Green-e Certified renewable energy and carbon offset sales increased 43% in 2009, according to the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS), the nonprofit that manages the certification program.
The increase in green energy sales volume is equivalent to over 18 million MWh of renewable energy generation.
According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Green-e Energy
certified 62% of all voluntary market retail sales in the U.S.
The 2009 Green-e® Verification Report also shows data on carbon offset sales certified by Green-e Climate, a certification and consumer-protection program for retail carbon offsets that is the only program of its kind in the international voluntary carbon market. In its second year the program’s 10 participants offered a total of 16 certified products from a variety of project types including renewable energy and methane destruction, with more than 176,000 unique tons of CO2-equivalent sold in 2009, a nearly 30% increase over the previous year, and beating the overall retail carbon-offset market, which saw significant decline.
The report shows that utility participation in Green-e Energy grew significantly in 2009, with certified utility green-pricing sales reaching over 2.5 million MWh, an 18% increase from 2008. This reflects a rise in certified residential and commercial purchases. Over 487,000 customers participated in green-pricing programs, with commercial purchases from over 18,000 customers increasing 33% over 2008. Residential purchases were up 10% in the same period.
"Consumers and businesses continue to make buying clean energy a priority, despite a challenging year for many," said CRS Executive Director Arthur O’Donnell. "Nearly three-quarters of the voluntary renewable market is certified by Green-e Energy, a reflection of these customers’ clear preference for third-party certification."
Green-e provides third party verification to ensure environmental products meet strict standards set through a collaborative stakeholder-review process with environmentalists, consumer advocates, and energy experts. Providers of certified products undergo an annual verification audit to document that their supply meets their sales in quantity and type. The 2009 verification results represent renewable energy and carbon offset sales from marketers, utilities, distributors, and electric service providers.
Other highlights of the 2009 Green-e Verification Report include:
- Over 545,000 residential customers and more than 37,000 commercial customers across the U.S. and Canada purchased Green-e Energy Certified renewable energy, increases of 9% and 85%, respectively
- Green-e Energy Certified retail products avoided over 9.4 million metric tons of CO2 emissions that would have been produced by an equivalent amount of average system power
- Renewable energy purchases and onsite generation by Green-e Marketplace participants totaled over 402,000 MWh
- Sales of Green-e Climate Certified carbon offsets in 2009 resulted in over 176,000 metric tons CO2-equivalent reduced, a nearly 30% increase from 2008
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