The Green-e program was established by the non-profit Center for Resource Solutions to provide information and an objective standard for consumers to compare electricity products, and to verify that consumers get what they pay for.

When electricity consumers see the Green-e logo on an electricity product, they know that 50% or more of that electricity product was generated using renewable resources (in Pennsylvania acceptable Green-e renewables are wind, solar, sustainable biomass, geothermal, small hydroelectric, and efficiency). The non-renewable power in a Green-e product is cleaner than the average fuel mix in that particular region. The supplier has agreed to adhere to additional consumer protections so that customers can rest assured that they are getting what they pay for.

Now that Pennsylvania residents and businesses can choose the company that supplies their electricity, numerous suppliers have entered the market to offer competitive products. One of these types of product is "green" or "cleaner" electricity.

Let it be noted that there is no one, universal agreed upon definition of "green" or "cleaner" electricity, however.

Cleaner electricity usually refers to any electric product that uses renewable or other sources of electric generation that have less of a negative impact on public health and the environment. Renewable resources (such as solar, wind, low-impact hydroelectric, geothermal, and biomass) make the same electricity that coal and nuclear does, but without all of the air pollution and waste. Renewable resources typically do not "use up" the fuel sources that they require.