August 2022 CarbonBetter® Impact Update
Every month we share the positive impact our customers have made through their use of CarbonBetter-certified 100% energy, which is included in every Provision clean energy supply plan. Each customer on these plans receives an email with their personal impact for the month, and this blog post reflects the impact all of our customers have made together since we became CarbonBetter-certified in October 2020.
We’re honored to be able to provide affordable clean energy that makes a real difference. Check out all of our past Impact Updates here!
Our Customers’ CarbonBetter Impact – August 2022 Update
82.7k
mWh
Provision customers have funded 82,723 mWh of clean energy generation, which could power 8,894 homes for a year.*
49.1k
tons
Provision customers have offset 49,138 tons of carbon, which is like avoiding over 121 million miles of driving.**
57.4k
trees
Provision customers have funded planting 57,455 trees, which may sequester 947 tons of carbon in their lifetime.***
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 clean energy, which helps you make a difference automatically when 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.
August 2022 Impact Update: The Cabinet Gorge Hydroelectric Dam
The Cabinet Gorge Hydroelectric Dam project is located on the Clark Fork River in Northern Idaho just west of the Montana Border. The reservoir itself extends into Montana. The dam was built for one purpose: to generate hydroelectric power. Prior to construction, builders used 32 tons of dynamite to blast 50,000 cubic yards of canyon rock to prepare the site. Due to an energy shortage in the Northwest United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, over 1,700 people worked around the clock to construct the dam in just 21 months. Owned and operated by Avista, the concrete gravity arch dam generates 263 megawatts every year—enough energy to power approximately 80,000 households annually.
Picture of the Cabinet Gorge Hydroelectric Dam on the Clark Fork River (Source: wikipedia.com)
Hydroelectricity is the most commonly used renewable source of energy worldwide. The flow of water generates potential energy before spilling over the top of the dam where it is converted into kinetic energy as it goes downhill. The Cabinet Gorge Dam has four turbines and a catchment area of 22,000 square miles. Gravity does most of the work as the flow of the water turns the blades of the turbines to generate electricity for the homes of the Northwest.
In addition to generating hydroelectric power, the surrounding area is commonly used for outdoor recreational activities. Featuring gorgeous views of the Cabinet Gorge Dam, Clark Fork River, and Glacial Lake Missoula, the Cabinet Gorge Dam Overlook is located on the Montana and Idaho border. Throughout the area there are many interpretive signs with descriptions of the dam’s construction process and hydroelectric power. The area is accessible for land and water activities to the public.
As a Provision customer, you’re funding projects like these that not only help you offset your carbon footprint as individuals but also contribute to a growing effort to make climate action accessible to all. Progress must be made by businesses, organizations, and individuals because we are all stakeholders in protecting our environment to create a more sustainable planet as our home. With Provision, we make it easy to use your energy for good.
Every Provision Customer Makes a Difference
About CarbonBetter Impact Calculations:
*The typical home in your area uses 9,300 kWh of electricity per year.
**https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gases-equivalencies-calculator-calculations-and-references#gasoline
***https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gases-equivalencies-calculator-calculations-and-references#seedlings
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. If you have any questions, please contact us at hello@getprovision.com.
