In researching RECs options, a municipal utility has a purchasing program that is not itself Green-e certified, but they say the RECs themselves are certified. I suspect this means they are purchasing them from elsewhere and that my client should just purchase them elsewhere as well (direct from a certified source).
Good strategy? Would the RECs I've described above get nixed in a LEED application?
Tristan Roberts
RepresentativeVermont House of Representatives
LEEDuser Expert
11477 thumbs up
January 27, 2010 - 9:07 am
Jared, it's not clear whether the RECs being sold by the utilities are Green-e certified, or the equivalent. The utility program does not need a certification, as long as the RECs are Green-e certified. If that's the case, you're fine for this credit.
To sacrifice the convenience of buying your RECs from the utility, you'd probably want to be getting a better price elsewhere. It's worth shopping around for that, but the utility may be buying in bulk and getting a favorable rate.
Lana Malone
Director of Business Development- Green Building Team LeaderRenewable Choice Energy
120 thumbs up
February 3, 2010 - 4:05 pm
Hi Jared!
We would be glad to help you out! We have provided RECs for over 1,000 LEED projects in the U.S. and internationally, and offer very competitive rates if you would like for us to provide a quote.
http://www.renewablechoice.com/business-LEED-green-power.html
lmalone@renewablechoice.com
Jared Silliker
OwnerSilliker + Partners
77 thumbs up
February 17, 2010 - 3:23 pm
Thanks, Tristan and Lana.
Re, timing ... can the REC contract be initiated any time during the performance period? (going forward 2 years, of course)
Chris Nixon
Manager, Sustainable SolutionsBRSC
36 thumbs up
February 19, 2010 - 7:33 am
Yes. You would need to buy them retroactively to the beginning of the performance period, and sign a two year contract as you stated, but it's perfectly legal. That's what we did.
Lana Malone
Director of Business Development- Green Building Team LeaderRenewable Choice Energy
120 thumbs up
March 2, 2010 - 1:20 pm
Hi Jared!
I apologize for the late response, but Chris Nixon is correct! You can purchase at any time during the initial performance period. You would need to purchase enough RECs to cover the initial performace period, and an additional two years worth of RECs to cover the next performance period. I hope this helps! Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any other questions!