Making it Easy for the Masses:Renewable Choice Energy

Presentation by Alexandra QuinnAlexandra.L.Quinn@gmail.com

Energy Law, Fall 2010

Overview of Topics

• Renewable Choice Energy– Renewable Energy Credits– Green-E– For Businesses– For Home– Bringing it back to Chicago

What is Renewable Choice Energy

• Founded in 2001 & located in Boulder, CO• Primary goal is to tap into the growing

consumer demand for clean energy.

But How?

• This is accomplished by offering a way for both large companies and individuals to purchase renewable energy and carbon offsets

Renewable Energy Credits (REC)

What is a REC?

• It is a certificate that represents that 1 mega watt hour was produced by accepted sources of renewable energy

• Can be sold or traded

Why Buy Them?

• Allows owner to show that they have purchased and support renewable energy

• Helps to subsidize production

Potential Concerns

• How do we know the certificate is real?• How do we know this clean energy is

produced?• How do we know if the certificate is retired,

or if it is used over and over again?

?

Green-E

Green-E Certified REC

• Green-E certifies the validity of the REC– Must be from approved source• Solar electric• Wind• Geothermal• Small scale hydropower• Certain forms of biomass

Other Green-E Duties

• Verify that the certificates followed through upon

• Verify that used certificates are retired

Renewable Choice for Business

“Let us help you measure and understand your environmental impact, so that you can reduce it, save money, engage stakeholders and gain a stronger competitive advantage.”

Options for Business

• Consulting Services– Energy Audit– Greenhouse gas inventory– Sustainability aid

• Helps to reduce environmental impact– Renewable Energy Credits– Carbon Offsets

The biggest of them all….

Whole Foods & Renewable Energy

• Started working with Renewable Choice is 2003

• In 2009, purchased 776 million kilowatt hours, equal to 100% of the company’s North American locations.

Burt’s Bees

Burt’s Bees & Renewable Energy

• Burt’s Bees decided in 2007 to embrace the renewable energy movement, and offset their use 100%

• Wanted to impact not only their company with this offset, but also wanted to help their employees better understand and get more involved with renewable energy.

• Created employee energy training

Performance Bicycle

Performance & Renewable Choice

• Wanted to add to their services in order to differentiate themselves from competitors

• They are able to offer to their customers an experience fully offset by renewable energy.

Renewable Choice for Home

“Be a leader. Reduce your environmental impact. Choose wind for yourself, your family

and friends, and fight climate change!”

Making it Easy• There is an online shop where you can

purchase energy offsets.– “Individual Plan” - $5/Month for at least 12

months (3,000 kilowatt hours of wind power)– “Wind Power Plan” - $15/Month for at least 12

months (9,000 kilowatt hours of wind power)– Starter options on a buy per month basis

Travel Offsets

Green Your Phone?“Renewable Choice has teamed up with BestBuy

to offer GREEN YOUR PHONE, a product which provides consumers with a simple and effective way to address the impact of mobile phone electricity on the environment. ”

So Many Options….

• You can “follow” Renewable Source energy on– Twitter– Facebook– YouTube– Flickr– StumbeUpon– Technorati– Delicious– And, of course, Pandora

Summary

• This seems like a great idea – selling renewable offsets to individual consumers and businesses

• Working to make this concept easy to understand

• Using a third part to guarantee against fraud

Bringing it Home

Goose Island: Getting Chicago Involved

• Goose Island, a Chicago based brewery, is one of Renewable Choice’s clients

• They purchase enough renewable power to offset 100% of their energy use

• Employees also worked together to ensure 96% of the brewery waste is reduced, reused, or recycled.

Green Line Pale Ale

• They created a new ale, Green Line, to raise awareness of environmental issues. For each pint sold, a donation is made to the Nature Conservatory.

The End