Where can I buy renewable energy credits (RECs)?

Anyone, anywhere in the United States can buy renewable energy credits (also known as renewable energy certificates, or RECs). RECs represent electricity generated by renewable energy sources such as solar or wind power facilities. Any corporation, business, nonprofit, or individual concerned about their carbon footprint can purchase RECs to ensure that their electricity is coming from renewable energy.

Beyond purchasing RECs voluntarily or in a "voluntary market," some electrical utilities are required to buy them due to state regulations. This type of market is called a "compliance market."

When it comes to buying RECs, states can be divided into either compliance or voluntary markets. Your state's market will affect the cost of RECs where you live.

In compliance states, electrical companies must generate a certain percentage of their electricity from renewable sources. This is due to a state regulation, the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). If the utility does not generate enough RECs through renewable energy—or if it does not generate renewable energy at all—a utility must purchase RECs to make up a difference. This proves that a percent of the utility's electricity comes from renewable sources since RECs represent the clean energy attributes of renewable electricity. Compliance markets exist in 29 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.

States with voluntary markets do not require utilities to produce a certain percentage of electricity from renewable resources. Utilities do not have to buy RECs in these states, but customers may still choose to purchase RECs for other reasons. Because buying RECs is not mandatory for utilities, this makes demand lower. As a result, RECs do not cost as much in voluntary states as in compliance states.

Purchasing RECs guarantees that the power you use comes from a renewable resource, such as wind or solar. However, the RECs you buy do not have to be generated in your state—they can come from anywhere in the U.S. For example, Iowa generates a large amount of wind power every year. No matter where you live, you can purchase and "use" this renewable energy.

Choosing where you buy RECs can be an essential part of your choice to support green power. Organizations and individuals can buy RECs from any supplier, meaning that a Vermont company can buy RECs generated in South Dakota. The company would save some money because Vermont has a compliance market, and South Dakota has a voluntary market. However, buying more expensive Vermont RECs would show support for local renewable energy generation.

REC buyers must weigh these factors when considering their REC options. If you want to support local green power, call your supplier and ask if it has locally sourced RECs. If a low-cost alternative is more important, you may actively look to buy RECs from out of state. In states where fossil fuels are more common than renewable energy generation, buying RECs can help support the growing market.

If you are a customer of one of the 850 utilities in the U.S. that offer a green power program, you do not need to go through an outside supplier to purchase renewable energy. Instead, you can purchase RECs through your electrical utility. With green power programs, utilities buy RECs and charge customers a premium for their added cost. Check with your utility to see if they offer this kind of program. Most green pricing premiums cost around 1 to 2 cents per kWh.

You can also purchase RECs directly from outside suppliers, bypassing your utility as the middleman. Green-e is an organization that certifies REC providers. Organizations with Green-e certification can guarantee that:

The RECs come from a new energy project, which means that you are supporting expanding the renewable energy market and not just satisfying a requirement.

The RECs are not "not double counted." In other words, if you purchase RECs, then they cannot also be counted towards meeting a state's renewable energy goal.