With the recent approval of a one percent rate increase to fund a new renewable-energy initiative program, OPPD is showing conservation leadership while also issuing a challenge to those who benefit from its power generation--all of us--to help the utility meet its environmental goals.
The rate increase translates into about $5 million annually that OPPD will use to develop incentives for customers to conserve and expand its use of renewable energy.
According to Marc Nichols, OPPD manager for sustainable energy and environmental stewardship, the cheapest kilowatt is the one never used. He said utilities with a strong commitment to sustainable energy have found that they can meet about two-thirds of their projected growth through conservation, and that the other one-third could be met through building renewable energy projects.
The ultimate success of OPPD's initiative depends on all of us to do our parts to conserve energy. This is not about making sacrifices, but rather about breaking some bad habits and exercising some common sense in our energy consumption.
If the program succeeds OPPD can delay construction of another power plant, a step that will help reduce our carbon footprint as well as future costs to energy consumers.
As a founding partner of the Green Omaha Coalition, OPPD is offering its leadership working toward sustainable energy solutions. It is up to those who benefit from that energy to make the initiative a success.
The rate increase translates into about $5 million annually that OPPD will use to develop incentives for customers to conserve and expand its use of renewable energy.
According to Marc Nichols, OPPD manager for sustainable energy and environmental stewardship, the cheapest kilowatt is the one never used. He said utilities with a strong commitment to sustainable energy have found that they can meet about two-thirds of their projected growth through conservation, and that the other one-third could be met through building renewable energy projects.
The ultimate success of OPPD's initiative depends on all of us to do our parts to conserve energy. This is not about making sacrifices, but rather about breaking some bad habits and exercising some common sense in our energy consumption.
If the program succeeds OPPD can delay construction of another power plant, a step that will help reduce our carbon footprint as well as future costs to energy consumers.
As a founding partner of the Green Omaha Coalition, OPPD is offering its leadership working toward sustainable energy solutions. It is up to those who benefit from that energy to make the initiative a success.
posted by zfowler @ 3:12 PM
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