Certified Green-e REC - Calculation for Exemplary Performance

It seems like you are proposing to buy renewable energy here in the United States for a project that is not in the USA. My advice is to contact the GBCI directly and see if this is okay with them. On one hand, you seem to be complying with the letter of the credit. On the other hand, you are avoiding the intent of the credit which encourages in country renewable power sources (and that is my interpretation only). Is there a local source of renewable power that needs to become an equal to the Geen-e program?

It's not really energy you're buying. It's just a piece of paper that represents the environmental benefit of 1 megwatt hour of a particular type of renewable energy. To me, it doesn't make a difference where you're reducing greenhouse gas emissions as long as it's on planet earth. To reviewers I think they only care that it is "green-e certified" or an approved equivalent. The use of green-e RECs has been approved on other projects outside of the U.S. The threshold dropped from 100% to 70% via addendum #100000370 There was another addendum ID#100001177 that said your green power purchase had to be based on your energy model's predicted energy use not the kwh/sf estimates so make sure you follow that one.

Within the past year, we have used REC purchases from Renewable Choice in Denver for our Central America projects. There were no questions by the LEED reviewers and the points were awarded. Please note it is only 70% necessary for the Innovation Credit, not 100%. We have also used GDF Suez Energie as Green-e equivalent in our Amsterdam project and had it approved, again with no questions.

Interesting. As a US resident, I'm happy to have more renewable power in our power grid. I can't help but be a little sad that other countries aren't getting a bigger push on renewables. Sounds like OP has a pathway to earn the points she needs.