Investing in Wind Power

With the huge growth potential of wind power, the types of investments in the wind industry are multiplying at an alarming rate. There are many opportunities to invest in wind energy and we will explore them in detail at Wind Power.

To begin with, you can invest money in companies that do business in the wind energy financial sector. Find public companies that issue stocks that focus on the wind industry. There are basically two types of public companies that compete in wind. Large diversified corporations that have major stakes in wind power companies and pure play wind investments, or companies that only focus on the business of wind energy.

Another way to invest in wind power is through Green Power Products. Many states now offer a choice of purchasing green power products. The term green power refers to electricity supplied in whole or in part from renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, geothermal, hydropower, and various forms of biomass. Increasingly, electricity customers are being given electricity supply options, either as retail power markets open to competition or when their regulated utilities develop green pricing programs. More than 50% of retail customers in the United States now have an option of purchasing a green power product directly from their electricity supplier. In addition, consumers can support renewable energy development through the purchase of green energy certificates. By choosing to purchase a green power product, you can support increased development of renewable energy sources, which can reduce the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas. Greater reliance on renewable sources also provides economic benefits and can improve our national energy security.

To find out what green power options are available in your state, please visit the Can I Buy Green Power in My State? page, from the US Department of Energy. Click on your state to view available green power products. Some web offerings of green power products can be found here:

Green-e is a voluntary certification and verification program for wholesale, retail, and commercial electricity products, tradable renewable certificates and utility green pricing programs in the U.S. Green-e certifies about 100 retail and wholesale green power marketers across the country.

The Environmental Resources Trust certifies renewable energy certificates through its EcoPower certification program. Under EcoPower certification, RECs convey only the renewable energy attributes of renewable electricity and do not convey environmental benefits.

The Power Scorecard is a web-based information tool created by a coalition of environmental groups that lets consumers compare the environmental impacts of green power and conventional power products.

Wind power may be the most promising technology available to produce significant amounts of energy economically and without pollution. An investment in wind power now will create jobs, protect our environment, and will deliver a nice return to your bank account.