Guide to Purchasing Green Power Renewable Electricity, Renewable Energy Certificates, and On-Site Renewable Generation This guide can be downloaded from: https://www.epa.gov/greenpower/guide-purchasing-green-power Office of Air (6202J) EPA430-K-04-015 www.epa.gov/greenpower March 2010 Updated: September 2018 ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Summary ............................................................................................................................................................................v Chapter 1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................1-1 Chapter 2 Introducing Green Power ............................................................................................................................2-1 What is Green Power? ....................................................................................................................................................................... 2-3 Introduction to Renewable Energy Certificates ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 2-3 Introduction to the Voluntary Market .......................................................................................................................................... 2-5 Certification and Verification .......................................................................................................................................................... 2-5 Tracking Systems .................................................................................................................................................................................2-6 Chapter 3 The Benefits and Costs of Green Power ....................................................................................................3-1 The Benefits ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 3-3 The Costs .................................................................................................................................................................................................3-9 Public Relations Considerations ..................................................................................................................................................3-12 Chapter 4 Green Power Product Options ....................................................................................................................4-1 Purchase Options .................................................................................................................................................................................4-4 Self-Generation Options ...................................................................................................................................................................4-9 Green Power Supply Options Summary....................................................................................................................................4-12 Chapter 5 Using Organizational Goals to Guide Green Power Purchases ��������������������������������������������������������������5-1 Setting Goals .........................................................................................................................................................................................5-4 Identifying Key Decision-Makers ................................................................................................................................................... 5-5 Gathering Energy and Facility Data .............................................................................................................................................5-6 Choosing Green Power Options .................................................................................................................................................... 5-8 Chapter 6 Contracting for Green Power ......................................................................................................................6-1 Developing Criteria for Screening Green Power Suppliers and Products ��������������������������������������������������������������������� 6-3 Collecting Product Information ......................................................................................................................................................6-6 Creating a Procurement Plan .......................................................................................................................................................... 6-7 Chapter 7 Planning a Self-Generation Renewable Project .......................................................................................7-1 Screening the Options ........................................................................................................................................................................7-3 Obtaining Resources and Assistance .......................................................................................................................................... 7-4 Creating a Project Plan .......................................................................................................................................................................7-5 Installing and Operating a Renewable Generation Project ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 7-8 iii Chapter 8 Capturing the Benefits of the Purchase ....................................................................................................8-1 The Environmental Benefits ............................................................................................................................................................ 8-3 Promoting the Organization’s Purchase .................................................................................................................................... 8-5 Chapter 9 Conclusion .....................................................................................................................................................9-1 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 9-3 Chapter 10 Resources for Additional Information .....................................................................................................10-1 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ......................................................................................................................................10-3 U.S. Department of Energy .............................................................................................................................................................10-3 World Resources Institute ...............................................................................................................................................................10-3 Green-e Certification Programs ................................................................................................................................................... 10-4 Glossary ........................................................................................................................................................................ 11-1 Appendix A Green Power Considerations for Federal Agencies ................................................................................ A-1 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................................................................................A-3 Federal Goals and Renewable Usage Information �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������A-3 Benefits from Federal Renewable Power Purchases �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������A-5 Renewable Procurement Authorities and Regulations ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������A-5 Renewable Procurement Approaches .......................................................................................................................................A-7 GSA, DLA Energy, and WAPA Services .......................................................................................................................................A-9 Key Elements of a Successful Renewable Procurement �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������A-11 Information for Potential Suppliers to the Federal Government .................................................................................... A-12 Resources ............................................................................................................................................................................................. A-12 Appendix B Commercial Solar Financing Options ....................................................................................................... B-1 Introduction............................................................................................................................................................................................B-3