Viridian Launches Partnership to Offer Distributed Solar, Also Launches Carbon Offset Product for Gas Service

Viridian Energy is teaming with Solar City to provide distributed solar installations to its customers.

Viridian will offer SolarCity products and services beginning in its New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland and Delaware markets with an expectation to further expand the reach of this partnership in 2014. Viridian currently has more than 230,000 customers in the U.S.

SolarCity offers a vertically integrated approach to distributed solar. "SolarCity provides customers with free solar panel installation, and makes it possible for them to pay less for the solar electricity than they currently pay for utility bills, with permitting, installation, insurance, monitoring, and repairs included," the company said.

Viridian said that its expansion into distributed solar, through the agreement with SolarCity, is a step towards Viridian becoming a comprehensive energy partner of the customer, rather than simply an energy supplier.

Separately, Viridian is revising its electricity offerings such that it will now only offer a 50% green product and 100% green product; with the 50% green product replacing its former 20% green product as Viridian's "core" offering.

Additionally, Viridian is now bundling carbon offsets with its natural gas products, at a level of 25% offset and 100% offset. Non-offset natural gas products will no longer be offered.

Viridian said that the carbon offsets will largely originate from methane capture projects.