Buy Clean Energy

The vast majority of Massachusetts’ electricity is generated from coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear power plants. The fuels for these facilities must be imported into Massachusetts and their use contributes to respiratory ailments, acid rain, global warming, and other environmental and health problems. In fact, electricity generation causes more pollution than any other single human activity.

Clean energy (also called “green power” or “green electricity”) refers to electricity produced in ways that are considered to have fewer harmful environmental impacts than burning fossil fuels or running nuclear facilities. Although the definition of clean energy can vary, the term is generally applied to electricity from renewable energy sources:

  • The sun
  • Wind
  • Small low-impact waterpower
  • Bioenergy (wood and other organic matter including landfill gas)
  • Geothermal (the Earth’s heat)
  • Waves
  • Tides

Choosing clean energy has the potential to support the development of additional renewable energy generating facilities. But since it requires you to pay a premium, you will need to decide whether you can afford to or want to personally contribute to clean energy.