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GreenBiz Program Information
Renewable Energy Benefits
Renewable energy is that energy which is produced from resources
that replenish themselves naturally. Wind, solar, biomass,
landfill gas, geothermal and small hydro are all examples
of renewable resources.
- There are many other reasons to support new renewable
energy facilities:
- They help reduce our dependency on imported fuels
- They often help local communities
- They are an important export technology for the United
States
- You are showing support for the development of resources
that do not pollute
- You are helping the renewable energy industry to maintain
competition and to continue to grow and improve its great
products
According to the Bonneville Environmental Foundation the
national average for carbon dioxide emissions per kWh produced
is 1.36 pounds. Therefore each kWh purchased from renewable
resources reduces the amount of carbon dioxide otherwise released
into the atmosphere by 1.36 pounds.
Renewable Energy Purchases
Renewable energy is purchased as a combined commodity which
includes the renewable energy attribute (also call "Green
Tags" or "Renewable Energy Credits") and the
actual energy produced. Utilities are also able to purchase
each commodity separately.
When the energy component is purchase separately it has no
of the environmental benefits associated with the renewable
source. The Renewable Energy Credit (REC) verify the renewable
source of the energy production. In CPI's case this source
is verified by an independent renewable energy tracking system
developed for the Western Electric Coordinating Council (WECC).
This tracking system called WREGIS (Western Renewable Energy
Generation Information System) tracks renewable energy generation
from units that register in the system using verifiable data
and creates renewable energy certificates (RECs) for this
generation. WREGIS Certificates can be used to verify compliance
with state and provincial regulatory requirements (Renewable
Portfolio Standards, for example) and in voluntary market
programs.
RECs verify the sources of renewable energy production and
represent the benefits of renewable technologies like wind,
solar, biomass and small hydro. Each REC represents 1000 kWh
of renewable electricity production.
Therefore, utilities who purchase RECs are reducing the amount
of carbon dioxide produced and in turn are reducing the overall
amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere.
Renewable Energy Distribution
The energy produced from these resources is put into the
WECC grid and mixed with energy from other generation resources.
Therefore we can't guarantee that the electricity you receive
has come directly from one of these renewable resources. We
do guarantee however that the renewable energy you have purchased
has been verified by WREGIS as a qualifying resource that
has been produced and added to the grid.
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