If future generations are to remember us more with gratitude than sorrow, we must achieve more than just the miracles of technology. We must also leave them a glimpse of the world as it was created, not just as it looked when we got through with it.
--Lyndon B. Johnson
Join Texas IP & L and Support Texas Renewable Energy!
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.
When you or your faith community join TXIPL, you are purchasing 100% Texas-generated renewable power in the form of Renewable Energy Credits (RECs). Each Texas REC you purchase represents one megawatt of clean, safe, renewable power generated here in Texas and delivered into our state's electric grid, where it displaces a megawatt of power from coal or another "brown" fuel.
Joining TXIPL is a great way to "green" the electricity you use in your home or house of worship without changing utility companies or signing another contract--and your membership supports our mission of educating faith communities and their members about energy and environmental stewardship.
Give a Green Power Gift!
Give a "Cool" present with a green energy gift from Texas Interfaith Power & Light
Benefits include:
- Honor yor friends, family, or coworkers with a contribution to health and clean energy.
- An easy and simple way to make a big environmental impact.
- Educational for children or the perfect gift for that person who has everything (except wind power!)
- Supporting 100% Texas Resources - helps the local economy and protects our health here!
- Your gift recipient receives a beautiful certificate highlighting the contribution’s impact.
- It's a tax deductible gift for those who itemize on their federal return.
- Holiday Special: Give the Gift of Wind Power starting at $10 per REC (regularly $15). When you give one or more RECs as gifts, you join TXIPL at no additional charge!
Click here to purchase Texas RECs as gifts!
Download the printable Texas Interfaith Power and Light Membership Form
Join and Order RECs Online!
| TXIPL Individual Membership $30/yr (includes one REC plus one-year membership) | |
| Additional RECs $10 apiece | |
| Megawatt-a-Month Club $120/yr (one REC a month, offsetting an average Texas home's electric use) |
| TXIPL Congregational Membership $60/yr (includes 4 RECs plus one-year membership) | |
| Adopt-a-Watt Program $450/yr (one REC per week for a year) |
What the Heck is a REC?
Renewable energy certificates (RECs, aka green tags, green energy certificates, or tradeable renewable certificates) were created by the EPA to make it easy for homeowners to participate in using renewable energy. Each certificate represents the delivery of a specific amount of renewable power (usually one megawatt-hour) into a regional or national energy "grid". This displaces the non-renewable fossil fuels that would have otherwise been used with non-polluting energy from solar, wind, biomass, and other renewable sources. 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.
When you purchase RECs, you create demand for renewable energy and support the development of facilities to supply it. When you buy green energy certificates equivalent to the amount of energy you use in your home, you can completely offset the environmental effects of your own energy use, because someone, somewhere along the grid, is using the renewable energy paid for by your certificate.
- 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 kilowatt hours).
- Partially tax deductible as a charitable donation.
- Zero air emissions per kilowatt hour.
Why Are Texas RECs So Special? Texas Interfaith Power & Light is proud to offer RECs generated in Texas. When you buy Texas RECs, you aren’t just offsetting your carbon emissions—you also are reducing air pollution emissions like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides 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. And Texas RECs are regulated by the Public Utility Commission of Texas.
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.
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 (which is the same thing as one megawatt.) 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.
Calculate Your Carbon Emissions
Linking your congregation’s REC purchases to weekly worship is a great way to emphasize the importance of creation stewardship to your faith.
Through the Adopt-a-Watt Program, your congregation commits to purchase one REC per week for a year, and then enlists individuals and families to “adopt” a week (similar to the way many congregations handle flowers and other weekly expenses of worship).
TXIPL and our parent organization Texas Impact Education Fund process our online payments through PayPal's secure website. You do NOT need to open a PayPal "account" to use this service--you just need a credit card. Not comfortable with online transactions? Download and print our membership form and mail it with your check or money order.
Download the printable Texas Interfaith Power and Light Membership Form
Join and Order RECs Online!
| TXIPL Individual Membership $30/yr (includes one REC plus one-year membership) | |
| Additional RECs $10 apiece | |
| Megawatt-a-Month Club $120/yr (one REC a month, offsetting an average Texas home's electric use) |
| TXIPL Congregational Membership $60/yr (includes 4 RECs plus one-year membership) | |
| Adopt-a-Watt Program $450/yr (one REC per week for a year) |
Thanks to our matching fund contributors!