Green electricity is not a modern form of energy; it is a modern way of thinking about electricity and how it is produced. In today's "environmentally friendly" society, conventional sources of energy are becoming less feasible due to their harmful effects on the environment. "Green" or "Clean" electricity is an industry-coined term that describes environmentally "low-impact" power derived from renewable resources, such as wind, solar, geothermal, small-scale hydroelectric and biomass. Until recently, the environmentally aware consumer could limit their energy consumption but had no control over how their electricity was generated. Presently, the utility industry is undergoing a process of transformation where power consumers can use environmentally low-impact electricity, similar to powering your vehicle with water instead of gasoline.

In 1882, Thomas Edison opened the world's first electricity generating station. Since then consumer demand for power has increased at a rate faster than population growth. Electricity has become a basic necessity in Canada and throughout the world. An abundant supply of electrical power is vital to global economies and has rapidly increased our standard of living. For example, electricity makes our lives easier by providing comfortable and warm housing, safely illuminated streets, and tools to save us time. On the down side, the production of electrical power harms our environment, disrupts ecosystems, and produces smog, acid rain and nuclear waste. It is estimated that 80% of global carbon dioxide emissions, which are a contributing factor in global warming, are produced by power plants. These pollutants cause cancer, asthma, and emphysema. In 1998, 16% of electricity produced in Canada was from nuclear power plants and 64% from hydroelectric power generation.

The Canadian government, under the Kyoto Protocol, has joined other nations world wide in their effort to decrease greenhouse gas emissions. In an attempt to slow down global warming, they have implemented measures that require utility companies to become more environmentally conscious and publicly accountable. In the competitive U.S. marketplace, various power companies offer energy from renewable power sources. Presently, the U.S. consumer can purchase electricity from utility companies that supply environmentally low-impact power, therefore increasing the overall supply of green power available in the electrical grid at one time. This does not guarantee that the electricity coming into your TV, for example, was derived from clean sources. It does, however, increase the overall amount of green power that is produced and used throughout the nation. Where does this leave the Canadian consumer who wants to use alternate power sources? In most provinces, you can not choose a power company like you do a bank. In addition, does your supplier of electricity use clean sources for power generation? These are important questions that not only affect the average Canadian homeowner but also future generations of power consumers.

In Canada, Cambridge and North Dumfries Hydro (http://www.camhydro.com) is the first public utility in the province of Ontario to offer a rate for environmentally friendly electrical energy. Cambridge and North Dumfries Hydro purchase the power from small-scale hydro generators, wind turbines users, and solar energy providers. They state, "Choosing EarthWise Clean Power is equivalent to parking your car for half a year in eliminated emissions". Cambridge and North Dumfries Hydro estimates that fossil fuel generators would no longer be necessary if one in four Canadian households supported programs similar to EarthWise. EarthWise is a completely voluntary program that costs an average of seven dollars per month more than regular electrical service. Some municipalities have become very inventive with their green power solutions. In Waterloo, Ontario methane gas is collected in wells at the landfill and converted into electricity using advanced biomass energy generating technology. < br>
BC Hydro, one of the largest utilities in Canada is taking a slightly different approach. They are calling for proposals from interested developers to provide green power. Ten percent of their new energy acquisitions are targeted to come from clean sources. This translates to 100,000 households in the province of B.C. that will be powered with green power by 2010.

This is an exciting time for energy producers and consumers working together to create a cleaner, healthier world with abundant renewable energy sources. The David Suzuki foundation released a report on April 17, 2000 titled" Power Shift: Cool Solutions to Global Warming". They suggest that Canada, using current technology, has the ability to cut its greenhouse gas emissions in half by the year 2030. However, it is only through continual consumer support and government strategies that environmentally friendly power will be a reality this millennium.

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