As we reflect on the last year, we are so grateful for our customers and our team for making it possible to create such a positive impact by using Provision’s CarbonBetter^® energy supply. Despite the continued challenges of the global pandemic in 2021, Provision customers have not slowed down on making a difference!

Home energy use accounts for roughly 20% of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States (PNAS, 2020), but Provision customers are working to change that. In this post, we’ll recap the highlights of the impact we’ve made together in 2021.

How Our Customers Make a Difference – Automatically

Before we review our customers’ impact in 2021, let’s review how Provision customers can make a positive impact every time they use energy at home:

For each area, impact is calculated based on our customers’ billings in the impact month, but planting, funding, and offsetting may not happen in that month. These activities must align with planting seasons and project life cycles to be effective.

How Much Renewable Electricity Provision Customers Funded in 2021

Provision customers funded 53,643 mWh of clean energy generation in 2021! That’s enough to power nearly 6,000 homes for an entire year!

Renewable Energy Credits Explained

100% renewable electricity is included automatically in every Provision electricity supply plan, and we use renewable energy certificates, or RECs, to deliver on our clean energy promise.

Homes are connected to the power grid by transmission lines, and the electricity that’s supplied is derived from a variety of generation resources, both renewable and non-renewable. This is because when clean energy is generated and put on the grid, it’s mixed with other fuel sources there, making it difficult for environmentally conscious consumers to supply their homes with 100% clean energy.

Provision customers ensure more clean energy is put on the grid by funding renewable generators through the purchase of RECs. Provision carefully selects projects like those featured in this 2021 Impact Update to ensure that the steps we take today help build a better future.

City of Akron Pollution Control Station

Provision customers funded the purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs) from the City of Akron Water Pollution Control Station, whose anaerobic digesters produce biogas for combined heat and power units, which supply 100% of the power needs for the biogas facility and roughly 40% of the power needs for the Water Reclamation Facility. This facility treats wastewater for Akron residents and several nearby communities, including Cuyahoga Falls, Stow, Springfield, Mogadore, Lakemore, Tallmadge, Fairlawn, Bath, and Montrose.

Provision customers are making a difference in their own communities by funding the purchase of RECs from projects like the City of Akron Water Pollution Control Station by using Provision energy at home. This is using Energy for Good.™

University of Cincinnati Power Plant

Most people don’t know that the University of Cincinnati is independent of the power grid because it has developed its own energy infrastructure, which provides electricity, heat, and air conditioning to about 100 buildings on campus and several hospitals. Provision purchased renewable energy certificates in 2021 that help fund the school’s Central Utility Plant. These RECs help support the plant’s ability to provide a clean and efficient power source to the campus.

100% renewable electricity is included automatically in every Provision electricity supply plan, and Provision customers fund projects like the UC Power Plant by simply turning on their lights.

Greenup Hydro Plan

Provision customers funded the purchase of RECs from the 70.2 MW hydroelectric dam located on the Ohio River at the Greenup Locks and Dam near Portsmouth, Ohio. The Greenup Hydro Plants provides about 50% of the power needs of the city of Hamilton, Ohio, and is one of several hydroelectric plants on the Ohio River. This plant also provides recreation for local residents via a fishing pier. The churning waters attract fish to the area, drawing residents from all over to enjoy the excellent fishing.

Hydroelectric power harnesses water in motion, and in 2015 it generated over 15% of the world’s total electricity. Provision customers are helping to support the improvement and maintenance of projects like the Greenup Hydro Plant simply by using Provision energy at home.

The Kokomo Solar Project

The Kokomo Solar Project is a solar generation plant located in Kokomo, Indiana. This expansive plant provides 7,000,000 kWh of power to local residents. Previously, the site was home to the Continental Steel Corporation, but it was abandoned due to contamination and pollution. The United States Environmental Protection Agency spearheaded the efforts to transform and repurpose the land to provide clean energy to Kokomo residents. This process took over 12 years before the development of the Kokomo solar plant could begin.

The Kokomo solar plant is a nine-million-dollar project across 25 acres. There are over 21,000 fixed panels at the site, making it one of the largest solar plants located in Indiana. The renewable energy certificates funded by Provision customers support the Kokomo Solar Project and their efforts in expanding clean energy in Indiana.

How Many Trees Provision Customers Planted in 2021

In 2021, Provision customers funded the planting of 31,076 trees simply by using CarbonBetter® energy at home!

Trees are carbon-capturing superheroes! To address our carbon debt, we need to use less energy and use renewable energy when we can, but we also need to capture carbon that’s already in the atmosphere, and that’s what trees do best. Provision CarbonBetter® plans reduce the amount of carbon released through home energy use by including 100% carbon offset natural gas and 100% renewable electricity on all energy plans. Plus, all Provision plans plant trees, taking you from carbon neutral to CarbonBetter®.

OKO Forests

Provision customers funded the planting of 27,000 trees in Ghana with OKO Forests and the Kokrobitey Institute. The OKO vision is that educated and empowered local communities play a vital role in the protection and enhancement of biodiversity. Small-scale farmers with the necessary knowledge of agroforestry can support the creation of carbon sinks to help address climate change while improving the quality of the soil, supporting biodiversity, and creating economic opportunities for local farmers and their communities through cash crops.

Agroforestry is a farming and reforestation practice that offers a unique opportunity for carbon sequestration while delivering significant additional benefits to local communities.

Provision customers are making a difference across the globe by supporting OKO in developing regenerative agroforestry systems that can be replicated at scale. Stay tuned for a new update from the OKO team early in 2022!

One Tree Planted

One Tree Planted is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to global reforestation. They plant trees to restore nature and biodiversity and have partnerships with the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. State Forest, and Conservation District. One Tree Planted plants in more than a dozen US cities, however Provision customers and local community members have specifically funded the planting of 1,423 trees in Appalachia.

It’s estimated that 83% of the Appalachian habitat has been lost due to mining and timber operations, but Provision customers are a part of addressing that, simply by using CarbonBetter® energy at home.

How Much Carbon Provision Customers Offset in 2021

Provision customers offset 21,751 tons of carbon in 2021! Per the EPA, that’s like avoiding almost 54 million miles of driving!

A carbon offset is a reduction or storage of carbon emissions that is used to compensate for emissions elsewhere. For Provision customers, this means offsetting the carbon released by home energy use, thereby making their impact “neutral.” Provision customers use 100% carbon offset natural gas and plant trees, taking their energy supply from carbon neutral to CarbonBetter®.

Green Trees

In 2021 Provision customers funded the purchase of carbon offsets from Green Trees, a global leader in reforestation. They believe that reforestation is “the most scalable, deployable technology for repairing the past and addressing climate change.” Not only are trees one of the most efficient ways to capture and store carbon, but reforestation also provides air, water, soil, and biodiversity benefits. Green Trees plants in Mississippi, Virginia, South Carolina, and several other states by partnering with more than 550 landowners to reforest their properties.

Provision customers are helping to protect and reforest land throughout the United States because they’ve chosen Provision’s CarbonBetter® energy supply at home. Making a difference is as easy as turning on the lights.

Looking Ahead to 2022

As we turn the corner to 2022, we are focused on increasing our collective positive impact, powered by CarbonBetter® clean energy. Provision customers are automatically making a difference through funding clean energy, offsetting carbon, and planting trees.

Provision customers get an update each month on what impact they’ve personally made since they’ve chosen Provision for their energy supply, and it’s wonderful to see our positive impact grow each month.

Wishing everyone a healthy and happy new year, and we’re honored to be your energy supplier in the years ahead.

---

Want to be included in our next impact update?

It’s easy to contribute to the positive impact we make each month. All Provision energy plans include CarbonBetter energy, which helps you make a difference while you use energy at home. Our customers help fund clean energy generation through renewable energy certificates, offset carbon through carbon credits, and plant trees to aid in reforestation and increase our natural carbon-capturing capabilities. It’s never too late to start using your energy for good.