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A little while back, Octopus Energy and Rivian announced a collaboration where Rivian owners who live in Texas can use 100% clean, renewable electricity to charge their electric vehicles at home. This program got me wondering if there are more opportunities for Texas residents who own electric vehicles to charge with 100% clean, renewable electricity using other clean energy retailers, and for all EVs, not just Rivians.
Green Mountain Energy came to mind, so I headed over to its website, and yes, Green Mountain Energy does have a home EV charging program available in certain parts of Texas. This is great news for Texans with EVs who don’t have their own home solar power systems and are interested in running their EVs on clean, renewable electricity.
Texas is an interesting state, to say the least. The human population is approximately 30,000,000 people. It is the leading wind power state in the US. It is also a leader in solar power and has huge potential for more.
When it comes to electric vehicles, Texas is not at the same level, with over 200,000 registered EVs. California, another clean, renewable energy leader, has over 1.8 million.
However, it has been estimated that Texas may reach the 1 million EV mark by 2031. If Texans who want EVs can charge at home using clean electricity without having to pay for a home solar system, this opportunity might help the cause.
Daniel Richmond, senior manager of product development at Green Mountain Energy, answered some questions for CleanTechnica on the topic.
How does the Solar All Nighter program work?
Texas customers who have already taken a big step toward helping the planet by purchasing an electric vehicle (EV) can further reduce their carbon footprint with the Solar All Nighter for EVs plan. Customers who are enrolled in this plan can power their home and EV with 100% clean solar energy and enjoy a lower electricity price at night — when they’re most likely to be charging their vehicle. Nightly savings are available from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Customers can also connect certain eligible EVs to their Green Mountain Energy account, which allows them to plug their car in at any time but delay charging (and thus, electricity usage) until the lower-cost nighttime hours.
About how much does it cost?
Current pricing is always available on our website. Monthly cost varies depending on the customer and their lifestyle habits, which impact usage.
How does a homeowner with an EV sign up for it?
Customers can sign up online or by calling 866-301-3120 (for Texas residents who are not currently served by Green Mountain Energy) and asking for the Solar All Nighter for EVs plan.
Customers can download the Green Mountain Energy app to manage their electricity plan and schedule their car’s charging to align with the lower-cost nighttime hours.
Can you share about how many of your customers currently use Green Mountain’s EV charging?
It is company policy to not share specific customer counts, however, we are thrilled to see the growing adoption of EVs and passionate about the power of consumer choice and helping more people live a greener lifestyle.
Where does Green Mountain source its solar power?
This product is 100% renewable, sourced from solar parks in the U.S.
Does using the Solar All Nighter EV charging require extra equipment or electrical work in the home?
Solar All Nighter EV charging does not require the customer to install any extra equipment or do any electrical work in their home.
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