Consumer Choice

On November 6 I went to the polls and voted for candidates and issues that would help get us the climate action we need. But we also need people to “vote” every day for climate action through our everyday choices. Millions of Americans already have the opportunity to vote for a clean energy future by choosing wind and solar power as sources for the electricity that powers for our homes and businesses.

In 17 states plus Washington D.C., utility customers have the right to choose the source of their electricity. In addition, customers in many states can subscribe to community solar farms — and more states are adding community solar every year. Hundreds of thousands of homeowners already have installed rooftop solar, bought hybrid and electric cars, increased the efficiency of their homes and appliances, decided to reduce or offset their air travel, and purchased cleaner products.

At CleanChoice Energy, our customers vote for clean energy every day by deciding to make the switch from supporting dirty power to supporting wind and solar. Within minutes, a customer can sign up for either community solar or clean electricity retail supply. Our retail electricity business has helped our customers reduce their carbon footprint by a collective 3 billion pounds of carbon pollution. That’s the annual equivalent of preserving 1.4 billion acres of forest or keeping 1.5 billion pounds of coal from being burned. By supporting clean energy, our customers are funding renewable energy projects and helping to drive more investment in renewable energy projects.

And the electricity sector, which makes up a third of our country’s carbon emissions, might be the place where you and I can have the biggest impact. Last year, the electric power sector was the only U.S. sector in which energy-related emissions decreased in 2017, and the 4.6 percent decline was enough to offset increases in all other sectors.

A Powerful Vote

It’s never been easier to power your home, apartment or business with clean, renewable energy. We can decide to vote for climate action every day by making sure all our electricity is replenished on the grid with 100 percent clean wind and solar power. As more people choose clean energy, markets will adjust how they view clean energy. As people switch from dirty power to clean power, new renewable energy projects are deployed that make proactive climate policy decisions even easier.

Every time I step into the voting booth, I choose candidates who will fight for the future of our planet. And today, I feel grateful that between election cycles, every time I turn on my lights, I am “voting” for the clean energy future we all deserve.