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July 2006 - The Green-e program, managed by the Center for Resource Solutions, is seeking comments on a draft Community Aggregation Standard that establishes certification criteria for system-wide electricity supply, including electric utility default service and Community Choice Aggregators. Under the proposed standard, default electricity supply with sufficient renewable energy content will be eligible for Green-e certification even when customers do not "opt-in" by specifically choosing a renewable electricity product. Comments on the proposed standard are due by August 21, 2006.
Draft Standard - Green-e Proposed Community Aggregation Standard
CRS Contact: Siobhan Doherty (415) 561-2100
February 2006 - The Center for Resource Solutions announced the release of a new Green-e National Standard (PDF 56 KB) for certification of renewable energy products, which will replace all previous region and product-specific, Green-e criteria documents.
The new standard, which will go into effect on January 1, 2007, provides a single, consistent nationwide standard for green power certification. Green-e held two comment periods and received comments from more than 100 stakeholders during the standard development process.
The Green-e program provides independent, third party certification to ensure certified renewable energy meets strict environmental and consumer protection standards. Currently, more than 100 marketers and utilities throughout North America offer Green-e certified renewable energy products. Collectively these suppliers sold 3.5 billion kWh of certified renewable energy in 2004.
News Release - The New Green-E National Standard
Additional Information - Summary of Key Policy Changes
Green-e Contact: Dan Lieberman (415) 561-2100
November 2005 - The Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) released a report detailing the verification results for its Green-e certification program. In 2004, more than 100 marketers and utilities offered 56 Green-e certified green power products and reported combined certified renewable energy sales of 3.5 billion kWh—an 18% increase from 2003. Wholesale and retail sales of renewable energy certificates (RECs) represented more than two-thirds of all Green-e certified sales and grew by more than 50% from 2003. Last year, Green-e certified renewable energy was sold in 49 states and represented more than 50% of renewable energy sales in the voluntary market nationally.
Green-e provides independent, third-party certification to ensure renewable energy products meet strict environmental and consumer protection standards, which are established through a collaborative stakeholder process. Providers of Green-e certified renewable energy undergo an annual verification process to document that the company purchased or generated a sufficient amount of renewable energy to serve its customers and support its marketing claims.
News Release - Green-e Verification Reveals Significant Increase in Certified Renewable Energy Sales in 2004
Full Report - Green-e 2004 Verification Report
Green-e Contact: Lars Kvale (415) 561-2100
October 2005 - The Center for Resource Solutions is seeking additional comments on its proposed Green-e National Certification Standard (PDF 60 KB), which would replace existing regional standards and apply to all types of renewable energy products, including green pricing programs, tradable renewable certificates (TRCs), and competitive market electricity products. Once adopted, the proposed certification criteria will take effect on January 1, 2007.
During its first comment period, CRS received 47 comments from stakeholders, which are available for review on the Green-e Web site. In response to comments received on municipal solid waste, coal co-firing, and new renewables, CRS is considering revisions to the Green-e National Standard as originally proposed. Comments must be submitted using an electronic comment ballot (Word 70 KB) and are due on October 19th, 2005.
Green-e Contact: Siobhan Doherty, (415) 561-2118
September 2005 - The price premium for Xcel Energy's Colorado Windsource product has fallen once again. When the product was launched in 1997, the wind energy premium was set at 2.5¢/kWh and participating customers were exempted from certain cost adjustments, the most important of which is the "electric commodity adjustment" or ECA. With the ECA rising along with fuel costs, the effective premium for the Windsource product has now fallen to 0.97¢/kWh—however, Windsource customers are still subject to the base energy rate charge of about 1.3¢/kWh. With the price change, a typical Xcel Energy residential customer in Colorado can now purchase 100% wind energy at an average monthly cost of about $5.70.
Separately, the Center for Resource Solutions announced that Xcel Energy applied for and received Green-e certification for the Colorado Windsource product. The Green-e program provides independent, third-party certification to assure that renewable energy products meet strict environmental and consumer protection standards.
News Release - Green-e Certifies Xcel Energy's Windsource Renewable Energy Product
More Information - Xcel Energy Colorado Windsource Tariff Sheet (PDF 85 KB)
January 2005 - The Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) announced the release of its annual verification report documenting sales of Green-e certified electricity for 2003. Green-e renewable electricity sales totaled 2.9 million MWh in 2003, a 76% increase over 2002. Sales of certified tradable renewable energy certificates (TRCs) experienced the greatest growth, reaching 1.8 million MWh, which represents a twelve-fold increase over 2002. In all, 102 companies offered 65 unique Green-e renewable electricity or TRC products in 2003, with nearly 94,000 customers purchasing one of these products.
News Release - Green-e Verification Report Released: Significant Increase in Certified Renewable Energy Sales
Download Report - Green-e Verification Report 2003 (PDF 2.32 MB)
CRS Contact: Lars Kvale (415) 561-2100
December 2004 - The Center for Resource Solutions announced that Green-e certification is now available to all qualifying renewable energy products sold in the United States and its territories. On December 15, the Green Pricing Accreditation Board approved a National Green Pricing Default Certification Standard, enabling utilities in the 18 states not currently covered under a regional Green-e standard to achieve Green-e certification for their renewable energy products.
Currently, 100 marketers and utilities throughout North America offer Green-e certified renewable energy products. Collectively, these suppliers sold 3 billion kWh of certified renewable energy in 2003.
News Release - Green-e Certification Available to All Providers Nationwide
CRS Contact: Dan Lieberman 415-561-2100
July 2004 - The Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) released its preliminary (unaudited) sales estimates of Green-e certified renewable electricity for 2003, showing an 86% increase in total volume from 2002. Annual sales of Green-e certified tradable renewable certificates (TRCs) grew to more than 1.8 million MWh—a twelve-fold increase over 2002 figures. Sales of Green-e certified renewable electricity in utility green pricing programs grew by 12%.
Despite the increases registered in TRC and green pricing markets, competitive markets showed a decline in sales of Green-e certified renewable electricity and purchasers of certified products. The reduction can be largely attributed to the repeal of direct access and consumer purchase incentives in California, where most competitive suppliers have stopped serving customers.
Regionally, the Northeast was the fastest growing market, showing a 75% increase in sales of Green-e certified renewable energy and a 50% increase in customers purchasing certified products.
News Release - Green-e Preliminary Verification Reveals Significant Increase in Certified Renewable Energy Sales in 2003
Additional Information - Annual Green-e Verification Reports
CRS Contact: Këri Bolding (415) 561-2100
July 2004 - The Center for Resource Solutions announced that 100 marketers and utilities throughout North America are now offering Green-e certified renewable energy products. This marks the largest number of distributors of certified green power in the program's seven-year history.
Green-e is the leading renewable energy certification and verification program in the United States, and provides independent certification to ensure renewable energy products meet strict environmental and consumer protection standards. The verification program helps assure customers that the renewable energy they receive is not "double sold" to other customers or used simultaneously to meet regulatory mandates.
News Release - 100 Utilities And Marketers Offer Green-e Certified Renewable Power
April 2004 - The Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) announced that Alliant Energy's Second Nature green pricing program has earned the Green-e seal of approval. Under the Green-e program, utility green pricing programs can become certified if they meet or exceed locally established criteria related to the type of renewable resources used, product pricing, marketing, and customer education.
Alliant Energy's Second Nature program provides the utility's residential and business customers with the option to purchase electricity generated from renewable energy sources for an extra 2¢/kWh. Power for the program is supplied from wind farms in Minnesota and Iowa and a landfill gas facility in Wisconsin. In 2003, program participants supported nearly 28 million kWh of renewables-based electricity generation, or enough to fully power 2,900 homes.
News Release - Alliant Energy Offers Green-e Certified Renewable Energy to More than 500,000 Customers
February 2004 - The Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) announced that it has established Green-e certification standards for utility green pricing programs in the Pacific Northwest based on the regional standards developed previously by the Renew 2000 program. As a result, renewable electricity products sold in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington are now eligible for Green-e certification.
News Release - Green-e Standards Set For Pacific Northwest: Green Power Consumers in the Region Now Have Reliable Quality Assurance
January 2004 - The Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) released its Annual Verification Report for the Green-e Renewable Energy Certification Program, which documents a surge in green power sales during 2002. In total, nearly two billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of Green-e certified renewable energy was sold to customers by participating suppliers in 2002.
The CRS report notes that more than 147,000 households and businesses—one in three green power customers nationally—purchased a Green-e certified product in 2002 and that Green-e products represented a 58% market share of total U.S. green power sales. CRS attributes the increase in customers and sales volume to several factors including increased sales in direct access markets and among utilities with green pricing programs, and the development of a national market for tradable renewable certificates.
The Green-e program currently certifies 60 green power products offered by 98 marketers and utilities nationwide. The annual verification audit is an important component of the program, which seeks to build consumer confidence in renewable-based electricity products and spur national demand for renewable electricity.
News Release - Green-e Audit Report Reveals Significant Annual Growth in Green Power
Download Report - Green-e Verification Report Year 2002 (PDF 653 KB) Download Acrobat Reader
CRS Contact: Jennifer Martin (415) 561-2100
November 2003 - The non-profit Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) announced a new initiative to encourage businesses that purchase Green-e certified renewable energy to display the Green-e logo on packaging for their consumer products. Under its Made With Renewable Energy labeling program, CRS invites companies to publicize the fact that they have made an important environmental commitment through their purchases of certified renewable energy. By displaying the Green-e logo on product packaging, companies can inform consumers that a significant portion of the energy required to produce the product came from renewable sources.
According to CRS, about 10,000 businesses and 110,000 households currently purchase Green-e certified renewable energy. A number of businesses have already applied to use the Green-e logo, including White Wave, Interface Fabrics Group, Choice Organic Teas, and Lundberg Family Farms.
News Release - Top Renewable Energy Certification Program Launches Program to Place Green-e Logo on National Consumer Products "Made With Renewable Energy" to Appear on Product Packaging
CRS Contact: Këri Bolding, (415) 561-2100
December 2002 - Santee Cooper and Wisconsin Public Service have received national accreditation for their green pricing programs from the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS).
Under Santee Cooper's Green Power program, residential and commercial customers can purchase power generated from local landfill gas facilities at a premium of 3¢/kWh.
Wisconsin Public Service offers its NatureWise product to residential, farm, and business customers in 100-kWh blocks for an additional $2.65, or 2.65¢/kWh. The power is supplied from wind, landfill methane, and farm-based methane resources.
The CRS program offers accreditation for utility green pricing programs that meet or exceed locally established criteria related to the type of renewable resources used, product pricing, marketing, and customer education.
News Release - Santee Cooper Gains National Recognition for Green Energy Program - No longer online at Yahoo
November 2001 - The Board of the Green-e certification program voted to allow utilities with accredited green pricing programs to use the Green-e logo, provided the program meets minimum renewable resource content requirements. Commercial and industrial customers purchasing green power through accredited utility programs will also be allowed to use the logo in accordance with established Green-e secondary use standards.
Green pricing accreditation standards are in place in Colorado, Wisconsin, Iowa and the service territory of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), while standards development activities are underway in Florida, Georgia, and Minnesota. To date, three utility green pricing programs have been accredited: Madison Gas & Electric, Wisconsin Electric, and TVA.
Newsletter - National Accreditation News, October 2001 (PDF 24 KB) Download Acrobat Reader
CRS Contact: Dan Lieberman: dan@resource-solutions.org
December 2000 - Con.Web reports that a newly formed green power certification group, Renew 2000, will certify green power products in the Pacific Northwest that meet certain criteria developed by a regional coalition of environmental groups, utilities, and governments. The certification is meant to assure customers that their green power purchases will benefit the environment. To become certified under the program, utilities and marketers offering retail green power products must meet standards regarding resource content, including new renewables, "block" or "blended" energy products, fuel mix disclosure, and marketing programs. More than a dozen utilities and cooperatives already offer retail green power products in the Northwest that are eligible for certification.
News Article - Green Seal of Approval: Northwest's First Green Power Certification Standard Crafted by Regional Stakeholders
Renew 2000 Contact: Peter West (503) 223-4544
April 2000 - The Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) announced that three utility green pricing programs have qualified for accreditation under a new program that it administers. Wisconsin Electric, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and Madison Gas & Electric were awarded the accreditation "by meeting or exceeding a series of stringent guidelines that include the use of renewable resources, appropriate product pricing and marketing, and customer education requirements." To maintain accreditation, the utilities will be required to undergo annual audits to document their green power sales to customers. According to CRS, a combined three million customers can now purchase green power in the regulated markets served by these three utilities.
News Release - First Class of Utilities Gain National Recognition for Green Energy Programs
News Release - Wisconsin Electric Recognized for Renewable Energy Commitment; Energy for Tomorrow Program Among First to Receive National Accreditation
March 2000 - According to a March 28th article in the Knoxville News-Sentinel, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) intends to offer its green pricing product to customers in 150-kWh blocks for a premium of $4 per month, or about 2.67¢/kWh. An average customer using 1,200 kWh per month would pay an extra $32 per month to receive all of their power from renewable energy. TVA will contract for a total of 8.7 MW of power from a combination of landfill methane and wind energy projects, and will install solar systems at public facilities. By the utility's estimate, this is enough power to supply 30,000 homes with one, 150-kWh block.
Eleven of TVA's 159 distributors, representing more than one-fourth of residential customers served with TVA power, signed up to test-market the green power to their customers during the first year. TVA hopes to expand the program to its entire seven-state region by 2003.
TVA is also seeking program accreditation from the Center for Resource Solutions. To be considered, utility programs must meet a series of stringent environmental and customer protection criteria, including use of new renewable resources. Utilities must also work with local stakeholder groups to develop the standards. According to a TVA representative, the utility is seeking accreditation because it "will enable TVA to enhance consumer confidence in our green power program."
News Article - TVA 'Green Power' Offered for Homes - Registration required at ChattanoogaNow
News Article - TVA to begin 'green power' April 22 - Subscription required at KnoxNews.com
News Release - Renewable Energy Advocates and TVA Join Forces to Increase Green Power in the South
CRS Contact: Seth Baruch (415) 561-2100
TVA Contact: Susan Ross (423) 751-7405
February 2000 - A group of Wisconsin stakeholders has become the first to pursue accreditation for utility green pricing programs under a process recently announced by the Center for Resource Solutions. The accreditation program is designed to recognize utility programs that use "best practices" in offering green electricity options to customers in non-competitive markets. To receive accreditation, utilities have to meet stringent standards regarding renewable resource content, product pricing, marketing activities, and information disclosure. Accredited utilities will also be required to undergo an annual, independent verification process to document their green power deliveries.
Four Wisconsin utilities currently offer some type of green power product to their customers: Madison Gas and Electric, Wisconsin Electric, Wisconsin Public Service, and Dairyland Power Cooperative, which offers green power to its 27 member distribution cooperatives.
News Release - Consumer and Clean Energy Advocates Team up with Utilities to Promote Green Power in Wisconsin
CRS Contact: Seth Baruch, (415) 561-2100
Renew Wisconsin Contact: Michael Vickerman (608) 255-4044
November 1999 - The Center for Resource Solutions (CRS), has launched the first independent accreditation program for utility green pricing programs. The program is designed to recognize and accredit utility programs that use "best practices" in offering green electricity options to customers in non-competitive markets. To receive accreditation, utilities will have to meet stringent standards regarding renewable resource content, product pricing, marketing activities, and information disclosure. Accredited utilities will be required to undergo an annual, independent verification process to document their green power deliveries.
The program will be administered by CRS with input from local stakeholder groups consisting of consumer advocates, environmental groups, utilities, potential utility competitors, and renewable energy advocates. CRS also administers the Green-e certification program for green power products offered in competitive electricity markets.
News Release - CRS Launches First-Ever Accreditation Initiative for Utility Green Power Programs
CRS Contact: Kirk Brown (415) 561-2100
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