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Green-e Energy National Standard v2.4 Released
Latest version clarifies interactions with State Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPSs) and other mandates
San Francisco, CA (June 12, 2014)—Green-e Energy is pleased to announce an update to the Green-e Energy National Standard, which is now in Version 2.4. The only changes to the latest version are clarifications to double counting with regard to Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPSs) and other mandates.
This update and language are posted at Green-e Energy National Standard and Governing Documents in both final and redlined versions. Only Section III.D of the National Standard was updated, and the revised text is detailed below. Green-e participants with certified products will receive formal notification of this National Standard update through the mail as stipulated in their contracts with Center for Resource Solutions.
Clarifications include:
- Reference to generation- or capacity-based RPS laws, and the potential for other types of RPSs
- Under what specific, limited conditions RPS renewables may be included in Green-e Energy certified renewable electricity programs that meet 100% of a customer’s electricity consumption, so that a utility is not required to deliver more than 100% Green-e Energy eligible renewables
Specific Examples of Double Counting (not a complete list):
- If a state assesses RPS compliance based on in-state generation without requiring the obligated entity to procure and retire the RECs, the RECs associated with that generation would not be eligible for use in a Green-e Energy certified sale. This may soon be the case for certain facilities or areas in Arizona, depending on the outcome of a current proceeding before the Arizona Corporation Commission.
- If a state mandate allows RECs to be sold from generation while still counting the “null” electricity toward the RPS, those RECs would not be eligible for use in a Green-e Energy certified sale. This is currently the case with Vermont's "Sustainably Priced Energy Enterprise Development" (SPEED) feed-in-tariff program, and so Section III.D disallows use of Vermont RECs where the associated electricity is being used toward the SPEED program.
- If state RPS compliance is based on the capacity of renewable generators contractually selling electricity (but not RECs) to the obligated entity and reported for compliance, then RECs associated with that generator are not eligible, up to the percentage of capacity being reported toward compliance. This is currently the case in Kansas.
Rationale
Green-e Energy staff have received a number of questions over the past months about how potential changes to states’ RPS rules would interact with Green-e Energy’s rules. Staff has also received considerable interest in the portion of the National Standard that allows certain RPS renewables to be counted toward a certified renewable electricity product that serves 100% of a customer’s electricity consumption.
In order to provide market clarity around Green-e Energy’s treatment of various RPS structures, the Green-e Governance Board has approved language updates to Section III.D of the National Standard. Because the updated language represents extra clarification of the National Standard and not a rule change, and enforcement against the National Standard will not change, stakeholder consultation on the updated language was not necessary, and this updated version applies to certified sales immediately.
Please contact your Green-e Energy representative with any questions, or email info@green-e.org.
About Green‑e Energy
Green-e Energy is North America's leading certification program for sales of renewable electricity and renewable energy certificates (RECs) made in the voluntary market for renewable energy. Created in 1997, Green-e Energy has provided oversight to an increasing proportion of voluntary renewable energy sales, certifying 75% of retail voluntary renewable energy sales in the U.S. in 2012.
The Green-e Energy National Standard, which defines high-quality renewable energy sources eligible for certified sales, was developed through an open stakeholder process in 2004 and 2005 and grew out of regional program policies in place between 1997 and 2004. Periodically, the Standard is assessed to determine if any changes should be made to adapt to the changing voluntary renewable energy market.
About Green‑e and Center for Resource Solutions
A program of Center for Resource Solutions, Green‑e is North America's leading independent consumer protection program for the sale of renewable energy and greenhouse gas reductions in the retail market. Green‑e offers certification and verification of renewable energy and greenhouse gas mitigation products through Green‑e Energy, a renewable energy certification program; Green‑e Climate, a greenhouse gas emission reduction certification program; and Green‑e Marketplace, a program that provides forward-thinking organizations a simple, nationally recognized logo they can use to communicate their renewable energy and climate commitment to their customers and shareholders. To learn more about Green‑e Certified products and programs available in all 50 states and Canada, visit www.Green‑e.org.
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