There’s never been a better time to choose solar or wind power for your home or business. A November 2015 article by the U.S. Department of Energy, 6 Charts Will Make You Optimistic About America's Clean Energy Future, makes an optimistic case for America’s clean energy future, sharing cost reduction and adoption rate data over the last five years.
Since the year 2000, wind costs have become more competitive with fossil fuel prices, dropping to within 5 to 10 cents per kilowatt hour (¢/kWh). This price decrease is expected to continue as wind turbines become “taller, more affordable and more efficient.”1 The solar energy price decrease is even more impressive. The cost of installing solar photovoltaic (PV) for utility-scale customers has dropped $3.36 per Watt in just six years, a nearly 60 percent reduction. New technologies and energy projects like LED (light-emitting diode) installations and electric vehicles will continue to push prices downward.
It is evident that we are entering the age of energy where being environmentally-friendly is no longer cost-prohibitive. Households and businesses have taken advantage of these falling costs across the country and even around the globe. Cumulative wind capacity is now at 65 gigawatts (GW), an increase of nearly 45 gigawatts (GW) since 2008, while cumulative utility-scale Solar PV installations have increased by 233% from 2012 to 2014. With the falling prices of renewable energy, there’s never been a better time to use and invest in clean energy.
If you’re looking to reduce your environmental impact, WGL Energy Services (WGL Energy) has a diverse range of options that benefit the environment. WGL Energy’s wind power products are Green-e® Energy certified, ensuring that they meet the environmental and consumer protection standards set forth by the nonprofit Center for Resource Solutions. WGL Energy also offers a Solar Electricity Supply Solution which includes a 20-year Solar Power Purchase Agreement (SPPA) for 100% of the electricity output from a new solar development for a fixed price, protecting your business from fluctuating energy prices.
Visit www.wglenergy.com to learn more about our renewable energy solutions for residential, government, commercial and industrial customers.
Endnote references
1 Wood, Daniel. “6 Charts that Will Make You Optimistic About America’s Clean Energy Future.” Energy.Gov. November 13th, 2015. Retrieved from: http://energy.gov/articles/6-charts-will-make-you-optimistic-about-america-s-clean-energy-future
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