The Contra Costa Times reports this week that 80 percent of the county's residents have switched from Pacific Gas & Electric to Marin Clean Energy, as the public utility is called. What's significant about MCE is that it buys more of its electricity from renewable sources than PG&E, so the program's popularity is indicative of Marin County residents' interest in clean power.
Indeed, 5 percent of county residents have opted to pay a little more for 100 percent renewable energy through MCE - even though the 100-percent-renewable option has barely been marketed at all.
PG&E, for its part, says it plans to buy more renewable power in the coming years. It must comply with a 2006 law that requires utilities to buy 20 percent of their power from clean sources by 2010.
More public utilities like MCE could spring up around the state, as well - offering Californians renewable power at competitive prices.
