Worried over winter highs and the approach of summer making your energy bill skyrocket? Despite common miscalculations regarding the cost of using renewable energy in your home, the Texas Public Utility Commission points to more than 20 renewable energy plans available in North Texas, showing that going green doesn't necessarily mean fewer options. The plans vary from 100 percent renewable to smaller percentages of the electricity derived from clean resources.

The average cost of said plans were 12.3 cents per kilowatt-hour as of late November, with fossil-fuel electricity plans running an 11.5 cents per kilowatt-hour average in Texas—about $12 per month difference.

With 1,185 megawatts of wind capacity already added in 2007 alone, and more anticipated to come, Texas electricity customers have access to a growing renewable energy marketplace, and a competitive one at that. Year to year, purchasing renewable energy in Texas becomes more convenient, and cheaper, giving customers access to the latest in green power technology, and a chance to help protect the environment.

Ever wondered how to reduce your carbon footprint by purchasing alternative energy? With the sheer amount of green information saturating major media, consumers like you and I often get lost in the fray. In fact, many Texans may not realize that our fine state is near the top of renewable energy production in the United States, and actually leads the nation in wind power. With ElectricityTexas.com, it's easy to shop and compare Texas energy companies that may offer alternative energy programs in your area.

Here are the companies that offer green energy programs in Texas:

Green Mountain Energy

• First Texas company to offer green energy after deregulation opened the market for competition in 2001.
• Electricity produced from 100% pollution-free generation sources like wind and water.

TXU Energy

• Texas' largest deregulated electricity company with more than 2.4 million customers
• TXU Energy EarthWise 18^sm offers you a guaranteed price protection against rising fuel costs for 18 months, in addition to 10 percent of the power you purchase being derived from green energy resources.

Commerce Energy

• Clear Choice All-In Rate provides a fixed price on 100 percent wind-generated electricity.
• Clear Choice Plus All-In Rate also uses wind power to power your home, but includes a fixed rate for two years instead of one.

First Choice Power

• A community-oriented company based in Fort Worth, Texas
• Simply Better Earth Saver Plan - 100 percent renewable energy at a fixed rate for 12 months.

Amigo Energy

• Privately-owned energy retailer with more than 20 years of experience
• The renewable energy program offers 100 percent clean, efficient power.

Enter your address today at ElectricityTexas and see which green energy providers are available in your area. Going green has never been easier.

FPL Energy recently dedicated the 735 MW Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center, the world's largest wind farm, located in Taylor and Nolan County, Texas.

Texas State Representative Phil King and Dyess Air Force Base Commander Timothy Ray joined FPL Energy's Senior Vice President of Development Mike O'Sullivan and more than 200 local and regional guests to celebrate the commercial operation of the Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center and all those that helped bring the facility to Texas.

"The Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center is a great example of a project put together by a terrific team that will benefit the state of Texas for many years to come," said Mike O'Sullivan, senior vice president of development for FPL Energy. "Wind is a clean, renewable source of energy that is emission-free and has a minimal impact on the local infrastructure, while contributing to the economic well-being of local communities."

State Representative Phil King said, "The state legislature worked very hard last year to pass legislation to encourage the development of wind energy in our state. The Horse Hollow Wind project is an excellent example of the type of project we all envisioned. I look forward to working with FPL Energy and other wind developers to expand renewable energy across the state."

"The Air Force is the largest purchaser of renewable energy in the nation, and Dyess Air Force Base is leading the way as the first federal installation to use 100 percent wind-generated electricity," said Col. Timothy Ray, 7th Bomb Wing commander. "Dyess is a true success story, and we're proud to be part of this community that's so dedicated to making our nation a little cleaner for our children and grandchildren."

The Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center is spread across approximately 47,000 acres in Taylor and Nolan County, Texas. The facility is comprised of 291 GE 1.5 megawatt wind turbines and 130 Siemens 2.3 megawatt wind turbines. The first phase of the project consisting of 213 megawatts was completed in late 2005; phase two consisting of 223.5 megawatts was completed in the second quarter of 2006; and, phase three consisting of 299 megawatts was completed in September. FPL Energy now operates more than 1,600 megawatts of wind in Texas alone.

"We continue to receive tremendous support for our wind development efforts throughout Texas," O'Sullivan added. "This year alone we have invested nearly $1 billion, expanding our wind business in the state. We look forward to further expanding our wind presence in the state, bringing new investment, and the benefits of clean, renewable and cost-effective power to tens of thousands of Texans."

FPL Energy, through its subsidiaries, currently operates 48 wind farms throughout the U.S. with a gross capacity of nearly 4,100 megawatts&mdash enough electricity to power more than one million average U.S. homes. FPL Energy is currently the largest owner and operator of wind turbines in the world and operates more than 1,600 megawatts of wind power in Texas alone.

Read more about the FPL wind farms at the FPL Energy news room.

According to the American Wind Energy Association's Second-Quarter Market Report, Texas' cumulative wind power capacity total now stands at 2,370 megawatts—enough to power more than 600,000 average American homes—followed by California's 2,323 megawatts. Texas edged ahead of California by adding a total of 375 MW, about half of the total amount installed in the country since the beginning of the year. California had previously led the nation unterruptedly for nearly 25 years, at one time hosting more than 80 percent of the wind capacity in the entire world.

Texas had slowly been creeping up on California these last few years, so taking the top spot was inevitable, wind energy consultants say. Mike Sloan, president of Austin-based Virtus Energy Research Associates, estimates about $2 billion will be invested in wind energy development statewide this year and about $4.5 billion nationwide. "Wind energy is a prudent hedging vehicle," Sloan said. "So many policy leaders around the country see the importance of energy diversity and how homegrown renewables make a lot of sense."

Next, Texas wants to be home to more than just the place with the most wind energy generation capacity, said Jerry Patterson, the state's land commissioner. Patterson said he believes Texas can be an industry hub, just as it has been for oil and natural gas. "We want this to be the place where the industry grows, where companies manufacture and assemble wind turbines," he said. "We have the skilled workforce and the locations to accomplish this."