Frequently Asked Questions

Green power is electricity generated from renewable, environmentally friendly resources such as wind, solar or low-impact hydropower - hydro resources having little or no impact on fish and habitat.

What is Tacoma Power's EverGreen Options?

EverGreen Options is Tacoma Power’s green power program. Tacoma Power offers its customers the opportunity to support electricity generated by sustainable, renewable power sources having minimal impact on the earth’s natural resources. EverGreen Options is supplied by Green Tags from new wind resources in the Pacific Northwest.  more info below

Why is Tacoma Power offering green power?

Tacoma Power is offering the EverGreen Options program to help build the next generation of renewable resources and preserve the environment.  It is part of our environmental stewardship program and we want our customers to be able to participate in it.

Tacoma Power is involved in a number of efforts to protect the environment, including our fish hatcheries on the Cowlitz and Nisqually Rivers. We also protect large areas of wildlife habitat near our projects throughout the state. We have nesting platforms and nest boxes for eagles, wood ducks, kestrels and bluebirds. We also manage special pastures for deer and elk.

We're confident that our customers support our efforts to protect the environment and produce electric power in the cleanest, safest and most environmentally sound manner possible.

Where does EverGreen Options green power come from?

Tacoma Power buys environmentally-friendly Renewable Energy Certificates - Green Tags from the Bonneville Power Administration. These Green Tags are derived from new wind generation projects  located in Washington and Oregon.

Green Tags represent the environmental attributes of qualifying renewable energy resources. For example, a unit of wind-generated energy from the Stateline Project is both electricity delivered to the power grid, and the environmental benefit of this electricity production - zero pollution and greenhouse gas impacts. A Green Tag is this environmental benefit resulting from 1000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) or 1 megawatt-hour (MWh) of qualified renewable electricity generation. Green tag purchases directly support the development of new certified renewable electricity generation in the Pacific Northwest.

How can I help?

You can choose from three levels. For as little as $3 extra per month you can support the production of new green power and habitat protection.

What is the price for Tacoma’s EverGreen Options program?

Residential customers can choose from three different participation levels:

*  As of November 1, 2005, the amount of green energy customers receive through EverGreen Options increased by 25% for all purchase levels.  For example, customers at the $6 salmon level will receive 500 kWh per month - 100 kWh more than the previous 400 kWh per month amount.

Customers who receive their bill every two months will see the monthly amount they choose double on their bill. For example, the frog level will be six dollars for the two-month billing period.  The charges for the EverGreen Options program are added to your existing bill. These charges are fixed at a set monthly rate and will not vary from month to month unless you choose to discontinue your participation or change your participation level.

Does green power cost more?

The price of green power in current electricity markets is typically higher. However, if electricity resources are compared on a level playing field - if pollution, environmental, global warming, and related costs to society are all counted - green power may cost all of us less.  

There are customers who are willing to pay the higher price of green power. Many of these customers understand, whether explicitly or intuitively, that the value of green power is greater because it doesn’t have the costs of pollution and environmental impacts often associated with typical generating resources. EverGreen Options gives customers a choice that reflects that value.

How will green power show up on my bill?

The charge for EverGreen Options will be itemized and added to the total charges part of your utility bill.

Is EverGreen Options available to businesses too?

The options below are available for our business customers. Business customers need to contact us for more information.

	Levels	Cost per Month	Kilowatt hour Equivalent
Small Business	Level 1	$6.00	500 kWh
	Level 2	$12.00	1000 kWh
	Level 3	$20.00	1,667 kWh
Large Business	Level 1	$30.00	2,500 kWh
	Level 2	$60.00	5,000 kWh
	Level 3	$100.00	8,333 kWh

How is the money used?

The revenue collected from customers is used to purchase renewable energy supply for EverGreen Options - Green Tags from BPA, and program marketing and administration.

How do I sign up?

There are several ways for you to sign up for the EverGreen Options program.  You can sign up right here at our Web site - simply click on one of these links:

residential | business

You can also call into our Customer Information Center at 253-502-8377 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. We also have a brochure that describes the program and has a tear off business reply card that you can complete and send in. Choose the sign-up method that best meets your needs.

Will I actually get green power in my house?

Not exactly. The electricity from our green resources is put into the Northwest power grid along with electricity from all other resources. Electricity from a specific source does not reach your specific home. You will see no change in your electric service when you sign up for EverGreen Options. By participating in the EverGreen Options program, however, you are helping to protect the environment and promoting development of more green power.

How will I know if my contribution to EverGreen Options is making a difference to the environment?

When you elect to participate in Tacoma Power’s EverGreen Options program, you are contributing to the regional production of electricity that is better for the environment – energy from renewable resources such as wind, solar and fish-friendly hydropower. See our green power links section for specific information about how green power benefits the environment.

Who decides what to do with the proceeds from the sale of green power?

The Bonneville Power Administration, the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, and other regional energy leaders have the most direct responsibility in deciding the best ways to acquire green power for the region.  If you'd like to get involved to help influence these decisions, see our links to relevant organizations.

Will the proceeds from the sales of green power go directly to Tacoma Power service territory or the local community?

Proceeds from green power and Green Tag sales are applied to the development of new renewable resources in the Pacific Northwest and program marketing and administration.

Is there a limit to the amount of green power that Tacoma Power will offer to its customers?

No.  Customers can choose among the levels offered — $3, $6 or $10 per month for EverGreen Options. Customers wishing to participate at a higher level may do so in $1 increments - $11, $15, $23 or any other. 

Is Tacoma Power planning on generating its own green power or purchasing green power from sources other than the Bonneville Power Administration?

No major projects are currently planned.  However, in our efforts to provide the highest quality electricity resources, we have applied for and received green power certification by the Low Impact Hydro Institute (LIHI) for our Nisqually River Hydropower Project.  This green power resource is not used for our EverGreen Power program. 

Who should I call for information?

Please call 253-502-8377 to sign up or to seek more information.

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