Hello,
I know that a project can only earn Exemplary if 100% is off-set, however, it must be a COMBINATION of On-site and Off-site to earn EP. :(
Is the Regional Priority point the same, where we MUST have On-site? Meaning, if we purchase 62.5% (4 points) of ONLY Off-site, will we earn the point or can it only work for On-site (7.5%)? We have solar on-site, however, the Owner doesn't own the REC's, therefore, it is my understanding we cannot take credit for any of the on-site generated solar power, so the plan is to purchase 100% (two year contract).
Thank you for your time!
Trista Brown
Project DirectorWSP USA
456 thumbs up
March 9, 2016 - 11:03 pm
Hi Michelle, sorry for the late response here! I searched the 93727 zip code using the Regional Priority credit look up and the only threshold indicated is 7.5%, which corresponds to on-site renewables as you noted. It seems like that means only on-site systems count for RP. But I also wouldn't be too surprised if this was a mistake and the equivalent point threshold for off-site renewables (62.5%) also qualifies for RP. I think an email to GBCI/USGBC would clear this up. If you've already sorted this out I'd be curious to hear the outcome.
And you're right about the on-site solar. Page 208 of the EBOM 2009 Reference Guide says that "For renewable energy coming from both on-site and off-site sources, the associated environmental attributes must be retained or retired; they cannot be sold."