jobs to North Carolina. This means new
opportunities for the North Carolina workforce and an opportunity for the
state's workforce to develop new skills for renewable generation.
Translating to a smarter grid
Renewable energy contributions at the individual level are somewhat simpler
than subsidizing a smarter grid, which would require changes across the network
to support individual customer desires -- like communications networks and more
complex IT systems.
A model like NC GreenPower seems more practical for engaging consumers at the
premises -- whether installing home energy displays, home area networks or
building automation systems. Third-party providers could even be the eBay of
smart electricity to help broker real-time transactions between consumers and
energy generators. Really, it comes down to enabling consumer choice and getting
people on board with new greener, smarter concepts. Third-party resources like
NC GreenPower demonstrate that utilities don't have to work alone in engaging
consumers. Third-party resources in the smart grid can also help build momentum
for wider adoption of smart grid technologies, which ultimately translates to
more jobs and new skill sets.
Source: www.riskcenter.com |
