A listing in this report is not necessarily an endorsement of the program or its design. Rather, the report is intended as a comprehensive picture of all current programs in the region, plus a few notable programs from beyond the Pacific Northwest. The major differences in product, package, program commitment, marketing strategies, and participation are summarized below. Other utilities invest in their own green power generation. The generation facilities may be local, as when a utility installs PV panels on their customers' rooftops, or further away, as when an Oregon utility builds a wind farm in Wyoming.
Many programs do both.
Likewise, customers who purchase EPP direct a portion of the cost toward the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, for investment in new renewables. We believe that the distinction between new and existing resources will become increasingly important as green power programs mature. Regional and national certification programs include standards for new resources, reflecting the fact that this is already important to the environmental community. The utilities that most successfully market their green power both rate-base existing renewables, and provide a program that allows customers to take a leadership role in purchasing new renewable resources. Package and Price Variations Utilities offer their customers a range of packages and prices which are described further below.