Tag: coal

This Year’s Holiday Gift from Nationwide Utility Companies? Rising Electricity Costs

Posted on by Admin

Families across the country are suffering this year due to increased pricing for nearly everything they use on a regular basis – and one of the most staggering price hikes has been to their electricity prices. With severe, freezing weather and higher costs to keep houses warm, it’s even harder to make ends meet right before the holidays.

In some cases, states are seeing a jaw-dropping 50 percent increase in utility costs. While these numbers are alarming as we inch closer to the holidays, there are things you can do to avoid the rising costs.

Heard enough and are ready to upgrade your home with clean, price-protected energy? Call us today at 1-888-MOMENTUM.

Utilities Rising Across the Country

Rising utility rates are sweeping across the nation worse than ever before. For example, residents in Connecticut are expected to see their electric bills increase by almost 50 percent, according to their Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA).[1] Energy suppliers there procure electricity twice a year, and prices are changed on January 1 and July 1. Eversource, a utility company in Connecticut, will see their rate double from $0.12 cents to $0.24 cents per kilowatt hour for the first six months of 2023. Meanwhile, other customers who use United Illuminating will see an increase from $0.11 cents to $0.22 cents per kilowatt hour.[2]

Connecticut is one of many states that are being affected by these prices. Below is a list of other states experiencing the same issue.

  1. New Jersey will see an average rise of 25 percent.[3]
  2. California will see an average increase of $0.04 cents come the new year, which comes to about $7 per month.[4]
  3. New York will see their electricity bill on average rise an extra $20.90 per month.[5]
  4. Residents in Florida will see their bills increase three times between now and February.[6]

While these are just a few states to make a note of, several others are experiencing the same issue.

Switch to Price-Protected Energy

Going solar gives homeowners access to price-protected energy that can help them control their costs and manage their finances. What do we mean when we say price-protected? This means that the cost per kilowatt when you produce energy with your panels will remain the same.[7] This is a great benefit to homeowners who are having a hard time with the rising electricity rates or just want predictable bills each month.

Did you know that the average homeowner can save thousands during the first 25 years of owning their system?[8] Installing a solar panel system allows you to soak up the sun and provide heating, cooling and power to your home for a much cheaper price.

But wait, there’s more. Literally. Adding a battery backup system to your home lets you store excess energy at home. This way, when the power goes out, or you want to avoid peak electricity hours, you can use the extra energy generated by your system to power your home instead of pulling from the grid. Momentum is proud to offer two completely customizable battery modules from Enphase, allowing you to build a unique system right at home. Click here to learn more about Momentum Solar’s battery storage options.

Going Solar with Momentum

Whether you want to go green to save on the ever-rising utility costs, help the environment, or a little bit of both, Momentum is here to help you make a seamless transition solar. Each solar installation is custom-built to fit your energy needs and with flexible financing options, all homeowners have the opportunity to make the switch at a price point that works for them.

If you or a loved one are looking to go solar, call us at 1-888-MOMENTUM today.

Already installed with our team but have questions about your system? Email us today at myinstall@momentumsolar.com.

 

 

 

[1] https://ctnewsjunkie.com/2022/11/17/connecticut-electric-rates-to-increase-nearly-50/

[2] https://ctnewsjunkie.com/2022/11/17/connecticut-electric-rates-to-increase-nearly-50/

[3] https://www.nj.com/news/2022/10/your-energy-rates-in-nj-are-about-to-go-up-nearly-25-here-are-5-tips-to-save-money.html

[4] https://cal-cca.org/bay-area-electricity-provider-considers-rate-increase/#:~:text=Go%20into%20effect%20on%20January,maintain%20rate%20stability%20in%202023.

[5] https://licpost.com/con-ed-plans-to-hike-electricity-and-gas-rates-next-year-lawmakers-call-for-public-hearing#:~:text=The%20increases%20would%20take%20effect,for%20an%20additional%20public%20hearing.

[6] https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2022/12/12/florida-power-light-utility-bills-rise

[7] https://www.lawinsider.com/dictionary/price-protection

[8] https://www.greenlancer.com/post/how-much-do-solar-panels-save

 

Coal vs. Clean Energy

Posted on by Admin

The topic of the best way to produce energy to power our world has been debated for many decades upon decades. One of the many comparisons up for discussion is coal vs. clean energy. For a long time, we did not know the effects that coal would have on ourselves and, unfortunately, the rest of the environment.

Luckily, with advances in clean energy like solar power, we can work together to help heal our planet and guide future generations in making better choices.

What is Coal-Generated Energy?

Coal energy is made from combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rocks that contain a very high amount of carbon and hydrocarbons. Because of this, coal is classified as a nonrenewable energy source, as it takes millions of years to form. For example, coal contains the energy stored by plants that lived hundreds of millions of years ago.[1]

How Is it Produced?

It all starts with old plants, millions of years old plants. Once the sedimentary rock or coal is mined, it is sent off to a coal plant to be turned into usable energy. At the plant, the coal is placed into a boiler to produce steam. The steam that is produced flows into a turbine that spins a generator to create electricity. The steam is then cooled and condensed into water, then returned to the boiler to start the process all over again.[2]

What Does it Do?

Although energy is produced to help power our homes, there can be harmful side effects of mining and producing coal. For example, miners exposed directly to toxic fumes, coal dust and toxic metals while mining, increased their risk of fatal lung diseases. In fact, the mining process of coal alone “has been responsible for over 100,000 deaths.”[3] So not only does coal energy cause harm to the human race, it is equally, if not worse, for our environment.

Coal can contain toxic elements and metals such as sulfur, mercury, lead and arsenic. When coal is burned to produce energy, all of these toxins are released into the air we breathe. These particles can increase pollution and are an danger to our health. Another environmental impact of coal is the large amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere from its burning. These emissions are linked to an increase in greenhouse gasses that can contribute to global warming.[4]

Solar vs. Coal: Carbon Footprint

If all of the harmful effects of coal mining on humans and the environment weren’t scary enough, things really come into focus when you look at the carbon footprint it leaves behind.

Here’s what we mean, “coal with a carbon content of 78 percent and a heating value of 14,000 Btu per pound emits about 204.3 pounds of carbon dioxide per million Btu when completely burned. Complete combustion of 1 short ton (2,000 pounds) of this coal will generate about 2.86 short tons of carbon dioxide.”[5]

Now, to the average person who does not know much about carbon footprints, this may not seem like an alarming number. But, compared to the carbon footprint of solar panels, it is alarming. The carbon dioxide (CO2) produced during solar panel manufacturing is about 50g of CO2 per kilowatt hour during the first few years of operation. This is about 20 times LESS than the carbon footprint of coal. A bonus to solar panels is that after about three years of operation, they become carbon neutral.[6]

Why Go Solar?

While it may seem like a no-brainer to switch to clean energy, you may still have some questions about its benefits. Fortunately, we have the answers. Having a solar panel system helps reduce your carbon footprint and helps save money in the long run. With solar, you can drastically reduce your utility bills, avoid rising energy costs, receive tax benefits, and increase your property value.

Going Solar with Momentum

Transitioning to cleaner, price-protected energy with Momentum is easy. From drafting your design blueprint to filing government paperwork and securing permits, to flipping the final switch to power up your panels – our team of experts is with you every step of the way.

We are ready to take on your project, no matter the budget, size or aesthetic preference. Call us at 1-888-MOMENTUM to learn more about making the switch today!

 

 

[1]https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/coal/#:~:text=Coal%20is%20a%20combustible%20black,years%20ago%20in%20swampy%20forests.

[2] https://www.tva.com/energy/our-power-system/coal/how-a-coal-plant-works#:~:text=Coal%2Dfired%20plants%20produce%20electricity,to%20start%20the%20process%20over.

[3] https://arlweb.msha.gov/stats/centurystats/coalstats.asp

[4] https://www.dummies.com/education/science/environmental-science/what-is-the-environmental-impact-of-mining-and-burning-coal/#:~:text=Coal%20contains%20sulfur%20and%20other,carbon%20dioxide%20into%20the%20atmosphere.

[5]https://www.eia.gov/coal/production/quarterly/co2_article/co2.html#:~:text=For%20example%2C%20coal%20with%20a,million%20Btu%20when%20completely%20burned.&text=Complete%20combustion%20of%201%20short,short%20tons)%20of%20carbon%20dioxide.

[6] https://gvecsolarservice.com/how-clean-is-the-solar-panel-manufacturing-process-how-much-carbon-dioxide-is-produced/#:~:text=Accounting%20for%20the%20amount%20of,of%20coal%2Dpowered%20electricity%20sources.

 

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