Leadership Principles in Renewable Electricity Use
Responding to the recent rise in the price of renewable energy certificates (RECs)
Partners in the US EPA Green Power Partnership program have been leaders in the transition to a clean, renewable energy future in the US. Since 2001, all Green Power Partners have protected the environment by investing in and using renewable electricity that adheres to leadership principles in renewable electricity use. These leadership principles are:
- Use high-quality renewable resources that meet national voluntary market standards
- Use new renewable resources that were built in the last 15 years or use generation from existing renewable resources built in the last 15 years or from new projects
- Substantiate all use of renewable electricity through RECs
Recently, market demand for renewable electricity has outpaced supply, resulting in a meaningful price increase. In particular, RECs - the most accessible, widely used, and scalable supply option today for U.S. consumer - have seen significant price increases. In response, some organizations have considered, or already are, adjusting their renewable electricity procurement approach towards older, lesser-quality electricity resources or discontinuing their renewable electricity procurement entirely.
EPA strongly encourages all Partners impacted by REC price increases to maintain the principles above by:
- Talking to your retail supplier about alternative supply arrangements that deliver lower prices or cost savings. If you current supplier does not provide alternatives, evaluate if you have other retail suppliers available to you.
- Switching your renewable electricity strategy to procure through supply options that afford significant cost savings, such as direct or project-specific engagement options.
- Scaling the volume (kWh) of your new, high-quality renewable resources purchases for the short-term to meet your budgetary constraints.
EPA's Green Power Partnership stands with our leading Partners who make a difference environmentally by choosing newer, high-quality renewable resources over other electricity generation alternatives.
For more information, Contact Us About Green Power Partnership.