Green power marketing in the United States: a status report (tenth edition)

Dec 2007

Regardless of whether US electricity consumers have access to a green power product from their retail power provider, any consumer can purchase green power through renewable energy certificates (RECs), which represent the “attributes” of electricity generated from renewable energy-based projects. Consumers in competitive markets can also support renewable energy development through REC purchases without having to switch to an alternative electricity supplier. Today, several dozen companies actively market RECs to residential or business customers throughout the United States.
This report documents green power marketing activities and trends in the United States. First, aggregate green power sales data for all voluntary purchase markets across the United States is presented. The next two sections provide summary data on
1) utility green pricing programs offered in regulated electricity markets and
2) green power marketing activity in competitive electricity markets as well as green power sold to voluntary purchasers in the form of RECs.
These are followed by a discussion of key market trends and issues.
The final section offers conclusions and observations.
The data presented in this report are based on figures provided to NREL by utilities and independent renewable energy marketers.

By: L. Bird, L. Dagher, B. Swezey (NREL)

 
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