Kenergy Corp. is offering its customers the option to use electricity produced from a renewable resource for a portion of their monthly power needs, although at a higher cost.
The electricity is produced at an award-winning operation at the Domtar (formerly Weyerhaeuser) paper mill near Hawesville.
The power is generated from steam that is created when Domtar burns black liquor -- a byproduct of the papermaking process -- along with biomass such as wood residuals.
The operation, which Weyerhaeuser put into operation in 2001, generates electricity at an 86-percent rate of efficiency, which means it requires 23 percent less fuel than traditional electric generation.
Weyerhaeuser calculated that such high efficiency reduced annual carbon dioxide emissions by 267,000 tons, doubling use of renewable fuel with a reduction in carbon emissions.
The project was recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy with a 2005 Energy Star Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Award.
Domtar acquired the paper mill earlier this year. Now, Kenergy and the two other rural co-ops served by Big Rivers Electric - Jackson Purchase Energy and Meade County RECC - have access to some of the mill's surplus electricity, which Kenergy is selling under the name EnviroWatts.
"Kenergy customers that choose to purchase EnviroWatts will know that their cooperative is purchasing environmentally friendlier energy to meet their needs while supporting the future growth of alternative energy sources," Kenergy President and CEO Sanford Novick said in a statement.
EnviroWatts are available to residential, commercial, and industrial members in limited supply. EnviroWatts can be purchased in 100 kilowatt-hour blocks. In order to purchase EnviroWatts, a customer must agree to purchase that amount for one year.
The power is available at a surcharge of 3.63 cents per kilowatt-hour. A block of 100 kwh would add $3.63 to a customer's monthly bill.
Kenergy customers can learn more about the EnviroWatts by calling the co-op toll-free at 1-800-844-4832 and speaking with a customer service representative.
Kenergy, headquartered in Henderson, is a not-for-profit, member-owned electric distribution cooperative, serving customers in all or portions of 14 western Kentucky counties.
