Title: Tom Starrs Bonneville Environmental Foundation. San Dieg
1 Greetings
Using RECs to Promote Regional Renewable Energy
Investment Tom Starrs ? Bonneville
Environmental Foundation San Diego Solar Energy
Week ? September 29, 2005
2About BEF
- Independent non-profit established in 1998
- Helped introduce the retail market for RECs in
2000 - Works with utilities, developers, and
environmentalists to - Identify, review and endorse low-impact
renewables - Market green power and RECs (Green Tags)
- Sell gt 88 aMW of Green Tags
- Emphasize product integrity w/ Green-e
- BEF reinvests net revenues from Green Tags sales
in - New renewable energy development
- Watershed restoration projects
3- Three Principal Ways to Support Renewable
Energy -
Renewable Energy
On-SiteGeneration your own project - you
generatethe environmentalbenefits
Green Tags(RECs or TRCs) renewable energy
creditsfrom a marketer- environmentalbenefits
unbundledfrom commodity power
Utility Green Power delivered renewable
energy - environmentalbenefits bundledwith
commoditypower
4Utility Green Power
Green Power
Utility
Green Power
Bundled
5 Green Tags
Green Tags
Utility
Green Power
Not Bundled
6- REC Markets Enable Renewable Energy Investment
- Compliance Markets
- Most RPS laws are being implemented using a
REC-based approach - RPS laws tend to favor state/regional resources,
driving local investment (and skewing local
REC markets) - Voluntary Markets
- Is likely to supplant bundled green power
products as the leading mechanism for
implementing voluntary programs - Over 1.8 million Green-e certified RECs sold in
2003 - Represents more than 200 aMW
- Green-e certified RECs were about 20 of total
market
REC Markets
7- How to Compare OptionsAmong Green Power Green
Tags - Cost - most range from 0.01 to 0.03 per kWh
above the cost of commodity energy. - Type of Resource - you may choose the type of
renewable energy to support such as wind or
solar. - Location - you may have an option to choose the
geographic location of the renewable energy
source. - Certification - there are certifications such
as Green-e that act as an industry standard
for green power products (think Consumer
Reports for green power). - Environmental Endorsement - has the renewable
generation facility been approved by the
environmental community? - New vs. Existing - do your dollars support
the resources that need the funding or are
they extra profits? - Claiming the Offsets - is ownership of the
associated carbon offset included with the
renewable energy product? - Reinvestment - does the provider use your
dollars towards developing additional
renewable energy resources and environmental
benefits on your behalf?
Procurement
8- Certifications
- Center For Resource Solutions Green-e Program
- Standards for what constitutes a renewable
energy resource. (i.e. no large hydro,
nuclear, futures or donation programs) - Standards for advertising green in a renewable
energy product. - Standards for carbon offsets associated with the
renewable energy product. - Requires an annual audit of all transactions and
marketing claims from the renewable energy
provider. - Other validation and accreditation
Procurement
9- Making The Case
- Customers - people support businesses that
reflect their values. When price and quality
are equal, 76 of consumers will switch
brands or retailers if a company is
associated with a good cause. - Distinction - set your organization, brand or
building ahead of the competition. - Recognition - programs such as the EPAs Green
Power Partnership publicly recognize those
who support renewable energy. - Employee Goodwill - people want to be
associated with organizations that reflect
their values. - Carbon Mitigation - a carbon tax is a likely
component of future business and
development. - Energy Security - supports domestic sources and
rural economies.
Why Green Energy?
10BEF Green Tag Products
- CoolerFuture
- Retail and web product
- 99 new wind, 1 new solar
- BrighterFuture
- NEW Retail and web product
- 90 new wind, 10 new solar
- Commercial Products
- Custom blends
- Mostly wind
- Up to 5 solar
Green Tags
11BEF Green Tags Sales
- Wide Variety of Customers
- NW Regional Utilities (50)
- Commercial Sales Corporations, NGOs,
Universities, Government Organizations,
Faith-Based Groups, Green Builders,
Sustainable Slopes and more (45) - Direct Web/Retail Sales (5)
- Wide Geographic Range
- Commercial and retail sales in 41 states
and some Canadian Provinces.
Green Tags
12Natural Products
- BEF has been among the first to market its Green
Tags to the Natural Products audience. Our
successes include - BB The first green powered coffee roaster,
partner in award-winning marketing campaign. - White Wave Foods Green Power Partner of the
Year, 2003 2004. - Promotional Packaging Silk and Traditional
Medicinals products proudly display their
commitment to renewable energy on their
packaging.
Sales Initiatives
13SkiGreen.org
Sales Initiatives
14Green Building
- BEF is an active participant in the Green
Building movement and has delivered Green Tags
to the following LEED projects - Wild Goose Restaurant - Tahoe, CA
- PSU Stephen Epler Hall - Portland, OR
- PSU Broadway Housing - Portland, OR
- Ode to Roses Building - Portland, OR
- Knoll Office Furnishings - San Francisco, CA
- Baca Navajo School - Prewitt, NM
- Eastside Fire Rescue - Issaquah, WA
- Carkeek Park Environmental Center - Seattle, WA
- Natural Resources Defense Council - Santa
Monica, CA - BEF is a member of the U.S. Green Building
Council, has a LEED Accredited Professional on
staff, and also delivers Green Tags to the
following green building product manufacturers
and professional service providers - Interface Fabrics David Evans
Associates,Inc. - Lees Carpets PAE Engineers, Inc.
- Squawk Mountain Stone CH2M Hill
Sales Initiatives
15Carbon Calculator Green Events and Travel
- BEF offers event and travel services that allow
individuals and organizations to green their
impacts and to host an event or travel
Climate Neutral. Examples include - The first green powered wedding.
- Salomon Oasis Tour 2004/05 - 100,000 green
miles traveled to 13 North American ski areas. - Solar World Congress 2005.
- MTVs Trippin with Cameron Diaz - Greened
the Tanzania, Costa Rica, and Chile episodes. - Rolling Stones/NRDC - Turn Up the Heat on
Global Warming - concert for climate change
awareness. - 15th Annual E-Source Members Forum.
Sales Initiatives
16FocusBEF Reinvestment
Reinvestment
- BEF focuses on renewables reinvestment in the
geographic areas where it has strong customer
participation and/or marketing alliances - Until recently, emphasis was on Pacific
Northwest - Strengthening national alliances have led to
- Eight-state project management on behalf of Vote
for Change musicians (Bonnie Raitt, Dave Matthews
Band, Pearl Jam, REM) - Maine Energy Investment Corp. (MEIC) rebate
program, funded by BEF and Interface Corp. - Programs under discussion in Alaska, Canada, here
in New Mexico, and throughout the West
17Reinvestment Programs
Reinvestment
- Program Specific Reinvestment
- BEF commits a portion of revenues (usually 1 -
4 per Green Tag sold, depending on program) to
reinvestment fund - BEF and program partners jointly decide how to
use funds - Options include direct turnkey funding of
projects cost-sharing of projects or
establishment of rebate/incentive programs - Additional Reinvestment
- BEF dedicates net revenues (after administrative,
marketing and program costs) to renewable and
watershed programs
18Solar4RSchools
Reinvestment
Willamette High School Solar Roller (OR)
West Salem High School (OR)
West Linn High School (OR)
Castleford High School (ID)
CREST School Wilsonville (OR)
Wilderness Charter School Ashland (OR)
19Our Wind Co-Op
East Glacier (MT)
Reinvestment
- Seven of ten small (10 kW) turbines installed
and operating - Three remaining turbines to be installed in
2005-06
20Net Revenues Support Over Sixty Projects
Reinvestment
21 Sign Up At Home or At Work www.GreenTagsUSA.org
Thanks!
Tom StarrsVice President Chief Operating
Officer Bonneville Environmental
Foundation 503.248.1905 TomStarrs_at_b-e-f.org