Renewable Energy Certificates

A renewable energy certificate (REC) represents the environmental attributes or benefits of renewable generation such as wind, solar and geothermal power. 

Renewable power generation displaces less environmentally friendly generation that burns fossil fuels and causes air and water pollution. The electricity produced by renewable generation is comparable to electricity produced by conventional generation. But, displacing fossil fuel generation leaves a positive environmental impact.

As renewable generators produce electricity, they create one REC for every one megawatt-hour (or 1,000 kilowatt-hours) of electricity. RECs account for the associated attributes of renewable-based generation. Each REC includes the following information:

• The underlying source of energy generation
• The location of the generation facility 
• The year of generation, or "vintage" 
• Other characteristics associated with the generator, such as eligibility for state renewable portfolio standards (RPS)

In 2020, we retired 18,578 RECs on behalf of our Greenpower customers. The purchase and retirement of these RECs helps support the renewable investments made by our community.

On behalf of Greenpower customers, we retire the corresponding quantity of RECs associated with Greenpower megawatt-hour "sales" on an annual basis through the Western Renewable Energy Generation Information System (WREGIS).