By paying Bowling Green Municipal Utilities $8 to $10 more each month, customers are able to ensure that their homes are powered by renewable energy sources and support the development of environmentally aware energy nationwide.
Bowling Green Municipal Utilities has been a long-term investor in renewable energy sources such as a hydroelectric plant in Belleville, Ohio, and the solar power project on the roof of the Ice Arena. The latest service offering yielded by these environment-friendly initiatives is Nature’s Energy.
Nature’s Energy offers customers the option of paying 1.3 cents more per kilowatt hour in exchange for having their power generated by renewable resources. These clean energy sources consist of wind, hydroelectric and landfill gas.
“As a municipal utility, our business reflects the wants and concerns of our customers,” said Kevin Maynard, director of Bowling Green Municipal Utilities. “Our customers are concerned not only about price, but with the environment.”
While many customers understand the importance of the environment and agree that Nature’s Choice could serve as a long-term solution to the problems of dirty power, some students wonder why they should have to pay more to make what they view as the right choice.
“It seems like we should get something back instead of having to pay more,” said Greg Stopczynski.
Federal subsidies keep the cost of coal generated electricity artificially lower than alternative sources.
“I think coal power should cost customers what it actually costs to produce,” said Holly Myers-Jones, director of environmental studies. “That change would allow clean energy to become the normal source for electricity.”