Energy is an expensive commodity. Electricity rates have risen steadily over the last two decades in both the residential and commercial sectors. And a comparison of electricity rates from June 2017 to the same period last year shows a price increase in every region of the United States for all sectors.

Recently, large-scale gas and electric utilities are making commitments to a carbon-neutral future. Their motivations, however, are not rooted in corporate responsibility; instead, economic trends are pointing to renewables for competitive advantage.