| Q) |
My electricity works just fine, thank you. What's
the problem? |
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| A) |
There are three problems with the existing system of
generating electricity:
- Our national energy security is compromised by the current
system. This vulnerability is caused by two factors: Relying on
foreign oil to generate our electricity, and the vulnerability
of traditional powerplants. Continued…
- Price increases will probably result from our reliance on too
few sources of electricity. Continued…
- Our existing energy sources create high levels of pollution
which causes health complications for people in our region. Continued
|
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| Q) |
Isn't Washington working on these issues? |
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| A) |
Our efforts dovetail with some of the strategies in
President Bush's National
Energy Plan. The president's main concerns, as outlined in his
plan, include reducing America's dependence on foreign oil, and diversifying
our energy sources. Wind power will help achieve both goals. President
Bush's energy plan includes incentives for renewable power. |
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|
| Q) |
How will WindCurrent help? |
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| A) |
Our partner's large wind turbines create enough power for thousands of homes. This electricity goes
into the power grid, and it offsets electricity that would otherwise
have to be made from traditional sources. If you help support the
generation of electricity from WindCurrent's renewable sources, you
will help improve America's energy independence, help to stabilize
the future price of electricity, and help improve the air quality
of our region. |
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|
| Q) |
How does the wind power get to me from the wind turbine? |
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|
| A) |
Electricity from a wind turbine looks no different and
acts the same as electricity generated from any other source. Once
the energy leaves the generator and goes into the grid (the "power
pool"), it is all mixed together.
However, the generation and the sale of renewable energy is tracked
by unique Renewable Energy Certificates (also called "Green Tags").
When a renewable powerplant (such as a windfarm) creates a unit of
power, it also generates a unique, corresponding certificate, the
Green Tag, for that unit of power. Therefore, one of these certificates
corresponds to one unit of power generated at a renewable powerplant.
Continued… |
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|
| Q) |
Exactly what am I buying? |
| |
|
| A) |
WindCurrent's "renewable energy certificate"
or "Green Tag" represents the environmental attributes associated
with electricity generation from new renewable technologies like wind
energy. Continued… |
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|
| Q) |
Is your product independently verified or audited? |
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| A) |
YES. For Commercial buyers, WindCurrent's renewable energy certificate products are independently verified and certified by the "Green-e Program". This is a nationally-recognized certification program run by the Center for Resource Solutions, a San Francisco non-profit. For more information on Green-e, call 1-888-63-GREEN or visit www.green-e.org.
|
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|
| Q) |
Will my utility service change when I buy Green Tags? |
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|
| A) |
No. When you buy Green Tags from WindCurrent, your relationship
with your local utility company will remain the same as it is today.
You will continue to buy your electric commodity from your local
electric company. The Green Tags reflect the environmental benefits
of new renewable energy coming into the power pool, displacing power
from fossil fuel plants. So the money you pay to WindCurrent goes
first to cover the higher costs of generating the cleaner, renewable
power. A portion of the remaining net revenues are then reinvested
into the next generation of renewable energy. Continued…
|
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|
| Q) |
Where are the wind turbines? |
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| A) |
We plan to utilize windfarms in Maryland & Virginia,
as soon as they are approved and built. The specific areas were chosen
because the wind is so strong. In the Appalachian Mountains, the local
people are anxious to diversify away from the coal industry. Since
the wind turbines take up so little actual land, the landowners can
continue to use their property like they always have. Until the windfarms
of Maryland and Virginia are completed, we will utilize windfarms
in West Virginia. |
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|
| Q) |
Are consumers and businesses doing this in other
parts of the country? |
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|
| A) |
In Pennsylvania, 80,000 consumers have chosen to pay
a premium for renewable energy. And 220,000 people have signed up
in California. An increasing number of businesses, non-profits and
government agencies have also signed up. |
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|
| Q) |
We lease our office space and don’t have utility service in our name. Can we still sign up? |
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| A) |
Yes, you can still sign up, as long as you use electricity
in the Continental US. (That's the extent of the electrical grid.)
So even if you live in a dorm, a hospital room or a jail cell, you
can sign up. |
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|
| Q) |
Is this available for my business? |
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|
| A) |
Yes: Businesses, non-profit organizations and government
agencies are signing up. |
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|
| Q) |
What are the benefits of WindCurrent's Green Tag
product? |
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|
| A) |
American Energy Independence - WindCurrent's power is generated
strictly from wind located within the United States, not from imported
fossil fuels.
Environmental Benefits - Revenues from Green Tags are invested
in new renewable resource development.
Simplicity - If you're buying for your business, only one
transaction is required to purchase Green Tags for all company facilities,
however widely distributed. This significantly reduces transaction
costs.
Reliability - With a Green Tag purchase, the relationship
between your home or business and its serving utility does not change.
Purchasing Green Tags will not alter or complicate the quality,
quantity, or reliability of your present electrical services.
Availability - WindCurrent's Green Tags can be purchased
for any location in the US.
Product Integrity - All WindCurrent Green Tag sales are
audited by a third-party non-profit who verifies the movement of
the certificates' attributes.
|
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|
| Q) |
This sounds like an exciting field. Are any big players
getting into this? |
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|
| A) |
Yes, big companies are getting into this industry, on
both sides of the fence:
On the 'supply' side, General
Electric has started making wind turbines at their new factory
in California. Shell
Oil and British
Petroleum are putting up their own windfarms.
On the 'demand' side, many large companies are buying renewable
power, as part of their voluntary commitment to be environmentally
responsible. General Motors, Johnson & Johnson, and Kinko's
are just a few of the companies who are buying renewable energy
products.
And on the 'policy' side, President
Bush wants our national energy policy to encourage the creation
of additional windfarms across the US.
|
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|
| Q) |
I'm not sold. Why should I do this? |
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| A) |
The political reason: This will strengthen America's
energy independence.
The health reason: This will create electricity that produces
no air pollution.
The economic reason: Building wind turbine generating plants
will create jobs in rural areas which suffer from high unemployment.
The religious reason: "In the beginning, God created
the heavens and the earth." -Genesis 1:1
Renewable electricity makes the best use of the resources that God
gave us. On the sixth day, God created man. Man harnessed electricity,
and then we had utility companies, and wind turbines - and the rest
is history.
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| Q) |
OK, I'm sold. What's my next step? |
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| A) |
Stop by our "Sign Up"
page. |
