So, do you want to keep driving your SUV and not feel so guilty? Well here is an easy and inexpensive way to “prevent the annual release of more than 19,500 pounds, which is the equivalent of protecting about 7 acres of forest for a year or not driving a car for almost 2 years.”
Pure Power is Ameren’s voluntary renewable energy program. By signing up for Pure Power, you are requesting that Ameren purchase power from renewable energy sources equal to 100% of your energy bill.
Now this doesn’t actually mean that the power coming into your house is directly from the wind fields in the north. Power doesn’t work that way. Think of Ameren as an energy bank. All the power produced whether from coal, hydro, wind or solar funnels into one large pool. At that point it is mingled so when the power is dispersed to your home there is no guarantee that it came from renewable resources.
By signing up for Pure Power, you are deciding to pay 1.5 cents more per kilowatthour (kWh). This allows Ameren to purchase REC’s (Renewable Energy Certificates) from renewable energy sources helping to support the future development and growth in the renewable energy market.
The average home uses about 1000 (kWh) per month. So by signing up for Pure Power you will probably see a $15 increase on your bill which will show up as a line item. There is no contract required to participate and you can cancel your participation at any time without any penalty.
July 18th, 2007 at 3:37 pm
Why is it I’m cynical enough to not believe all my extra money will go towards this program???
July 18th, 2007 at 4:19 pm
Curtis, I thought you wanted to talk about all the good things (http://metropolitanrural.blogspot.com/2007/07/new-7-wonders.html#links) in STL. This is a good thing. Check out their site and contact them if yo have questions. Cindy Bambini was the Ameren representative at last night’s program sponsored by USGBC-STL. She was very informative and sincere. She presented along with PJ Wilson who has been working to get the EASY CONNECTION ACT passed and Ben Hanewinkel who works for Solar Night. The program was called “The Intersection of Green Building and Renewable Energy” I thought the Ameren Pure Power was powerful because it is so easy for people to make that change.
July 18th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
Oh, I hope it works, and I’ll consider it. I REALLY hope that Easy Connection Act goes through soon. I’m very interested in having some solar slates on the south roof of my place (faces the alley).
Just hard to trust some advertising from Ameren after the fiascos last year and their desire for such a large rate increase. I want to believe them, really I do.
July 19th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
Curtis,
I wanted to address your concern about where your money is actually going - this is a completely legitimate question.
I am working with the REC provider that AmerenUE has contracted to help launch and manage the Pure Power program. (We will be opening a new St. Louis office in August!)
The Pure Power program will be Green-e certified (http://www.green-e.org/) by the Center for Resource Solutions. Green-e is the nation’s leading independent renewable energy certification and verification program. They ensure that AmerenUE and the RECs that they purchase are held to strict standards and an in-depth auditing and marketing evaluation process to ensure that customers receive the sole rights for the environmental benefits that they are paying for.
The Pure Power program has the lowest green premium of all similar utility programs currently offered in Illinois and Missouri. AmerenUE only collects $0.001 (a tenth of one cent) per kWh sold to help offset program administrative costs. Please visit http://www.ameren.com/PurePower/ for more detailed information.
I am happy to continue this discussion and answer any other questions that you have (rayna@3phases.com). Towards a sustainable future!