Program lets shoppers buy into wind power

- Along with their organic vegetables, herbal remedies and brie, Whole Foods Market shoppers can now buy renewable energy credits.

The high-end grocer began selling wind-power cards at 80 stores in Texas and other western states.

The wind-power cards, marketed by Renewable Choice Energy, represent renewable energy credits generated by wind farms. For $15, a customer can buy credits that correspond with 750 kilowatt-hours of electricity, which is about what an average family would use in a month. A $5 card represents 250 kilowatt-hours of renewable credits.

The cards double as refrigerator magnets – which is good, since buying the credits is just a feel-good move for people who want to offset their energy use by contributing to alternative sources. You can't use the credit, but it helps support wind-generated power.

Ted Rose, director of business development for Renewable Choice, said the idea is to allow consumers to choose renewable energy.

The card earned the Green-e product label from the Center for Resource Solutions, a nonprofit that verifies renewable energy claims, Mr. Rose said.