Questions and Answers

Q: What are Green Tags?

A: Green tags are a voluntary added fee that you pay on your electric bill to support the production of green energy, such as solar and wind power.

Q: Where does the money go?

A: The money goes to Puget Sound Energy, who then gives the money to the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, after paying its own costs of the program. The Bonneville Environmental Foundation gives the money to people who are generating energy from solar and wind resources. It helps offset the additional cost of renewable energy.

Q: Why doesn’t Puget Sound Energy collect the money for free?

A: Washington state law requires that utilities recover their program costs from the green tags themselves. It also forbids the utilities from making a profit from the green tag program.

Q: Will my energy use be cleaner because I buy Green Tags?

A: There is no way to assure that your energy use becomes cleaner because of green tags: the power in the electrical grid is still mostly from fossil fuels. However, each green tag displaces fossil fuel use, so every green tag you buy makes the electrical grid a little bit cleaner. Ultimately everyone’s small donation will make the grid a lot greener.

Q: Why is Green Power more expensive than conventional power?

A: The federal government heavily subsidizes conventional power. That means that our tax dollars are spent to support fossil fuel use. Green power is not as heavily subsidized, and in some cases not subsidized at all. If green power had the subsidies of conventional power, it would probably cost less than fossil fuel energy

Q: How is green energy related to war with the Middle East?

A: Our country spends $150 Billion per year in military expenses protecting our oil interests in the Middle East. If we did not need that oil, we would not need to have a military presence there.