The green power that is currently being offered to Northeastern REMC customers is biomass and has been purchased from Waste Management of Indiana. Biomass power is a renewable energy and is created by using gasses produced by landfill decay.

According to Gregg Kiess, president and CEO, research done on state and national levels has shown that a high percentage of electric cooperative customers were interested in an alternative energy source. In addition, there has been an increase in the last two to five years in the overall awareness of environmental factors among the general population.

"The more customers who tell us they want green power, the more of this energy we'll buy. This in turn will encourage more investment nationwide in environmentally friendly ways to generate power," Kiess said. "We'll give a part of every green power dollar to support local environmental programs that help make our air, water and countryside cleaner. If you are concerned about our environment, this is the right thing to do."

The supply of green power energy is limited, so it does cost slightly more than energy from traditional sources. Customers who sign up will pay one cent per kilowatthour extra for the first 500 kwh used during each billing cycle. Use above 500 kwh is at the normal rate. That means the maximum additional amount a Northeastern customer can pay each month is $5. For more information, call Northeastern at 244-6111 or 625-3700, or email us.