The Green Power program is currently sold out. New enrollment in the program is on hold until further notice. You can help bring clean, renewable electricity to Colorado Springs. Our Green Power program lets customers designate a portion of their electric consumption to wind-generated electricity. Green power is only available to customers receiving electric service. The terms "wind energy" or "wind power" describe the process by which the wind is used to generate mechanical power or electricity. Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy in the wind into mechanical power. This mechanical power can be used for specific tasks (such as grinding grain or pumping water) or a generator can convert this mechanical power into electricity to power homes, businesses and schools. Wind Farm
The Ponnequin Wind Facility, located just south of the Wyoming border and east of I-25, has 44 turbines that can generate up to 30 megawatts of electricity. One megawatt of wind power can serve the entire electricity needs of more than 300 customers. The primary environmental concern associated with wind power is its effect on birds. The wind facility's location poses little or no risk to bird or wildlife populations. The Colorado Division of Wildlife has found no evidence of raptors at the site, and the number of birds migrating through the area is estimated to be low. The reason? Lack of adequate cover, such as trees and shrubs, and not enough water to sustain a population of birds in the area. Benefits
Wind energy is a renewable resource, so no matter how much is used today, there will still be the same supply in the future. Wind energy is also a source of clean, non-polluting, electricity. Wind energy systems do not use water or tear up land to extract resources. Green Power uses only wind as fuel and has no air, water or waste emissions. Buying one 100-kilowatt hour block of wind energy for a year has the same environmental benefits as not driving a car 2,400 miles or planting an acre of trees (based on information from the EPA's Green Lights program). Because wind power has no fuel cost, an Electric Cost Adjustment credit is applied to each of the blocks purchased by the customer. This means that Green Power customers can protect themselves from fluctuations in electricity costs due to variable fuel costs. By choosing Green Power, customers help influence the type of future electric generation developed in Colorado. They also play a role in building the market for renewable energy within the state. Environmental Commitment
About five percent of the electric power we use is generated from hydroelectric facilities. Burning naturally low-sulfur coal, which greatly reduces air pollution, generates the remainder. In addition, we have installed efficient air-pollution control equipment to reduce emissions on its coal-fired generation units. Careful locating of wind farms can mitigate the main environmental concerns - visual aesthetics, noise and wildlife impacts. Strategic turbine blade design also alleviates noise levels. Cost
Customers can purchase blocks of wind energy on a monthly basis. One block is equal to 100-kilowatt hours of electricity (the average home uses about 500-kilowatt hours a month).
Wind energy is competitive with the price of conventionally-generated electricity in many parts of the United States. However, it is still more expensive than current electric rates paid by our customers who enjoy some of the lowest electric rates in the country. Therefore, for residential customers, Green Power costs an additional $2.45 per month for every 100-kilowatt hour block purchased. Customers may purchase one or many 100-kilowatt hour blocks, representing all or a portion of their monthly electricity consumption. Participation
More than 800 customers currently participate in the Green Power program. If you have any questions about Green Power, please call 719-448-4800. | 
