Now there's a way for everyone in Texas to help make our electric grid the greenest in the country!

You can offset the polluting effects of your energy use by supporting the development of clean renewable energy. Most traditional power generation relies on burning fossil fuel. Every time we replace existing power with wind, solar or another renewable resource, the electricity pool becomes a little cleaner... and that benefits everyone.

Curious about Carbon Offsets?

Carbon offsets are products that reduce the carbon footprint of the purchaser by reducing carbon emissions equivalent to the emissions the purchaser produces. It's best to start by reducing your own carbon emissions as much as possible, but carbon offsets are a way to reduce the impact of emissions you can't avoid. For example: you could reduce carbon emissions by walking to work instead of driving, but if you live too far away to walk to work and don't have a public transportation option, you could buy carbon offsets to help mitigate your car's carbon emissions.

There are many kinds of carbon offsets. Texas Interfaith Power & Light offers only offsets generated from the production of new, distributed renewable power right here in Texas, known as “renewable energy credits” or RECs.

What the Heck is a REC?

RECs (aka green tags, green energy certificates, or tradeable renewable certificates) were created by the EPA to ascribe monetary value to the environmental attributes of renewable energy. Each certificate represents the delivery of 1000 kilowatts or one megawatt of solar, wind, biomass, or other renewable power into a regional or national energy grid. This displaces one megawatt of electricity produced from non-renewable fossil fuels that would have otherwise been delivered to the grid. The result is a benefit to the environment that is the same as it would be if you installed solar panels or wind turbines on your own home or bought a “green power” product through your utility provider.

• RECs are certificates for electricity generated from clean and 100% renewable sources.
• You determine the amount you purchase.
• Supports new renewable energy facilities.
• Available to everyone. You don't even have to be an electricity customer to order RECs.
• No interruption in electricity service or billing.
• Can be purchased at any time.
• Apply to blocks of electricity (1,000 kilowatts).
• Partially tax deductible as a charitable donation.
• Zero air emissions per kilowatt hour.

Cutting Carbon, Building Texas Wind

Texas Interfaith Power & Light has teamed up with the nonprofit American Wind Power Center (AWPC) in Lubbock to sell carbon offsets that build Texas’ small wind industry. The purpose of the center is to interpret the relations of humans, the environment and technology.

When you purchase RECs, you create demand for renewable energy and support the development of facilities to supply it. AWPC’s turbines produce enough clean energy to power not just the museum and the operations of the center, but also 100 households in the Lubbock area. AWPC also operates a “windsmith academy” where students learn to install, operate and maintain wind power equipment—providing green jobs, as well as green power.

TXIPL is the exclusive source of RECs from AWPC, which are among the most robust and well-verified carbon offsets available and are regulated by the Texas Public Utility Commission.

Green Power, Clean Air: Beyond Carbon

Burning fossil fuels to produce electricity releases more than just carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Traditional power pollutes our air with nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, and other compounds. This produces smog and ozone and can cause major respiratory problems. By substituting wind power for fossil fuel power, you can help all Texans breathe a little easier.

Shrink Your Carbon Footprint and Support Two Great Causes

Your REC purchase supports the American Wind Power Center and Texas Interfaith Power & Light. Each REC you purchase represents one megawatt of distributed wind generation and offsets 1,380 pounds of carbon emissions.

Why Are Texas RECs So Special? When you buy Texas RECs, you aren’t just offsetting your carbon emissions—you also are reducing air pollution emissions that make people sick and that are causing Texas to be out of compliance with federal air quality standards. Texas RECs also contribute to economic development in Texas and help build Texas’ clean energy industry.

Offsetting Your Carbon Footprint With RECs

How many RECs should you buy? It depends on the volume of global warming pollution you want to reduce.

When you buy RECs equivalent to the amount of energy you use in your home, you can completely offset the emissions effects of your own energy use. An average household in Texas consumes about 1,100 kilowatt hours per month of electricity, generating about 1,550 pounds of carbon emissions.

Each REC offsets the emissions from 1,000 kilowatts. Use the Environmental Protection Agency’s “carbon calculator” to determine your “carbon footprint” and decide what percent of your impact you want to offset, or choose an amount based on an average Texas home.