| Sumario: | Millions of customers will soon have the opportunity to purchase their electricity from less environmentally damaging sources. The opening up of this “green power market” will occur as the electric power industries move from monopoly structures to competitive markets. This change holds enormous environmental implications, as power generation leads to more pollution than any other single activity. Utilities in the U.S. are planning to offer green pricing programs that permit customers to pay a premium to support existing or planned renewable power projects. However, claims of green energy highlight the need for regulation and careful checking of misleading advertising. There are also concerns about the limitations of the market in supporting cleaner electricity. California, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island are all planning to give customer choice for electricity in 1998. It remains to be seen what effect this will have on pricing and the environment.
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