Why Green Power Matters

Environmental Impacts

Finite fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas must be mined or extracted, then transported to power plants where they are burned. Burning fossil fuels produces harmful air emissions such as heat trapping carbon dioxide, smog forming nitrogen oxide, and sulfur dioxide, a contributor to acid rain. In addition, nuclear power produces radioactive waste, which will remain a threat to our ecosystem and human health for thousands of years. In Massachusetts, over 90% of our electricity is generated from polluting fossil fuels and nuclear power. Less than one percent of our electricity is generated from wind and solar!

To read more about the environmental impacts of our electricity use, visit the Union of Concerned Scientists website.

Health Impacts

Humans are seriously affected by pollutants from power plants. Air pollution contributes to the development and aggravation of many respiratory ailments that affect society's most vulnerable populations, children and the elderly.

Fine particles produced by burning fossil fuels can have numerous effects like increased asthma rates, premature death from heart and lung disease, and neurological and developmental disorders.

To read more about the health impacts of our electricity use, visit the Union of Concerned Scientists website.

Energy Dependence and National Security

Relying on foreign sources of energy, such as oil and liquefied natural gas, has serious implications for electricity prices, reliability and national security. Reliance on fossil fuels leaves the market vulnerable to fluctuating prices as well as possible service disruptions during supply shortages.

So Many Other Reasons…

• Local Economy: By purchasing renewable energy produced from the sun, wind, water and organic matter found right here in New England, you are helping create and maintain local jobs rather than supporting fuels that come from other parts of the country or the world.
• Diversification of Resources: While natural gas is a cleaner fuel than coal and oil, we cannot get all of our energy from this finite, constrained resource. Drawing on a diversity of resources also helps avoid energy price spikes.
• Efficiency and Reliability: Many renewables are small in scale and produce power close to where it is being used. This increases reliability and reduces the amount of electricity that gets lost along the way as it is transported to distant homes and businesses.