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SAN FRANCISCO, California, US, November 30, 2005
(Refocus Weekly)
The United States generated 3.5 million MWh of
green power last year, an increase of 18% over 2003 output,
according to the latest verification of the Green-e program.
“Sales of renewable energy increase significantly each year,
confirming that voluntary markets for renewable energy are strong,
and contribute to new generation and supply,” says Jan Hamrin of the
Center for Resource Solutions, which administers the program. “Our
independent verification process is a vital confirmation that
businesses, institutions and consumers across the country are
choosing to invest in a clean, renewable energy future.”
Green-e certified renewable energy was sold in all but one of the 50
states, and 80,000 MWh was purchased by companies which contracted
to use the Green-e logo to promote their commitment to certified
renewable energy, the preliminary report notes. While the 18%
increase applied to certified products, the sale of Green-e
certified green certificates increased 50%, representing 2.8 million
MWh of generation.
The collective sales of Green-e certified renewable energy displaced
the emission of 2,127,900 tons of carbon dioxide compared with
conventional power generation. One hundred marketers and utilities
throughout North America offer Green-e certified products, and must
abide by a code of conduct and submit marketing materials for
disclosure analysis.
There were 82,000 residential customers who purchased Green-e
certified products last year, of which 57,700 were utility green
pricing, 22,200 from competitive electricity and 2,100 from RECs. In
the commercial sector, the 2,900 customers were mainly from utility
programs (2,200) with 300 from competitive electricity and 400 REC.
The breakdown of green power sales was 573,000 MWh in the
residential sector, 1,074,000 MWh in commercial and 2,268,000 MWh in
wholesale sales.
Wind provides the largest share of power at 78% (99% of which are
new turbines), compared with 48% in 2002. Biomass is 21% of the
supply (90% new), small hydro is 1% (6% new facilities), while solar
PV and geothermal each provide less than 1% of the total.
The Green-e Renewable Energy Certification Program was launched in
1997 to set standards for renewable electricity-based products in
three markets for renewable energy: restructured, regulated, and
renewable energy certificates. CRS says it is the leading
verification program in the U.S. to provide third party
certification. In 2004, the 100 marketers and utilities were selling
56 certified products, of which 27 were electricity products offered
by utilities and competitive retailers, and 29 were REC products.
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