Harness the Power of Wind
Buy green power from your utility and cut back on your coal habit.
Why You Should Do It
It’s an easy and cheap way to support renewable energy in Minnesota! Buying green power doesn’t mean that your home is individually powered by wind power, but it does mean that your utility will purchase that much more energy from a turbine rather than a coal burning plant. You can show your utility that you think renewable energy is an important resource and help reduce your carbon footprint.
What It Costs
Buying green power is a very affordable way to support renewable energy in Minnesota. For example, in 2013, the average cost for Xcel Energy’s Windsource
® program was $0.53 per 100 kilowatt hours (kWh) block of power. Based on this, the average residential customer signed up for 100% Windsource
® coverage should expect an average increase of less than $10 on their monthly electricity bill.
How to Do It
- Select “Add to My Challenge” and pledge to purchase green power from your utility.
- Call your utility or visit their website to learn about their green power options.
- Sign up to receive green power for part or 100% of your home’s electricity use.
- Congratulate yourself for cutting back on your coal habit and making a difference for Minnesota!
Make It a Group Activity
Hold a Wind Party
Get some friends and family together to talk about renewable energy and tell them about your experience with wind power!
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this mean that wind energy is going straight to my home?
No. Electricity generated by renewable sources AND electricity generated by burning coal goes right into the state’s electric system or the grid. Once in the grid, you can’t distinguish which electron was generated by wind or by coal. However, the green power you purchase will replace electricity that otherwise would have been generated by burning coal.