November 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 November 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 – November 2022 Update
91.1k
mWh
Provision customers have funded 91,126 mWh of clean energy generation, which could power 9,798 homes for a year.*
52.6k
tons
Provision customers have offset 52,644 tons of carbon, which is like avoiding over 130 million miles of driving.**
62.4k
trees
Provision customers have funded planting 62,389 trees, which may sequester 1,029 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.
November 2022 Impact Update: J.F. Carr Powerplant – J.F. Carr Unit 1
About the Project
The Judge Francis Carr Powerhouse is located in Whiskeytown Lake, California. It generates power from Whiskeytown Lake as a part of the Central Valley Project. When the water enters Whiskeytown Lake, it passes through the JF Carr Powerhouse, generating 154 MW of power which powers 120,000 homes each year.
In California the natural movement of water allows for many dams to be constructed in order to power the state. Much of the water from the more water-intensive Northern part of the state is transferred to the drier Southern part of the state where dams are constructed. In 1945, the Shasta Dam was constructed on the Sacramento River and became known as the Central Valley Project. The Central Valley Project soon expanded to Trinity Lake in 1961, where the Trinity Dam was constructed. In 1964, Whiskeytown Dam was constructed, creating Whiskeytown Lake.
How Exactly Does a Powerhouse Work?
A powerhouse is a power plant that generates electricity from primary energy. They include generators that convert mechanical energy into electrical energy in order to power a society’s electrical needs. A hydroelectric power plant uses the mechanical energy of falling water to spin a generator that creates electricity. This form of renewable energy is more reliable than others, especially if it comes from a reservoir.
Clean Energy for California
California has more than just the J.F. Carr Powerplant. In fact, the total hydro-produced electricity used by California in 2020 totaled 21,414 GWh. 274 hydroelectric facilities combined to make up 11.22% of California’s in-state generation portfolio for the year. It’s one of the top three hydroelectric producing states along with Washington and Oregon. Not only is it a leader in producing hydroelectricity, but California is actually the leading state in producing renewable energy. They generated 29,456 GWh of solar power and 13,708 GWh of wind in 2020 as well.
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 ensures more clean energy is put on the grid by funding renewable generators through the purchase of RECs. These certificates fund electricity generation equal to the volume consumed by Provision customers, thus leading to a cleaner grid and delivering on pour 100% clean energy promise. So far Provision customers helped fund over 70,000 mWh of renewable electricity using RECs.
As a Provision customer, you get to support hydroelectric projects like the Judge Francis Powerplant with the renewable energy credits you purchase. You can rest assured knowing that it’s simple to help our planet with Provision! It’s easy to use your energy for good with us!
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.
