That 20 percent differential over the standard offer is high enough to discourage many CMP customers from buying electricity produced exclusively by renewable methods at hydroelectric dams and wood burning biomass plants, said Nagusky, executive director of the Independent Energy Producers of Maine. But there are people out there who are willing to spend more. Disclosure notices in the CMP bills show that 12 percent of each customer's electricity supply is generated at coal plants. The highest percentages are 22 percent, from nuclear plants, and 20 percent, from oil-fired plants. Sulfur dioxide emissions are about average.
Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.
Nitrogen oxide has been linked to smog and acid rain, and sulfur dioxide is known to aggravate asthma, respiratory illnesses and cardiovascular problems. Sue Jones, air quality project director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine, said the disclosure labels that reveal pollution levels could be an eye-opener for many CMP customers. I think it will be surprising to a lot of folks. The PUC estimates that less than one percent of CMP's customers take the alternative service. Competition in the renewable electricity market should open up in the coming years, she added.