Shop MA Renewable Energy
MA has been pushing hard for a net zero emissions state by 2050. And it looks like we’re well on the way to hit those goals. More renewable energy sources power the state than ever before. And we can now enjoy some of the best green electricity rates we have ever seen. So let’s talk about what kinds of renewable energy are in MA today.
MA Green Energy Choice
EIA records show that nearly 30% of MA electric power comes from green energy. Most of the state’s green energy comes from solar panels. In fact, MA ranks ninth in the nation for how much electricity we generate from solar panels. As of last year, MA has 3,178 megawatts (MW) of installed solar capacity.
Biomass plants are the state’s second largest source for green energy. Fueled by burning municipal solid waste, these plants make about 5% (about 284 MW) of the state’s total electricity generation.
Our third biggest source of green energy comes from hydropower. This is all thanks to MA’s many rivers, including the Connecticut River that powers 31 hydroelectric plants. The 19th century saw many dams built along MA rivers to provide power for industries and mills. In fact, the oldest was built in 1893 near the city of Holyoke.
Lastly, about 1% of MA green energy comes from wind power. We have 23 utility-scale wind power facilities with a combined 106 MW of capacity. Most of the onshore commercial wind sites are along the coast. But the largest amount of wind power comes from two projects in the mountains near the northwestern border. In addition, MA plans to install 5,600 MW of offshore wind power by 2027.
Why Use Renewable Energy In MA
MA is a small but densely populated state with a nearly 7 million people. According to the EIA, an average MA home uses about 600 kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy per month! Due to more cases of extreme weather, electricity demand is rising by 2.3% yearly. With volatile fossil fuel prices adding to costs, all these increases are pushing up MA electricity bills.
However, US green energy investments are driving down renewable energy prices. For example, solar panel prices fell 89% over the past ten years. Plus, building new renewable energy farms is about 1/3rd cheaper than running an existing coal plant. As a result, we’ll see bigger and lower priced green energy projects in the future.
How Green Energy Works
Electricity from green energy sources doesn’t just flow over the grid directly into your home. That’s because once energy enters the grid, it mingles with all the electricity from all the other generators. And that includes fossil fuel plants. So, to encourage more green energy, the state passed the Massachusetts’ Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS).
For 2023, RPS requires all energy sold in the state to come from 59% clean energy sources. To comply with the RPS, energy companies like Verde Energy buy renewable energy certificates (RECs). RECs are an energy commodity that keeps track of green energy produced in the US and who owns it. Every REC is equal to a megawatt hour of electricity from green energy sources. The producing facility can sell RECs to suppliers and utilities. This lets energy companies that don’t produce enough green energy to meet state benchmarks. And it also lets companies like Verde Energy offer energy plans offset 100% by RECs.
Shop Cheap Green MA Energy
Things are looking up for MA renewable energy. Not only is it better for public health and safety, but it’s becoming cheaper. And more green energy shoppers may lead to even cheaper prices in the future. And you can always shop for the cheapest electricity rates at https://www.maenergyratings.com. You can also read up on the news that could save you money and energy.