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Go green and save
Whether you’re moving into a new home or switching providers, a greener, healthier world can be achieved if we all take steps toward reducing pollution and eliminating practices that warm the planet.
The cost of renewable energy is typically higher than that of fossil fuels, but increased demand and tax incentives are bringing these costs down, making green energy a viable option for many Texans.
Renewable sources of energy are poised to become a more affordable alternative to fossil fuels as energy costs rise and technological innovations allow wind farms, landfill gas operations, and solar installations to become more efficient.
The best way to find competitive energy rates is to compare different providers side-by-side. Comparing prices, terms, and features will help you find the best deal.
To help you make an informed decision and improve your understanding of renewable energy, we identified the best green energy companies, plans, and rates available today in our marketplace.
Looking for green energy for your business? Get a green energy quote in minutes here.
Green energy plans and rates
Choosing green energy for your home or business is an easy step toward a greener lifestyle. Here are the most competitive rates and plan options available on the ComparePower marketplace, allowing you to choose the right green plan for your home.
These live rates for Oncor Electric Delivery service area were updated on . Pricing shown is based on an exact usage of 1000 kWh.
Top green energy providers in Texas
Alternative energy providers are becoming more important as the world transitions away from fossil fuels and dependence on nonrenewable energy sources. These companies are among the most influential and active in adding renewable energy to Texas’ energy mix.
Click on any of the following providers to view energy plans and rates or to learn more.
How to find the right green energy plan for your home
If you are switching providers you will need to know the usage of your home over the past year to find the best rate for your home’s unique usage profile.
Visit your electric provider’s website to find this information. Make a copy of your last year’s kilowatt-hour usage from the provider dashboard.
Once you’ve got your home’s usage you can enter the information on the ComparePower historical usage calculator. This will take into account usage fluctuations throughout the year due to seasonality and will let you compare energy plans apples to apples.
Learn >> How to switch electricity providers in Texas
Start with your zip code on this page and select “Help Me Choose” to get started. Make sure to select Show 100% green plans. This will filter out any energy plans that are not green.
If you are moving into a new home, you need to know the square footage of your new home. That will help you estimate its average kWh usage.
Pro tip: If the home isn’t new, you may be able to get information about its kWh usage history from the previous owner. If that is the case, you can use the historical usage calculator to determine the best plan for your home.
If you’re looking to save money, this is the way to go. In the event that you have been able to collect your new home usage every month for the past 12 months, you may follow the process outlined above for switching.
Other considerations
Contract term: Typical contract terms are for 6, 12, and 24 months. Watch for odd term contracts in the winter and spring. These are contracts that offer great value and may move you to a different renewal month.
Lease length (apartments): Early termination fees do not apply when moving out. You can call and cancel an electricity contract without penalty when you move out of your residence in the state of Texas. Therefore if you are shopping for an apartment, you do not need to match the length of your lease to the term of your electricity plan.
Plan types: Most Texas consumers pick fixed-rate electricity plans as they are predictable and easier to budget.
Retail electric providers (REPs) provide a variety of plans and incentives to their customers in competitive areas.
Providers may offer fixed rates, where prices do not change for a specified contract period, a variable rate plan, where there is no contract and the rate can change at the provider’s discretion, or an index plan, where rates vary based on a formula that is tied to a publicly available index.
Electric providers may also offer prepaid service under one of these plans, where the electric service is paid in advance.
Some providers offer time-of-use energy plans, where prices vary based on when the service is used during the day or night. An example would be plans that offer free nights or free weekends.
Why go green?
By using 100% renewable energy, you dramatically reduce your carbon footprint.
Texas generated more than one-fifth of its utility-scale power from renewable sources in 2020, and the state generated one-fifth of the nation’s energy from nonhydroelectric renewable sources.
The state has made great strides in decreasing its carbon footprint by investing heavily in wind and solar power. Texas now produces more electricity from wind than any other state in the United States.
Renewable energy has provided enormous environmental benefits to Texas. Dr. Joshua Rhodes of the University of Texas reports that in 2017 alone renewable energy in Texas:
- Saved 22 billion gallons of water.
- Reduced potential health care costs by $33 billion by decreasing sulfur dioxide pollution.
- Prevented 52 million tons of heat-trapping carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere.
Texas is also an oil-and-gas powerhouse. The state is currently the third-largest producer of crude oil in the world. And thanks to fracking technology, the Lone Star State is also the second-biggest producer of natural gas in the country.
But what about renewable energy? How does Texas stack up when compared with other states?
Texas fell just outside the top 10 for its share of electricity generated by advanced clean energy sources such as wind and solar.
However, according to plans filed with Texas’ primary electric grid operator, ERCOT, developers intend to triple solar capacity and add as much wind energy as has been installed over the last five years combined.
Texas’ Public Utility Commission first adopted renewable energy mandate rules in 1999 and amended them in 2005. The mandate called for 10,000 megawatts of renewable energy by 2025, including 500 megawatts from non-wind sources.
In 2009, Texas exceeded its overall 2025 goal mostly due to the state’s wind farms. As of 2020, the state had more than 6,000 megawatts of renewable energy capacity from sources other than wind.
At the start of 2019, 41 states had at least one wind turbine installed. Texas had the most wind turbines, with more than 13,000, and the most installed capacity with 24.2 gigawatts (GW).
In fact, Texas ranks second in the country for wind power production, after Iowa.
Almost all the renewable energy generated in Texas comes from wind. As of 2020, wind-powered electricity will produce almost a third of the U.S. total.
Texas has long led the nation in total wind power capacity. However, according to a study by the Environment Texas Research and Policy Center, the state ranks 11th in renewables with 21.9% of its electricity coming from renewable sources.
The benefits of clean renewable energy
The use of clean, renewable energy for electricity generation is acknowledged not only for its positive environmental impacts but also for its economic benefits.
Benefits to the environment:
- Maintains a healthy environment
- The use of renewable resources is unlimited
- Doesn’t harm the land
- Utilizes little to no water
- No emission of carbon dioxide (CO 2), mercury, nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), or particulate matter into the air, water, or soil.
Benefits to the economy:
- Wind and solar energy are among the fastest-growing job sectors in the U.S.
- Invests in rural development by using rural space and resources.
- Supports a reliable, domestic energy source.
Renewable energy certificates
The electricity you use in your home does not come directly from wind farms or other sources of renewable energy, since it is not possible to direct specific electrons through the electric grid.
You can, however, get your electricity from clean, renewable sources instead of dirty ones like coal and oil.
Energy companies can balance out the clean energy they buy for their customers and the electricity they use by purchasing renewable energy certificates from clean and renewable energy sources.
A green certificate (also known as a renewable energy credit or REC) represents the environmental benefits of renewable power generation.
Energy Resources Certificates (RECs) are defined by one megawatt-hour units of power generated by renewable sources such as wind, solar, hydro, and biomass, and can be traded independently of the actual electricity generated by these sources.
By purchasing RECs, electricity companies ensure that the electricity they purchase is generated from renewable sources, reducing the amount of electricity generated from polluting fossil fuel sources.
RECs can also reduce CO2 emissions associated with electricity use.
This is how electricity plans that include RECs help the planet: by promoting the development and operation of more renewable energy sources.
As more clean energy is added to the grid, less fossil fuel energy is consumed.
Green renewable energy sources
A renewable energy source can produce electricity without being depleted. Wind, sun, water, and geothermal heat are all-natural resources.
Renewable energy sources provide clean, pollution-free electricity that can help mitigate or reduce the negative effects of climate change.
In comparison to traditional energy sources like fossil fuels, coal, and natural gas, renewables offer clean, sustainable energy that emits no carbon dioxide (CO2).
The most common types of green energy include wind power, solar power, hydropower, geothermal power, biomass, and biofuels. Each has its pros and cons.
Wind power
Wind turbines use the power of nature to generate electricity. Using the kinetic energy of the wind, large blades spin generators connected to electrical lines.
Solar power
Solar panels generate electricity from the sun’s rays. Photovoltaic cells transform sunlight into direct current electricity. By inverting the DC current, appliances are able to use it as alternating current. Consumers will benefit more from solar energy as its cost continues to decrease. According to experts, 21 gigawatts of photovoltaic capacity will be installed around the globe by 2050.
Geothermal power
Using geothermal energy, electricity is generated from the heat naturally occurring in the earth. Underground reservoirs of hot liquid rock are found all over the world. As a result of deep drilling, this liquid becomes accessible and collects steam that turns turbine generators. While geothermal energy is quick and easy to develop, it does not produce reliable electricity like other forms of renewable energy.
Biomass
Organic material breaks down over time to create biomass. Agricultural waste products and plants such as trees, shrubs, and grasses are used to create biomass. It also includes composting food waste and sewage sludge. Sewage sludge is considered non-hazardous waste that may be converted into fertilizer. Anaerobic digestion is the main method for producing energy from biomass. A byproduct of the process is greenhouse gas-free biogas. Another type of biofuel is landfill methane, which is derived from decomposing garbage in landfills.
Waste power
Industrial companies burn off excess energy to generate waste power. Because it doesn’t deplete resources, this form of power generation is considered sustainable. However, burning waste can pollute the air and soil, so some experts believe that burning waste should only be done if there is no other choice.
Thermo-electric power
The conversion of heat into mechanical work is known as thermal energy. The difference in temperature between two objects causes one object to lose heat while the other gains heat. As a result, a voltage difference across a circuit is created, which produces electricity.
Nuclear power
The production of electricity by nuclear reactions is known as nuclear power. Fissile materials are found in reactors, including uranium, plutonium, thorium, or enriched uranium. Natural uranium accounts for 5% of the Earth’s total energy consumption. Thorium is found in greater quantities than uranium at 0.7%, making it ideal for creating nuclear fuel. Nuclear fission produces plutonium, which releases large amounts of energy.
A nuclear power plant can run continuously without any additional energy input once it is started; once it’s up and running, it can run 24/7, 365 days a year.
Hydropower
Hydropower is the process of converting river flow into rotational kinetic energy by means of a water wheel. Upon its completion in 1796, the first hydroelectric plant opened its doors to American settlers in 1809. Hydropower has become an important source of renewable energy since then.
Hydroelectric power plants use the force of flowing water to generate electricity. The amount of water required to turn a hydroelectric plant’s turbines depends on the design of the plant. The tallest dams in the U.S. hold back rivers and lakes for power generation. The Hoover Dam on the Colorado River generates 836 megawatts of power and holds back Lake Mead behind it.
Ocean currents
Various ocean currents exist, including the Gulf Stream and the Kuroshio Current. Massive volumes of warm saltwater are carried along the ocean floor by these streams. Ocean currents regulate climate by transporting warmed water from the equator to cooler poles. Oceanic currents, unlike wind and waves, don’t vary much with time or location.
Wave energy
Waves have long been recognized as powerful agents of energy transfer. Water waves can spin large propellers called wave motors that generate electricity.
Green and renewable energy FAQs
While renewable energy is typically more expensive than fossil fuels, increased demand and tax incentives are lowering these costs, making green energy a viable option for many Texans. The secret to finding a green energy plan that saves you money is to shop with your home’s annual usage profile.
You can search 100% Green Energy plans and find the right one for your home by shopping with your home’s annual usage profile on ComparePower. Choosing an energy plan that matches your home’s energy habits will save you both time and money while reducing your carbon footprint.
In most cases, people refer to getting the best electric rate or the best plan when they mean the best rate per kWh. Shop for renewable energy plans that fit your household’s unique usage profile to get the best renewable green energy provider. Comparing energy plans based on your home’s consumption eliminates any plan gimmicks. Using your home usage profile, you can find the most cost-effective green energy plan with ComparePower in 5 minutes.
Your energy usage determines the cheapest green energy provider and electric plan. No two homes are the same. Use ComparePower to instantly find a green energy plan that fits your home usage profile and saves you money.
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