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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced proposed revisions to its Green Power Partnership (GPP) program, which encourages voluntary purchases of renewable energy by offering recognition and tools for non-residential renewable energy purchasers to maximize the benefits of their purchases. Specifically, the EPA has proposed changes affecting the following five criteria for program participation: 1) minimum purchase levels for program participation, 2) requirements for new renewable energy purchases, 3) rules for accounting for future RECs, 4) green power claims, and 5) a reduction in the "window" of time allowed for members to make their purchase from the time they join the GPP.
First under the proposed changes, minimum purchase requirements will increase for all four partner size categories; categories are based on total annual electricity usage. The second proposal would require that 100% of a partner’s green power purchase come from "new facilities," defined as becoming operational on or after January 1, 1997. Third, the proposed changes would no longer allow partners to count RECs to be generated in future years towards their current year’s purchase. Fourth, the proposal would require that partners with branded franchise facilities which they do not own disclose whether or not the purchase scope includes these facilities. Finally, the window for new partners to consummate their purchase would be reduced from one year to six months from the date they join the partnership. The changes are proposed to take effect on February 13, 2009.
Additional Information - Proposed Revisions to Green Power Partnership Program Requirements Fact Sheet (PDF 68 KB) Download Adobe Reader
EPA GPP Contact: Blaine Collison
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