By Nick Clark
A projected $9.6 billion over five years is expected to be raised from carbon taxes. The levy will be added to everything from gasoline, natural gas, propane, and consumer goods to help finance green infrastructure projects such as public transit.
The province also wants to achieve 30% green by 2030. Yet, you can get there now for a fraction of what the provincial government is attempting.
The price of green energy: 1.66 cents per kWh
Since Alberta’s electricity Floating rate retail prices are so low right now, consumers can actually help “Green the Grid” and still end up paying a fraction for electricity than they paid a few short years ago.
Consider this. Many consumers paid under 3 cents per kWh in March 2016 for the electricity they consumed. Albertans can easily afford to add 30% green energy to the mix and the total cost of energy still would have been between 3 and 3 ½ cents per kWh. Do you remember paying 8 cents per kWh on your utility bill? Greening 30% of the energy you consume will cost the average home owner about 10 to 12 cents per day.
We are making the concept of going green affordable.
There are no contracts to lock in…no additional administration fees. The offer is simple: Green what you can afford by selecting whatever percentage of energy that you want to green. From 0 to 100%.
What will happen when the province increases the carbon tax to $30 per ton and close down coal plants? Unquestionably, consumers will end up paying more and the inexpensive energy prices we are enjoying today will disappear.
Please do this before you get hit with higher energy prices the government is considering: Talk to your MLA or send an email. Challenge them to get onboard and to commit to these pledges:
- If Albertans voluntarily buy Green Energy RECs (Renewable Energy Certificates that are ECOLOGO Certified), give those consumers a tax credit. This will encourage consumers to become engaged today and we don’t have to wait till 2030. In fact, many will argue that we cannot wait another decade – we need to do something today.
- Challenge your MLA who endorse wide sweeping legislative changes to fight Climate Change. Ask your MLA this question. “What are you doing in your own family home?” Every MLA should lead by example in this situation and help green the grid today.
Here are some local and independent retailers to consider: www.greenalbertaenergy.ca
The government is trying to solve a very big problem. Consumers can sit back, do nothing, and wait. Or they can participate in the solution.
Good planning led to affordable prices for electricity
Green Offsets are affordable. We did not go to the government for subsidies. Rather, we purchased a large block of ECOLOGO Certified Biomass Green Offsets and we are buying green energy exported into Alberta’s grid by residential based solar micro-generators.
The price is 1.66 cents per kWh. You don’t have to green 100% of the energy you consume; green what you can afford. Do you only want to green 15% of the energy you consume each month? That translates to 5 cents per day for the average household.
Do what you can.
The price is 1.66 cents per kWh. You don’t have to green 100% of the energy you consume; green what you can afford. Do you only want to green 15% of the energy you consume each month? That translates to 5 cents per day for the average household.
Do what you can.