{"id":2954,"date":"2012-07-26T16:29:03","date_gmt":"2012-07-26T16:29:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/?p=2954"},"modified":"2014-02-19T17:00:24","modified_gmt":"2014-02-19T17:00:24","slug":"edf-energy-innovation-series-feature-8-clean-energy-options-from-nrg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/2012\/07\/26\/edf-energy-innovation-series-feature-8-clean-energy-options-from-nrg\/","title":{"rendered":"EDF Energy Innovation Series Feature #8: Clean Energy Options From NRG"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>Throughout 2012, EDF’s Energy Innovation Series<\/a> will highlight more than 20 innovations across a broad range of energy categories, including smart grid and renewable energy technologies, energy efficiency financing, and progressive utilities, to name a few. This series will demonstrate that cost-effective, clean energy solutions are available now and imperative to lowering our dependence on fossil fuels.<\/em><\/div>\n
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Find more information on this featured innovation here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Depending on whom you ask, utilities and independent power generators like NRG Energy<\/a> (NRG) could be the savior or the victim of the country’s future energy system. The smart grid — an upgraded electrical system that connects generators, distribution systems, homes, offices and the millions of devices that use energy — could be real trouble for traditional utilities. If they don’t evolve, well, we know what happened to the dinosaurs.<\/p>\n

And New Jersey-based NRG is making some impressive moves in an industry not known for rapid change.<\/p>\n

Utilities have a lot to lose if they stand still and watch this wave of innovation pass them by.\u00a0 But they also have a tremendous amount to contribute, and leveraging their expertise and capital could accelerate the innovation cycle and establish the generators and transmission and distribution companies as a critical piece of the electric grid of the future.<\/p>\n

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Source: Green Mountain Energy Company<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In 2010, NRG acquired Green Mountain Energy Company<\/a> (GME), a Texas-based business that has been providing clean energy to consumers and businesses since 1997, making it the longest serving retailer of its kind. It is still the only retail energy provider (REP) in Texas solely focused on cleaner energy. In many ways, GME can be considered a \u201cfounding father\u201d for the renewable energy sector, owning many \u201cfirsts\u201d in the REP market:<\/p>\n