May 1, 2008 NStar introduces wind power option Play video

(NECN: Peter Howe, Boston, Mass.) - If you're one of the one million customers of the utility NStar, you can now choose to make Maple Ridge Wind Farm in New York the place you get your electricity. NStar has just launched a first-in-New England program, "NStar Green," that will let customers buy half of all their electricity there.

Other New England utilities, including National Grid and Northeast Utilities, let you pay for green energy, but only indirectly.

Two key parts of NStar's plan: It's directly linked to electricity from that wind farm and it gives green power the marketing might of a $4 billion utility, not just an environmental group.

You'll have to pay more initially, four to seven dollars a month for an average customer.

NStar's offer came as Governor Deval Patrick made a major push for green energy at the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. Patrick revealed that his new program to cut red tape for homeowners and businesses seeking state solar power grants has awarded $1 million since February -- equal to 262 homes going all solar.

NStar will also buy power from the Kibby Mountain Wind Farm being built in Maine.