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Green Mountain Energy
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Green Mountain Energy is a United States company that sells green electricity products via renewable energy credits.[1][2]
Key Information
History
[edit]Green Mountain Energy was founded in Vermont in 1997 by Sam Wyly as an offshoot of Green Mountain Power to take advantage of the deregulation of the Texas electricity market.[1] In September 2000, the company moved its headquarters to Austin, Texas. In January 2002, Green Mountain began serving the Texas market and was the first to offer alternative energy in the state.[3] In August 2009 Green Mountain Energy expanded to New York City, serving those in the Con Edison service territory.[4]
In November 2010 Green Mountain Energy was acquired by NRG Energy for $350 million.[1] At that time Green Mountain Energy operated as a standalone subsidiary of NRG, but now operates as one of NRG's brands.[5]
In May 2009 the company launched a "Renewable Rewards" Buy-Back program, which credits customers with renewable generation facilities in their homes for excess energy their facility sends back to the electric grid.[6]
In April 2011 the company launched a solar leasing program for residential solar panels,[7] and announced "Pollution Free EV", a wind electricity product for electric vehicle owners.[8]
In January 2011 Green Mountain Energy signed a two-year agreement to provide 100% renewable energy to the Empire State Building, the largest commercial green power purchase in New York City at that time.[9] In February 2012, the company partnered with the National Football League (NFL) to power Super Bowl XLVI with 15 million kWh of renewable energy.[10] In June 2012, Green Mountain Energy expanded to Pennsylvania, serving those in the PECO and PPL service territories.[11]
Residential services
[edit]Green Mountain Energy serves electricity to residential customers who live in the United States with unregulated electricity markets, such as Maryland, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas.[11][12] Green Mountain Energy also partners with utilities in regulated markets in the U.S., such as Portland General Electric (PGE) in Oregon, to offer their products.[citation needed]
Commercial services
[edit]Green Mountain's commercial and industrial division offers products to customers in Texas, New York, and Pennsylvania.[11] The commercial division began in 2004. In 2011, a new division, Green Mountain Energy Solutions, was launched.[1] The company also has a "Sun Club" where they donate solar and renewable energies to nonprofit organizations.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "Company Overview of Green Mountain Energy Company". Bloomberg Businessweek. February 24, 2017. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
- ^ de la Garza, Alejandro (July 26, 2021). "This Vermont Utility Is Revolutionizing its Power Grid to Fight Climate Change". Time. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
- ^ Pasolini, Antonio (January 12, 2012). "Texan Sustainable Energy Company Celebrates 10th Anniversary". Justmeans. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
- ^ "Green Mountain Energy Company Expands to New York City". Green Energy News. August 22, 2009. Archived from the original on March 10, 2012. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
- ^ Mooney, Jake (November 24, 2010). "How green is Green Mountain Energy?". Grist. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
- ^ "Energy Co. to Reward Texas Residents for Solar Arrays". Environmental Protection. May 15, 2009. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
- ^ Lyon, Cody (April 29, 2011). "Green Mountain renting solar panels". Austin Business Journal. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
- ^ "Updated: Green Mountain Energy Launches Fully Renewable EV Charging Plan". Energy Choice Matters. April 7, 2011. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
- ^ Zeller Jr., Tom (January 6, 2011). "Green Power for the Empire State Building". Green Blog. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
- ^ Clark, Anna (February 3, 2012). "Why Super Bowl XLVI Will Be the Greenest Yet". GreenBiz. Archived from the original on August 10, 2019. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
- ^ a b c Puleo, Gary (July 3, 2012). "Green Mountain Energy brings clean energy to PA". The Times Herald. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
- ^ "LMOP Partner Profile | Green Mountain Energy Company". United States Environmental Protection Agency. Archived from the original on March 8, 2016. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
External links
[edit]Green Mountain Energy
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Green Mountain Energy Company is an American retail electricity provider founded in 1997 in Vermont, specializing in 100% renewable energy plans sourced primarily from wind and solar through renewable energy certificates (RECs).[1][2]
The company, now headquartered in Austin, Texas, operates in deregulated markets such as Texas, serving over 300,000 residential, commercial, and institutional customers with fixed- and variable-rate plans that emphasize clean energy generation.[3][4] It was established through a partnership between Vermont utility Green Mountain Power and Texas investor Sam Wyly, with a mission to promote renewable energy adoption amid emerging market deregulation.[5][6]
Green Mountain Energy holds the distinction of being the nation's longest-serving renewable energy retailer, having maintained carbon-neutral operations since 2002 and enabling customers to offset substantial emissions—such as 8.3 billion pounds of CO2 in 2020 alone—via its REC purchases and related projects.[7][8][9] The firm has received accolades, including Frost & Sullivan's 2024 Customer Value Leadership Award for sustainability efforts in the U.S. renewable sector.[10]
Despite these accomplishments, the company's reliance on RECs has drawn scrutiny from environmental analysts questioning the direct causal additionality of such certificates to new renewable capacity, as opposed to merely shifting existing green attributes.[5] It has also encountered customer disputes over billing transparency and unauthorized account enrollments, leading to regulatory settlements, though these appear typical of competitive retail energy markets rather than systemic failures.[11][12]
These plans prioritize predictability through fixed pricing, distinguishing them from variable-rate grid options, though actual grid delivery remains fossil-fuel influenced unless paired with distributed generation.[63] Customer eligibility requires residing in service areas of partnered utilities like Oncor or CenterPoint in Texas, with enrollment facilitated online or via phone without credit checks for most fixed plans.[59]
Company Overview
Founding and Ownership
Green Mountain Energy Company was founded in 1997 by Texas billionaire Sam Wyly and Green Mountain Power, a Vermont-based utility, amid the deregulation of the energy market in the United States.[6][5] The company originated in Vermont with the explicit mission to alter energy generation and consumption patterns by providing retail customers access to 100% clean energy sources, primarily through renewable energy certificates (RECs).[1][13] Headquartered in Austin, Texas, it positioned itself as a pioneer in competitive retail renewable energy sales, targeting residential and commercial markets seeking alternatives to traditional fossil fuel-based power.[2] Initially structured as a privately held entity, ownership was dominated by Wyly and associates, including stakes held by entities like BP prior to the 2010 transaction.[14] In September 2010, NRG Energy, Inc., a major independent power producer, announced its intent to acquire Green Mountain Energy for $350 million in cash, viewing the purchase as a strategic expansion into the growing retail clean energy sector.[15][16] The acquisition closed on November 5, 2010, integrating Green Mountain as a subsidiary of NRG while allowing it to maintain its operational focus on renewable offerings.[13][2] As of 2024, Green Mountain Energy remains wholly owned by NRG Energy, Inc., which leverages its broader portfolio of generation assets—including renewables—to support the subsidiary's REC-based model, though NRG itself operates significant fossil fuel facilities.[17][18] This structure has enabled continued expansion without altering the company's core branding as the nation's longest-serving renewable energy retailer.[19]Mission and Market Presence
Green Mountain Energy was established in 1997 with the stated mission to harness consumer choice to alter electricity production toward renewable sources, emphasizing wind, solar, and hydroelectric power.[1] The company has consistently marketed itself as the nation's longest-serving retail provider of renewable energy, aiming to deliver 100% clean electricity plans to customers while promoting environmental impact through certified renewable generation.[19] This focus persists despite reliance on renewable energy certificates (RECs) to substantiate claims of renewability, a mechanism that verifies offset generation elsewhere but does not guarantee instantaneous grid decarbonization.[20] Acquired by NRG Energy in November 2010 and operated as a standalone subsidiary, Green Mountain functions primarily as a retail marketer without owning power plants or transmission infrastructure.[13] Its operations center on competitive, deregulated electricity markets, where it competes by offering fixed-rate plans bundled with RECs, carbon offsets, and sustainability consulting.[20] The company maintains market presence in seven states—Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas—serving both residential (homes, apartments) and commercial (businesses, institutions) customers in these deregulated regions.[20] It extends nationwide sustainability solutions to commercial clients beyond electricity supply. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, in a LEED Platinum-certified office, Green Mountain employs around 650 staff across 11 regional offices as of recent reports.[20] Cumulative customer purchases have been credited with avoiding over 132 billion pounds of CO2 emissions, comparable to the sequestration from planting 15.7 million trees, though such figures derive from REC-based accounting rather than direct measurement of local grid effects.[20]Historical Development
Inception and Early Operations (1997–2002)
Green Mountain Energy was established in 1997 by Texas billionaire Sam Wyly in collaboration with Green Mountain Power, a Vermont-based utility, to retail renewable electricity amid emerging market deregulation.[6][21] The company, initially operating as Green Mountain Energy Resources, L.L.C., commenced business on August 6, 1997, through an agreement involving Green Mountain Resources Inc., a subsidiary of Green Mountain Power.[22] Wyly's vision emphasized educating consumers on pollution and climate impacts via clean energy adoption, encapsulated in the slogan "Choose wisely. It's a small planet," while aiming to foster competition in utilities by replacing fossil fuel-dependent power with renewables like wind and hydro.[21][23] Headquartered initially in South Burlington, Vermont, early operations targeted deregulated Northeastern markets, sourcing power from renewable certificates and facilities to deliver "environmentally preferred" electricity to residential and small commercial customers.[24] The firm spun off from its parent utility structure to operate independently, prioritizing sales of verified green power over traditional grid mixes.[25] By 1999, customer support enabled investment in the first utility-scale wind farm in Pennsylvania, marking an early milestone in funding new renewable capacity.[26] Anticipating larger opportunities in Texas's impending deregulation, Green Mountain relocated its corporate headquarters to Austin in 2000, positioning closer to high-growth potential despite the state's reliance on fossil fuels.[24][27] This shift supported operational scaling, with the company entering the Texas retail market on January 1, 2002, coinciding with the state's full electricity competition launch, and becoming the inaugural provider of renewable energy options there.[28] Through these years, the focus remained on voluntary green certifications and customer-driven avoidance of emissions, though actual grid impact depended on bundled renewable attributes rather than direct generation.[29]Growth and Challenges (2003–2010)
During the early 2000s, Green Mountain Energy experienced significant expansion in its customer base and market presence, serving nearly 600,000 consumers across eight states including Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Oregon, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and California through direct-access retail, utility partnerships, and municipal aggregations.[30] The company reported revenues between $200 million and $500 million in 2003, with over 99% derived from electricity sales.[30] This growth was driven by introductions of new cleaner electricity products and entry into additional regions, including a partnership with Florida Power & Light that provided access to over 3.7 million potential customers starting in 2003.[30][31] Key infrastructure developments bolstered the company's renewable sourcing commitments, notably the groundbreaking in 2003 for the 160 MW Green Mountain Energy Wind Farm at Brazos in Borden and Scurry Counties, Texas, which became operational in 2004 with 160 Mitsubishi 1 MW turbines.[30] This project, the first and largest wind farm built following Texas's electricity deregulation in 1999, was projected to offset approximately 360,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.[32] In 2003 alone, Green Mountain supported the development of 266 MW of new renewable generation capacity.[30] The firm also extended services to Houston and Dallas markets that year and entered the Texas commercial and industrial segment, diversifying beyond residential offerings.[33][34] Despite these advances, Green Mountain faced regulatory and market challenges that prompted strategic retreats. In 2003, the company exited the California and Connecticut markets due to unfavorable regulatory environments hindering competitive retail operations.[30] Broader difficulties included building consumer demand in nascent deregulated markets, where education on renewable energy benefits and carbon offsets proved resource-intensive, as well as competition from traditional utilities offering lower-cost non-renewable options.[35] The company's stated goal of fostering demand for 1,000 MW of new renewable generation by 2010 highlighted ongoing hurdles in scaling supply amid variable wind resources and transmission constraints.[36] By 2010, sustained growth positioned Green Mountain as a leading U.S. retail provider of renewable energy products, culminating in its acquisition by NRG Energy for $350 million in cash, allowing continued independent operations while leveraging NRG's generation assets for expanded green offerings.[15] This deal reflected the company's maturation in competitive markets but also underscored vulnerabilities to consolidation pressures in the deregulated sector.[13]Post-Acquisition Era (2011–Present)
Following its acquisition by NRG Energy, Inc. on November 5, 2010, for $350 million, Green Mountain Energy continued to function as a standalone subsidiary dedicated to retail renewable energy offerings in deregulated markets, leveraging NRG's infrastructure to broaden its product scope and accelerate growth initiatives.[13][15] The integration enabled enhanced access to renewable resources while preserving operational independence, with Green Mountain contributing approximately $70 million annually to NRG's EBITDA at the time of the deal.[37] In January 2011, Green Mountain secured a two-year agreement to supply the Empire State Building with 100% wind-derived power equivalent to 55 million kilowatt-hours per year, positioning the 2.85-million-square-foot landmark as New York State's largest commercial purchaser of renewable energy certificates (RECs) at that scale.[38][39] This deal underscored the company's commercial expansion amid NRG's ownership, though it relied on RECs to attribute existing wind generation rather than direct on-site renewables.[40] Market expansion continued in June 2012 with the launch of services in Pennsylvania, targeting residential and commercial customers in the state's competitive electricity sector and adding to its established presence in Texas and New York.[41] By maintaining aggressive growth targets, including new product lines for residential and business segments, Green Mountain reported serving customers who collectively avoided over 8.7 billion pounds of CO2 emissions in 2022 alone, with cumulative avoidance exceeding 107 billion pounds by 2023—equated by the company to the impact of planting 12.8 million trees.[28][42] Under NRG's parentage, which generates the majority of its electricity from fossil fuels including natural gas and coal, Green Mountain's green credentials faced scrutiny for depending on RECs, a mechanism that certifies renewable attributes but does not necessarily drive new capacity or alter grid dispatch in real time, potentially limiting net emission reductions.[5] Despite this, the company has sustained its position as the longest-operating U.S. renewable energy retailer into 2024, emphasizing plans sourced via wind, solar, and other renewables while operating exclusively in Texas, New York, and Pennsylvania.[7] No major regulatory violations or customer disputes tied directly to post-acquisition operations were prominently reported, though NRG as a parent has faced broader environmental compliance issues unrelated to Green Mountain's retail model.[43]Business Model and Energy Sourcing
Use of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)
Green Mountain Energy certifies its retail electricity plans as 100% renewable by purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) equivalent to the megawatt-hours supplied to customers. Each REC embodies the environmental attributes of one megawatt-hour generated from eligible renewable sources, including wind, solar, biomass, and low-impact hydro, allowing the company to retire these certificates and claim ownership of the associated green benefits. This unbundled approach separates the RECs from the physical electricity procured from wholesale markets or the grid, where Green Mountain matches customer load with standard power purchases before layering on RECs for certification.[44] The company asserts that REC acquisitions directly incentivize renewable production by creating demand for these tradable instruments, which generators must retire to validate green claims, thereby financing project viability in competitive markets. Green Mountain's REC portfolio includes nationwide offerings, such as 100% wind certificates, verified through Green-e certification, which enforces standards for vintage (recent generation), resource type, and avoidance of certain high-impact renewables. As of 2020, the firm's customers had collectively offset over 81.9 billion pounds of CO2 emissions via REC-backed plans, according to company disclosures equating REC retirement to avoided fossil fuel displacement.[45][46][47] Notwithstanding these claims, RECs do not ensure physical delivery of renewable electrons to customers, as grid electricity is fungible and dispatched based on real-time economics rather than certificate ownership. Electricity reaching end-users often derives from the prevailing regional mix, potentially including fossil fuels, with RECs serving solely as an accounting transfer of attributes that occurred elsewhere and possibly earlier.[48][49] Critics, including energy policy analysts, argue this model enables greenwashing by permitting "100% renewable" marketing without corresponding reductions in grid-wide emissions or localized renewable integration, especially when RECs stem from pre-existing facilities unsubsidized by the purchase. Empirical reviews indicate that voluntary REC markets, like those Green Mountain taps, frequently lack additionality—new capacity spurred directly by buyer demand—yielding marginal impacts on build-out compared to policy-driven renewables. Retail providers such as Green Mountain have drawn specific rebuke for amplifying renewable proportions in contracts via REC bundling, which may mislead consumers on tangible environmental outcomes versus virtual offsets.[50][51][52]Retail Operations and Grid Integration
Green Mountain Energy functions as a retail electric provider in deregulated markets, offering fixed-rate and variable plans powered by renewable sources to residential and commercial customers in states including Texas, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Oregon.[20] As of 2025, it provides approximately 10 distinct plans, many certified by Green-e Energy, with no base charges and options for 100% wind, solar, or hydropower matching customer usage through procured wholesale energy and renewable energy certificates (RECs).[53] Commercial offerings include customized sustainability consulting, emissions reporting, and green marketing support, serving institutions nationwide via RECs and offsets.[20] In Texas, operations occur within the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) framework, where Green Mountain Energy competes as one of over 100 retail electric providers but relies on local transmission and distribution utilities (TDUs), such as Oncor or CenterPoint, for physical delivery of electricity to end-users.[54] Customer enrollment involves selecting plans via online portals or phone (e.g., residential service at 1-866-785-4668), with billing based on metered kWh usage; the provider handles wholesale procurement and REC retirement to substantiate renewable claims, while TDUs manage metering, maintenance, and outages.[3] Grid integration occurs indirectly, as Green Mountain Energy does not own generation or transmission assets but facilitates renewable addition to the grid by purchasing RECs tied to verifiable renewable output, ensuring customer load is offset by equivalent clean generation elsewhere on interconnected systems like ERCOT.[55] Programs such as Renewable Rewards Buyback and Solar Max incentivize distributed solar integration by crediting customers at rates up to the retail price for excess kWh exported to the grid, capped at monthly usage in some plans, thereby supporting net metering and local renewable injection without direct provider ownership of infrastructure.[56] [57] In Texas, this aligns with ERCOT's protocols for behind-the-meter generation, where excess solar flows into the distribution grid managed by TDUs, with credits applied to bills to encourage adoption amid the grid's fossil-fuel dominant mix (over 50% natural gas and coal as of recent years).[54]Services Offered
Residential Plans and Features
Green Mountain Energy offers residential electricity plans primarily in deregulated markets such as Texas, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland, and Oregon, emphasizing 100% renewable energy sourced from wind and solar facilities.[58] These plans are designed for households without requiring on-site solar installations, utilizing renewable energy certificates (RECs) to match consumption with equivalent clean generation.[59] As of October 2025, the company provides approximately 10 fixed-rate plans, with contract terms typically ranging from 12 to 24 months and no base charges in most options.[53] Rates vary by location and usage but average around 17-18 cents per kWh for 1,000 kWh monthly consumption in Texas, subject to market fluctuations and early termination fees for prepaid plans.[60] Key plan variants include the Pollution Free series, which delivers 100% national wind energy, and solar-focused options like Solar All Nighter, tailored for electric vehicle owners with lower nighttime rates to encourage off-peak charging using 100% solar power.[61] The Renewable Rewards Buyback program integrates with plans for customers owning rooftop solar panels, allowing excess generation to be credited against bills at retail rates, thereby offsetting grid dependency.[56] Additional features encompass bill credits—such as $150 for using 1,200 kWh or more in a billing cycle on select plans—and online tools via the Green Mountain app for usage tracking, payment management, and renewable impact reporting.[62]| Plan Example | Term Length | Energy Source | Key Feature | Approximate Rate (¢/kWh at 1,000 kWh, Texas, Oct 2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pollution Free e-Plus 12 Preferred | 12 months | 100% Wind | No base charge; fixed rate | 18.2[3] |
| Solar All Nighter | 12-24 months | 100% Solar | Lower night rates for EVs | Varies; night tier ~10-12¢[58] |
| Pollution Free Conserve 12 Preferred | 12 months | 100% Wind | Usage-based incentives | 17.5[62] |