Pepco’s Environmental Disclosure

If you’re a Pepco customer, you may have noticed an Environment Information disclosure in your last bill. The disclosure is required by the District of Colmbia Public Service Commission. On it, Pepco provides environment information for Pepco customers with their Standard Offer Service. The disclosure reports Pepco’s fuel sources and emissions data and runs from January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008.

According to the disclosure, Pepco’s non-renewable energy mix breaks down this way…

• Coal – 53.5%
• Nuclear – 34.7%
• Gas – 6.9%
• Oil – 0.3%

Renewable Energy makes up 4.6% of Pepco’s total energy mix and breaks down like this…

• Solid Waste – 1.8%
• Captured Methane Gas – 1.0%
• Hydroelectric – 0.9%
• Wind – 0.5%
• Wood or other Biomass – 0.4%

What does this all mean? In an oversimplification, it means that Pepco is producing substantially more energy from non-renewable sources than from renewable sources. In a statment on their website, Pepco claims they are aiming for 20% renewable energy by 2020. If you believe that is too low, too slow and too vague, consider switching your energy provider to a fully renewable company like Clean Currents or Washington Gas Energy Services.

Currently, you can lock in a 100% wind energy rate in DC for 1 or 2 years with Clean Currents at just 11.4 cents/kWh. Washington Gas Energy Services is charging 12.8 cents/kWh for their DC 100% wind energy plan. Pepco’s “Green Energy” is currently at 12.86 cents/kWh. Regular Pepco service is currently priced in DC at 11.61 cents/kWh.

Photo Credit: Flickr CC User obrien26382