About Renewable Energy Credits (RECs)
An Overview of RECs
A Renewable Energy Credit (REC) is created when one megawatt-hour (MWh) of renewable electricity is fed into the power grid. A REC represents the positive environmental benefits associated with its generation. RECs have an economic value and can be bought and sold, which allows anyone in any part of the country, regardless of who they purchase their electricity from, to support clean, renewable energy. Businesses and individuals buy RECs to reduce their carbon footprint and connect with sustainability-minded customers.
How RECs work
Renewable energy generators create two products: electricity and environmental benefits. When renewable electricity is transmitted through the grid to consumers, it is mixed with all other energy sources, so you can't tell an electron produced from coal from one that was produced by a renewable resource like wind. When a REC is sold separately from the MWh of electricity, the "green" benefits are split from the electricity and remain with the REC. The electricity is then considered equal to any other form of electricity in the grid. RECs allow customers to support clean, renewable energy directly by claiming the environmental benefits that are represented by the REC.
Verification: Ensuring the Legitimacy of Your Purchase
OneEnergy Renewables wants you to be confident that your REC purchase is environmentally meaningful and that you are undoubtedly getting what you pay for when you buy RECs from us. We do this in the following ways:
OneEnergy Renewables offers Green-e Energy certified RECs. This is a voluntary certification program administered by the nonprofit Center for Resource Solutions that sets consumer protection and environmental standards for renewable electricity products.
In 2008 Green-e Energy certified over 10 million MWh of renewable energy, making it the most stringent and widely used voluntary REC certification and verification program in the U.S. This standard also ensures that Green-e Energy Certified products meet certain quality standards and offer incremental environmental benefits. Learn more about Green-e Energy.
OneEnergy Renewables only buys tracked RECs. We only buy RECs that are tracked in renewable energy tracking systems, such as the Western Renewable Energy Generation Information System (WREGIS) or the Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System (M-RETS). Each REC in a tracking system is given a serial number, which allows it to be traced back to its specific site and time of generation. To claim the benefits associated with a REC, the REC must be retired in the tracking system and cannot be transferred or sold again. This REC system of creation, tracking, and retirement prevents double-counting and provides a guarantee of transparency to our customers. We believe that REC tracking systems, such as WREGIS and M-RETS, add another important layer of protection for our customers. Therefore, we only purchase RECs that are tracked in such systems.
OneEnergy Renewables' REC Sources
OneEnergy Renewables sources RECs from new wind energy facilities in the U.S., including the 159-megawatt Langdon Wind Energy Center in Cavalier County, North Dakota. The project began operations in 2008, using 1.5-megawatt GE wind turbines. Farming continues around the turbine bases.
Learn Even More About RECs
If you want to learn even more about RECs, visit our FAQ section or contact us. In addition, the following websites have helpful information about RECs:
Green-e: The Green-e Energy program is run by the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS). This third-party nonprofit organization certifies renewable energy projects and creates minimum standards that all projects must meet. Green-e is the standard bearer for the REC industry and provides a quality guarantee for any REC purchases.
EPA Green Power Partnership: The federal government helps businesses interested in purchasing green energy determine which option is best for that business by offering expert advice, technical support, tools and resources. RECs are one option supported by the Green Power Partnership.