How it Works

When a school or an organization decides to purchase green power from their power supplier they continue to pay their energy bill as usual, but also pay a premium for the green power. This premium ensures that an amount of green power enters the power grid to displace conventional or “brown” power. In order to purchase green power your supplier must have connections with renewable energy providers to deliver the green energy to the transmission pool.

Thing to Consider

Green-e Certification

In order to guarantee that your green power purchase meets quality product standards you should check to see if your supplier’s green power option is Green-e (www.green-e.org) certified. The Green-e Renewable Electricity Certification Program is a widely recognized, voluntary certification program that demonstrates adherence to environmental and consumer protection standards developed by the Center for Resource Solutions.  This certification means that the provider meets the environmental and consumer protection standards established by Green-e.

Purchasing Amounts and Cost

Most power companies who offer renewable energy sell it in either blocks of 100 kWh (no purchase limit of blocks), or as a percentage of the monthly power need.  You can choose to purchase green power for a portion of your power needs, or purchase green power for 100% of your electricity needs.  Check to make sure your supplier’s product is cost competitive with similar products on the market. 

How the Renewable Energy is Produced

Different types of renewable energy have different environmental, social, and economic benefits that are valued differently.  Consider solar versus wind (or other possibilities for renewable energy generation), and small projects versus large projects.  Also, pay attention to whether or not your provider regards hydroelectric power as renewable energy; when researching hydroelectric projects you may find that the power produced is CO2 neutral, but it does not have other characteristics that meet your criteria for a renewable product. When deciding where to purchase renewable energy the sustainability practices of the supplier and the energy production should be considered.

New versus Existing Renewables

When the renewable energy was produced can be as important as how it was produced.  The purchase of power from new renewable resources (which in the Northwest means projects that were installed after May of 1999) means that the purchase is displacing existing, polluting power generation.  Purchases from older renewable resources may just contribute to profits for power that is already accounted for in the electric grid. Green-e certified Renewable Energy Credits must meet strict definitions of new renewables, but the certified delivered green power programs may be more inclusive.