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Shelton Group, a Knoxville, Tenn.-based communications agency, recently released the results of its Energy Pulse 2006 survey, which investigates energy consumption habits and attitudes of U.S. consumers.
While consumer responses to the Energy Pulse survey indicated Americans experienced an increase in energy costs of between 10% and 50% last year, results show that consumers remain willing to pay a premium for green power. However, that willingness has not translated into significant program participation rates for the country’s green pricing programs. According to the survey, 44% of Americans say they would participate in a green pricing program, but only 4% are enrolled in one.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) report “Trends in Utility Green Pricing Programs,” released October 2006, more than 600 utilities – representing 20% of all U.S. utilities – offered a green power option to customers in 2005. Of the more than 130 utility green pricing programs tracked by the DOE’s Green Power Network, approximately 100 offer power generated by wind.
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