Since opening in 2007, Shepherdstown juice shop Mellow Moods has demonstrated environmental stewardship by using biodegradable cups and straws made from corn starch. Now the blender turning fruits into smoothies is powered by the renewable energy of wind.

According to Phil Mastrangelo, who with his wife owns and operates the shop, they began buying wind energy credits from Renewable Choice Energy in April to celebrate Earth Day.

Mastrangelo says, “We don’t get to choose where we get our power. It’s a legal monopoly. But we do get to choose who puts our energy back into the grid.” That’s what Renewable Choice claims to do. While Mellow Moods, like most homes and businesses in our area, still gets electricity from Allegheny Power, they purchase about 1,000 kilowatt hours of wind energy credits per month.

Renewable Choice sells renewable energy credits, or RECs, that ensure the amount of electricity a family or business uses is replaced in the power grid with power from wind farms rather than from burning fossil fuels. This adds a little extra to a consumer’s energy bill—Mastrangelo says businesses pay about $25 a month for their RECs. Renewable Choice also offers plans for families at $15 per month for 750 kilowatt hours, and for individuals at $5 per month for 250 kilowatt hours. Mastrangelo offers a solution for saving money to afford RECs. Drink one less lattè a week, he says, or even one less smoothie. “I’d rather you cut me out,” he says.

Mastrangelo says that several other businesses in Shepherdstown have shown an interest in buying RECs. He’s been passing out brochures touting the service, but so far no one else is doing it. At Mellow Moods the sticker on the front door showing the company is powered by wind has also drawn interest from local customers. “People respond very graciously,” he says.

Wind power is not without controversy. While wind turbines consume no fossil fuels for operation and have no pollution emissions directly related to energy production, manufacture and installation of turbines requires use of fossil fuels and raw materials. Still, the energy produced and the fossil fuels saved by using wind power more than make up for it, according to a 2004 study by the Irish national grid. However, there are also concerns about lubricating oil or hydraulic fluid leaking from the turbines and contaminating ground water.

The most common complaint against wind turbines is their impact on wildlife, especially birds. According to Bjorn Lomborg’s 2001 book, The Skeptical Environmentalist, wind turbines in the United States kill about 70,000 birds annually. While this may sound like a large number, Lomborg estimates that 57 million birds are killed by cars each year, and 97.5 million are killed by collisions with plate glass windows.

The more troubling statistic deals with the impact wind turbines have on bats. A 2005 study led by Edward B. Arnett of Bat Conservation International measured the impact wind turbines in Pennsylvania and West Virginia have on bat populations. Arnett found that 2,200 bats were killed by 63 turbines in W.Va. and Pa. in just six weeks. He says more research is needed on the impact turbines have on bat populations, especially migratory bats.

Mastrangelo is familiar with these findings. He says we should continually examine the effects of our decisions. Looking at the bigger picture, he feels the benefits of RECs outweigh the negative impacts.

Mastrangelo admits to finding it ironic that most of the complaints against wind power, a renewable energy, come not from the coal industry but from environmental organizations. “You either shut your power off, or you take the best solution.” And for Mastrangelo, the best solution now is purchasing RECs, though he looks forward to a time when all of Shepherdstown will be powered by solar energy.

For information on Renewable Choice and RECs, call 877-810-8670, or visit renewablechoice.com.