Wampum

I have long been skeptical about certain renewable energy sources (e.g. ethanol and bio-diesel) because I saw little evidence of economic viability and close scrutiny suggests that the environmental benefits seem marginal at best. That now seems to be changing, at least with regard to wind power. Via the Booman Tribune, I found the following:

November 2005 - Utility customers participating in green pricing programs that offer some form of protection from fossil-fuel price changes are finding that their green power premiums are shrinking or even turning negative. For example, as of November 1, Colorado customers participating in Xcel Energy's Windsource program are paying 0.66¢/kWh less for wind energy than for "regular" electricity because of an increase in the utility's energy cost adjustment (ECA). Since the ECA announcement, Xcel has sold out of its remaining available wind energy supply and has established a waiting list for new program signups.

In Oklahoma, OG&E Electric Services customers purchasing the OG&E Wind Power product now pay 0.13¢/kWh less for wind energy than for traditional electricity and customers of Edmond Electric's pure&simple wind power program now pay 0.33¢/kWh less. Both utilities adjust their fuel charge monthly. Finally, in September, Austin Energy announced an increase in its fuel charge, which will bring the rate for its most recent GreenChoice product offering to near parity with the standard electric rate.

There is much more on the finances of wind power at the Booman link above. If you are interested in the subject, that is a good place to start.

Note: Those prices are in cents per kilowatt hour. I do not know how to fix the glitch in MT that screws up the charaters.