June 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 – June 2022 Update
75.7k
mWh
Provision customers have funded 75,693 mWh of clean energy generation, which could power 8,139 homes for a year.*
47.4k
tons
Provision customers have offset 47,417 tons of carbon, which is like avoiding over 117 million miles of driving.**
54.1k
trees
Provision customers have funded planting 54,065 trees, which may sequester 891 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.
June 2022 Impact Update: Kasidaya Creek Hydroelectric Project
The Kasidaya Creek Hydroelectric project is a run-of-river operation that is located in Alaska as a part of the greater Alaska Power and Telephone Company’s (AP&T) hydroelectric project. The average annual net hydropower generation from the creek is 7,305.9 mWh while the capacity from the hydraulic turbine-generator units within each plant totals 3.0 MW. The operation first went online in 2008 alongside the many other hydroelectric projects in the Skagway, Alaska area.
Picture of the Kasidaya Creek Hydroelectric Project (Source: NOAA Fisheries)
Skagway is no beginner to hydro generation. AP&T’s Dewey Lakes project (see April 2022 Impact Update) began operating in 1902, and more bodies of water were added such as Goat Lake. With these additions, AP&T was able to offset the use of 1.9 million gallons of diesel fuel each year. In order to generate more electricity to meet the needs of Skagway for the entire year, including late winter and early spring, AP&T looked to develop more projects. The Kasidaya Creek project was then born. Built with reinforced concrete and a final diversion structure of 16 feet tall and 70 feet long, this run-of-river operation diverts water into a 4,000 feet long penstock intake which then drops the water 500 feet into a powerhouse containing a single turbine-generator unit.
So why Hydropower?
Hydropower has many advantages as a renewable source of energy. Since it is fueled by water, hydropower is a clean and flexible source of energy. As a domestic source of energy, it allows for states to produce their own energy without relying on international sources. For example, southeast Alaska gets reliable energy from Kasidaya Creek as well as the other subsidiaries around it. Hydropower’s flexibility comes from the fact that facilities can generate power to the grid immediately or can be at zero power. The benefits from hydropower go beyond electricity as it provides flood control, irrigation support, and clean drinking water.
Clean energy for Alaska
Alaska is powered by 25% hydroelectric energy. Kasidaya Creek is simply one of the projects in the Renewable Energy Alaska Project providing electricity for the state. Their utility-scale net generation for December 2021 was 187 thousand mWh. 90% of their renewable electricity comes from hydropower, making it one of the largest producers of hydroelectric power in the US.
As a Provision customer, the renewable energy certificates that you help provide support funding for the Kasidaya Creek hydroelectric project and Alaska’s clean energy efforts. We make it easy for you to be able to offset your carbon footprint and support projects like these that help save our planet. 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.
