Green Power

Green power refers to power generated from resources that have less severe environmental impacts than fossil fuels when used to produce electricity. Green power is often generated using renewable resources such as solar, biomass, wind, or geothermal, which are renewed by nature over a short period of time in contrast to fossil fuels. Green power can also be produced using fossil fuels combined with an environmentally friendly technology (e.g., fuel cells). Green power, which generally entails a price premium relative to conventional power, is offered by certain electricity suppliers to retail customers in Maryland.

Wind power and landfill methane power costs in the Mid-Atlantic are currently in the 4 - 6 cents per kWh range; the cost of other renewable energy technologies is typically higher. Long-term competitive opportunities for green power will develop when the technologies can offer power in the 3 - 4 cent per kWh range.

As of 2001, Maryland generated just less than four percent of its electric energy from hydroelectric and other renewable energy. Most of Maryland’s renewable electric energy is supplied from hydroelectric sources. In PJM, 4.9 percent is generated from non-hydro renewable energy resources, 8.1 percent if hydro is included.

Composition of renewable and green power generation by fuel (2001)
	U.S.	PJM	Maryland
Hydroelectric Conventional	73.6%	38.3%	65.6%
Wood/Wood Waste	11.9%	8.2%	0.7%
Municipal Solid Waste/Landfill	6.8%	52.7%	33.7%
Geothermal	4.7%	0.0%	0.0%
Wind	2.3%	0.2%	0.0%
Biomass (other then wood)	0.6%	0.6%	0.0%
Solar	0.2%	0.0%	0.0%
Total	100%	100%	100%

Note: The PJM region combines data for Deleware, D.C., Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
Source: Energy Information Administration

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