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Green-e Glossary
This document is intended to help explain and define terms used in Green-e governing documents. It functions
as Green-e Energy Appendix I, Green-e Climate Appendix I, and Green-e Marketplace Annex D.

Last updated March 27, 2017.

Additionality A quality criterion for GHG emissions reduction (carbon offset)

projects stipulating that the project would not have been implemented
in a baseline or "business-as-usual" scenario. Additionality must be met
for all projects supplying carbon offsets certified by Green-e. See
Section 5.1.c(g) of the Green-e Climate Standard for additionality
requirements.

Additionality Tests Methods for the determination or demonstration of additionality. See

Section 5.1.c(g) of the Green-e Climate Standard for combinations of
additionality tests required by Green-e.

Agreed Upon The report supplied to CRS prepared by the Auditor detailing the
Procedures Report results of the annual verification audit by performing the procedures
stipulated in the Annual Verification Audit Protocol. The Green-e
Climate program and the Green-e Energy program have separate audit
procedures and protocol.

Approved Registry A carbon offset project registry that has been approved by Green-e.
Also see "Carbon Offset Project Registry."

Auditor An independent public accountant or certified internal auditor that

performs the Green-e Verification Audit and reports on agreed-upon
procedures.

Auditor Attestation An attestation to be completed by the Auditor signing the Agreed-Upon

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Procedures Report, which states that the Auditor has followed certain
practices when reviewing Participant's verification materials and
preparing the Agreed-Upon Procedures Report. It is available as an
appendix of the Verification Audit Protocol.

Automatic Recurring Purchases made continuously over time through automatic renewals of
Purchases a purchasing agreement or sustained enrollment in a purchasing plan.

Biological Carbon The uptake and storage of CO2 by plants and organisms.
Sequestration

Biological Carbon The carbon contained in identified forest biomass categories, such as
Stocks above and below ground biomass, at a specific point in time.

Bundled Carbon Certified carbon offsets may be sold bundled with other products and
Offset Products services, such as natural gas, for example.

Business-as-Usual A baseline or status quo scenario.

California As one of the strategies to meet California's Global Warming Solutions

Greenhouse Gas Act (AB32), California has implemented a cap-and-trade program for
Cap-and-Trade greenhouse gas emissions arising from the electricity sector and other
Program sources, commencing January 1, 2012. See Appendix A.5 of the Green-
e Energy National Standard for more information and the resulting
Green-e Energy policy.

Carbon Dioxide The common unit of measurement for Greenhouse Gases that reflects
Equivalent (CO2e) the different Global Warming Potential of different greenhouse gases.

Carbon Offset A reduction of greenhouse gases measured in tons of carbon dioxide

avoided, sequestered or destroyed. Also see "GHG Emissions
Reduction Credit."

Carbon Offset A disclosure document showing the emissions reduction project type,
Content Label project location, Endorsed Program, and proportions in a standardized

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form. Green-e Climate requires all participants making Fixed and

Customized Mix Sales of carbon offsets to provide their customers
with a Carbon Offset Content Label. Participants making sales by
project must provide their customers with project-specific information.

Carbon Offset A carbon offset option in which the buyer can choose the proportions
Customized Mix of different combinations of the project type, project location, and
Endorsed Program.

Carbon Offset Fixed A carbon offset option in which the proportions of different
Mix combinations of project type, project location and Endorsed Program
are fixed.

Carbon Offset A single activity or combined program of activities that reduces,

Project avoids, or sequesters Greenhouse Gas emissions beyond a baseline or
business-as-usual scenario and at which measurement, reporting, and
verification of emissions reductions can occur.

Carbon Offset An estimate of GHG emissions, removals, or storage associated with a

Project Baseline baseline scenario.
Emissions

Carbon Offset The scenario or emissions that would most likely have occurred in the
Project Baseline absence of the carbon offset project or emission reduction activity.
Scenario

Carbon Offset The time period over which baseline emission estimates, derived from
Project Crediting a baseline scenario or performance standard, are considered valid for
Period the purpose of quantifying GHG emissions reductions. Once the
crediting period for the baseline scenario expires, either no further
GHG emissions reductions are recognized for the project or project
activity, or a new (revised) baseline scenario or performance standard
must be identified.

Carbon Offset Documents maintained by Carbon Offset Project Standards and

Project Development Registries addressing a GHG emissions reduction project activity or
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Documents program of activities that include a general project description, as well

as validation, monitoring, and verification documentation and reports,
and attestations and statements from project owners, developers,
standards, and registries.

Carbon Offset The current list or portfolio of carbon offset projects being used by a
Project List Seller to supply carbon offsets. See the Green-e Climate Code of
Conduct for format and delivery requirements for Project Lists.

Carbon Offset A standard or program of standards that includes methodologies or

Project Standard protocols for carbon offset projects that specify technical, procedural,
("GHG Program") contractual and accounting requirements and qualifications. Can also
refer to a program that oversees the validation of projects against
methodologies or protocols, approves and registers validated projects,
enforces monitoring of projects, and oversees the verification, crediting
and issuance of GHG emission reduction credits for registered projects
in accordance with program rules. See the Green-e Climate Standard
for requirements for Carbon Offset Project Standards and GHG
Programs.

Carbon Offset The type of project activity that reduces GHG emissions and supplies
Project Type emissions reduction credits for a carbon offset. Examples of carbon
offset project types include: renewable energy, energy efficiency,
forestry, landfill methane capture, transportation, fuel switching,
industrial gas destruction, and others.

Carbon Offset The assessment and approval of documents describing a project's

Project Validation
conformance with project eligibility requirements of a GHG Program,
including, as applicable, information on project design, the baseline
scenarios, the demonstration of additionality, and an appropriate
monitoring plan. Validation of a project or project activity typically
occurs prior to the verification of GHG emissions reductions.

Carbon Offset The suite of internationally accepted criteria for carbon offsets that
Quality Criteria include: permanent, additional, verified, enforceable, and real.

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Carbon Offset An electronic system for issuance, tracking, and retirement of GHG
Registry emission reduction credits.

Carbon Offset Sales A carbon offset option in which GHG emissions reductions from
by Project ("Project- specific eligible projects are sold to customers based on their
specific sales") preference.

Center for Resource CRS is a national nonprofit with global impact. It develops expert
Solutions responses to climate change issues with the speed and effectiveness
necessary to provide real-time solutions. Its leadership through
collaboration and environmental innovation builds policies and
consumer-protection mechanisms in renewable energy, greenhouse gas
reductions, and energy efficiency that foster healthy and sustained
growth in national and international markets. Administrator of the
Green-e certification programs.

"Certifiable" This term is not endorsed by Green-e. This term is sometimes misused
to refer to Green-e Energy eligible RECs. See the FAQ, "What is the
difference between Green-e Energy certified and Green-e Energy
eligible?" for more information. Also see "Eligible."

Certification The independent verification and provision of quality assurances for a

product or service relative to a standard or set of requirements.

Community Generally, Green-e relies on State definitions of community renewables

Renewables Facility
programs and facilities, issued by the Department of Energy, the
Department of the Environment, Public Utilities Commission,
municipal government or other government agency where the projects
exist. Usually community renewables are in close geographic proximity
to the customer, such as in the same city or county. At a minimum,
community renewables should be within the electric service territory or
within the same state as the customer, and the renewable output should
be sold to the customer on a generation facility-specific basis, typically
as a share of total output or capacity. Community renewables are
typically smaller generation units, commonly less than 3MW.

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Community Generally, Green-e relies on State definitions of community renewables

Renewables Program programs and facilities, issued by the Department of Energy, the
Department of the Environment, Public Utilities Commission,
municipal government or other government agency where the projects
exist. Such programs are supplied by community renewables facilities.

Co-firing When two or more fuels are used in a single generator together to
generate electricity. For Green-e Energy, co-firing comes into play
when an eligible fuel type is used together with an ineligible fuel,
requiring calculations to show how much electricity was derived from
the eligible fuel. Co-firing facilities must be pre-approved by Green-e
Energy before they may be used to supply certified sales. See Section
II.B of the National Standard.

Competitive Also known as an electric service provider (ESP) or power marketer, a

Electricity Supplier competitive power supplier sells electricity in the retail market.

Compliance Market The Compliance Market refers to the purchase of renewable energy in
for Renewable order to comply with a specific law or mandate. The compliance
Energy market is primarily comprised of sales made to meet Renewable
Portfolio Standards (RPS) requirements that many states have
implemented. Also see "Renewable Portfolio Standard."

Content Label Much like a nutrition label, the content label includes critical
information about the composition of the product being purchased that
Green-e has identified as necessary for a customer to make an informed
decision. (For renewable energy products see "Product Content Label."
For sales of carbon offset see "Carbon Offset Content Label".)

Default Electricity The mix of energy resource types used to generate the electricity that a
Mix (or "System customer is allocated by their electric service provider, if the customer
Mix") does not purchase renewable energy.

Deregulated Utility Competitive markets (including electricity and gas) where consumers
Markets have a choice of which company they may purchase their electricity or

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gas from. The opposite of a regulated or monopoly market for these

services.

Direct Purchaser Purchasers who have achieved Green-e certification for renewable
energy or carbon offsets not purchased from sellers participating in the
Green-e Energy or Green-e Climate programs.

Direct Purchasing A purchase of Green-e certified renewable energy or carbon offsets

made directly from renewable energy generators and carbon offset
projects, as an alternative to purchasing from a utility, competitive
electricity provider, renewable energy certificate marketer, wholesale
seller, or carbon offset provider/retailer participating in the Green-e
Energy and Green-e Climate programs.

Distributed Small, modular, decentralized, grid-connected or off-grid energy

Generation systems located in or near the place where energy is used.

Double Claiming A form of Double Counting in which more than one end-under claims
the same renewable energy, RECs, or GHG emissions reduction
benefits. For example, resulting from one party claiming the REC and
another claiming the Null Power as renewable also.

Double Counting A situation, inclusive of double selling, double issuance, and double
claiming, in which the same benefit or attribute is counted, recorded, or
claimed more than once in a registry, tracking system, or inventory;
towards a regulatory or voluntary target; or by an end user; or in which
a single benefit or attribute is counted, recorded, or claimed by more
than one party.

Double Issuance A situation in which an attribute or benefit is credited or issued more

than once or to more than one party at the time of issuance or along a
transaction chain

Double Sale A situation in which the same attribute or benefit is sold to more than
one party, resulting in a situation of double claiming and double
counting.
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Electric Utility
Electricity
Distribution and
Transmission System electric utility that delivers electricity to homes or businesses over
Electricity Grid
Eligible Emissions
Reduction Credits
Eligible Renewable
Resource
Emissions Allowance A legal documentation of the right to emit a specific quantity of a
(or Emissions
Permit)
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Green-e Glossary | Green-e
In a regulated electric market, the entity that owns and/or operates
facilities for the generation, transmission, and/or distribution of
electricity. In a deregulated market, this entity becomes an electric
distribution company responsible for transmission and distribution
only, and provides default electrical service to consumers that elect not
to switch to an ESP.
The system of power lines, poles, substations and transformers, directly
connected to homes and businesses. The distribution company is the
these wires. The utility reads meters, maintains local wires and poles
and restores power in the event of an outage.
The grid is a term used to describe the network of wires and cables
which transport electricity from power plants to end users.
Greenhouse gas emissions reductions or credits that are eligible to
supply a Green-e certified carbon offset. Emissions reductions that
have been credited and issued by an Endorsed Program and that are
derived from a carbon offset project that falls within an eligible project
type category for that Endorsed Program and is not excluded due to
eligibility restrictions for that Endorsed Program (as specified in the
Green-e Climate Code of Conduct).
As defined in the Green-e Energy National Standard
pollutant, for example GHGs under a GHG Cap-and-trade Program.
Emissions Allowances can be transacted and potentially sold in the
voluntary market where retirement of the allowance by or on behalf of
a voluntary buyer eliminates the right to emit the quantified amount
within the designated Cap-and-trade Program and results in a real
overall reduction of emissions within the capped sector or region (see
Regulatory GHG Cap-and-trade Emission Allowance Program and
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Voluntary GHG Cap-and-trade Emission Allowance Program). See the

Green-e Climate Standard for requirements for Emission Allowance
Programs.

Emissions Allowance A regulatory or voluntary program that issues Emissions Allowances,

Program for example, a cap-and-trade program.

Emissions Categories See World Resources Institute for definition

(Scopes)

Endorsed Program A GHG Program or Carbon Offset Project Standard identified by

stakeholders and the Green-e Governance Board as meeting the
requirements set forth in the Green-e Climate Standard and related
documents, and which has been endorsed by the Board as an eligible
source of reductions (supply) under the Green-e Climate Program.

Enforceable Applies to the issuance, ownership and transfer of emissions reduction

credits, certificates, benefits or attributes (for example, emissions
reduction credits or RECs) and indicates that issuance and ownership
of benefits and attributes are backed by contracts or legal instruments
that define their creation and ensure exclusive ownership.

Facility Online Date The date a generator or generating facility was placed into service.

Fossil Fuel Resources Conventional electricity generation using natural gas, oil, coal, or
petroleum coke or other petroleum based fuels.

Generator A facility that physically generates electricity. The term is also used
here to denote the owner of such a facility.

Geothermal Energy Natural heat and steam from within the earth that is captured to
generate electric power. Geothermal energy can also be used for space
heating or industrial steam.

GHG Emissions An independently issued, certified, and enforceable instrument

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Reduction Credit representing a unique, verified and permanent reduction, removal, or

sequestration of a specified quantity of greenhouse gases that has
occurred at additional and registered project activity or program of
activities.

GHG Subcommittee A subcommittee of the Green-e Governance Board that provides

guidance on matters related to GHGs and carbon offsets.

Global Climate Changes in the climate due to an enhanced greenhouse effect and a
Change resulting rise in global average temperature.

Green Pricing Green pricing refers to an optional utility service that enables
customers of traditional utilities to support a greater level of utility
investment in renewable energy by paying a premium on their electric
bill to cover any above-market costs of acquiring renewable energy
resources.

Green-e Climate A program of the Center for Resource Solutions, a retail standard and
third-party certification program for carbon offsets sold in the
voluntary market. Visit green-e.org/climate for more information.

Green-e Climate A Green-e document that provides instructions for participating Sellers
Annual Verification of Green-e certified carbon offsets on how to report annual sales and
Audit Instructions complete other obligations for the annual Green-e verification audit.
(Instructions)

Green-e Climate The suite of required materials, including the final Agreed-upon
Annual Verification Procedures Report, required to be submitted annually to the Center for
Submission (Annual Resource Solutions as part of the requirements of Green-e certification
Verification of carbon offsets.
Submissions)

Green-e Climate Carbon offsets that have been certified by Green-e to meet the Green-e
Certified Carbon Climate Standard and include Eligible Emission Reduction Credits
Offsets and/or retired Emissions Allowances, the sale and exclusive delivery of
which have been independently verified, and the sale of which has met
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the marketing and customer disclosure requirements specified in the the

Green-e Climate Code of Conduct.

Green-e Climate The Green-e governing document containing program requirements for
Code of Conduct Sellers of Green-e certified carbon offsets, including the ethical
guidelines, certification categories, eligible supply, and disclosure and
verification requirements.

Green-e Climate The Green-e governing document containing the principles and criteria
Standard for Carbon Offset Projects, Carbon Offset Project Standards, GHG
Emission Reduction Credits, and Emission Allowance Programs.

Green-e Energy A program of the Center for Resource Solutions, a third-party

certification program for renewable energy sold in the North American
voluntary market. Visit green-e.org/energy for more information.

Green-e Energy Provides instructions for Participants in Green-e Energy on how to fill
Annual Getting in the Green-e Energy Verification Bulk Upload Worksheet and what
Started Guide materials to assemble for the Auditor to complete the Agreed-Upon
("Guide") Procedures Report.

Green-e Energy Provides instructions for the Auditor on the procedures to perform in
Annual Verification order to verify a Participant's annual sales and supply of renewable
Audit Protocol energy and/or RECs.
("Protocol")

Green-e Energy A renewable electricity program or REC product that meets all
Certified Product requirements of the Green-e Energy program and that is sold or
transacted by an entity contractually allowed to do so by Center for
Resource Solutions. The Green-e Energy certifies three product types:
REC products, electricity products sold in deregulated markets, and
electricity product sold in regulated non-competitive markets.

Green-e Energy A governing document for Green-e Energy eligibility and certification,
Code of Conduct containing product disclosure requirements.

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Green-e Energy A governing document for Green-e Energy eligibility and certification.
National Standard It is available on the Green-e Energy website at https://www.green-
("National e.org/docs/energy/Green-eEnergyNationalStandard.pdf.
Standard")

Green-e Governance The independent, standard-setting body made up of a diverse group of

Board (The Board) industry experts and stakeholder representatives that provides oversight
over the development of the Green-e Energy National Standard and the
Green-e Climate Standard, as well as guidance to Green-e staff on other
program requirements and areas of interest.

Green-e Logo This is a registered certification mark, owned by the Center for
Resource Solutions. The logo represents that a renewable energy
product or carbon offset option is certified, or that a purchaser of these
products has met minimum Green-e Marketplace usage requirements.
(See definition of "Certification.") Only participants in the Green-e
programs and having contracts with the Center may use the logo. The
logo must be used in the manner described in relevant Green-e
Program's Code of Conduct and/or the "Green-e Logo Use Guidelines."

Green-e Marketplace A promotion and claims certification program for qualified renewable
energy users, run by the nonprofit Center for Resource Solutions.
Visit www.green-e.org/marketplace.

Green-e Verification The Green-e Verification Process is an annual process to determine that
Process program participants are sourcing appropriate quality and quantity of
RECs or Offsets to back up any marketing statements they may have
made. It is composed of an initial unaudited process as well as and
audited agreed upon procedures report, typically due June 1 of the year
following the year of sale. The Green-e Energy and Green-e Climate
programs have separate verification processes.

Greenhouse Gas A greenhouse gas is a gas that absorbs and emits radiation within the
(GHG) thermal infrared range. This process is the fundamental cause of the
greenhouse effect. The six most important greenhouse gases with
respect to radiative forcing are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4),

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nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbon (HFC), perfluorocarbon (PFC),

sulfur hexafluoride (SF6).

Historical Product A primary disclosure document required for all sales of Green-e Energy
Content Label certified renewable energy and REC products. This document contains
information about the certified product, including the actual mix of
resources sold to the customer, which is independently verified by
Green-e. The delivery and contents of the label is monitored by Green-
e.

Hydroelectric A technology that produces electricity from moving water that turns a
generator.

Kilowatt-Hour A standard unit of measurement of electricity use. See the definition of

(kWh) Megawatt-Hour.

Leakage An indirect and/or unanticipated change in GHG emissions or carbon

stocks occurring outside of the project's accounting boundary as a
result of the project.

Low Impact A national non-profit organization dedicated to reducing the impacts of

Hydropower hydropower generation through the certification of hydropower
Institute (LIHI) projects that have avoided or reduced their environmental impacts
pursuant to the Low Impact Hydropower Institute's criteria.

Marketing A twice-annual evaluation of marketing, disclosure, and enrollment

Compliance Review materials used for the Green-e certified product against the
requirements of the Code of Conduct.

Megawatt-Hour A one Megawatt electricity generation plant operating at full capacity

(MWh) for 1 hour will produce one Megawatt-Hour of electricity. One MWh is
equivalent to 1,000 kWh or one million Watt-Hours. The typical unit of
measurement for a REC is one MWh.

Multiple Mix This category of certification covers a product for which the Green-e
product Energy participant may sell up to 100 different resource mixes (a fixed
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combination of resource types, proportion of each resource type, and

generation location) to customers. A Multiple Mix product may only be
sold to commercial or wholesale customers.

Multi-Year Purchase A purchase agreement or contract for the purchase of Certified Offsets
Agreement or Certified Renewable Energy for more than a single year.

Municipal Utility A municipal utility is a non-profit utility that is owned and operated by
the community it serves. Whether or not a municipal utility is open to
customer choice and competition is decided by the municipality's
public officials.

New Date The term "New Date" is defined to include any eligible renewable
facility beginning operation or repowered after the dates indicated on
the following table:

Year of Sale New Date

2015 2001
2016 2002
2017 2003
2018 2004
2019 2005
2020 2006

The New Date will continue to advance by one year each year after
2020.

New Renewable A renewable electricity generating facility that meets the online date
Resource criteria in Section II.E of the Green-e Energy National Standard. In
most cases, a facility's commercial online date must be within 15
calendar years of its output being sold in a Green-e Energy certified
renewable energy product.

Nuclear Nuclear energy is not an eligible resource type under the Green-e
Energy National Standard and cannot be used to supply certified sales.

Null Electricity (or The underlying power remaining when the RECs have been stripped
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Power) off and sold elsewhere. Null power is not renewable but is the
unspecified and undifferentiated power that has the attributes of the
overall system mix or the residual mix where specified power
purchases have been removed.

Offline Sales Sales of Certified products not transacted via a web-based sales
channel.

Offset Card A pre-printed, single-denomination (uniform quantity and type of

offsets) card (need not be in physical card form) used for in-person,
over-the-counter transactions of Green-e Climate certified carbon
offsets.

On-site renewable Renewable energy that is consumed at the same location where it is
energy produced. On-site generation is a form of distributed energy generation.

On-site Verification Verification of carbon offset project or facility qualifications or of an

activity, such as GHG emissions reductions or sequestration, via an in-
person site visit by the verifier. Can be distinguished from a 'desk-top'
review of documentation.

Online Sales Sales of Certified products transacted via a web-based sales channel.

Participant A term used to refer to companies with contracts with CRS to be in the
Green-e programs. Participants could be utilities, REC sellers, carbon
offset sellers, brokers, generators and end-use buyers.

Permanence Applies to GHG emissions reductions and sequestration and the extent
to which they last in perpetuity without the possibility of reversal.

Power Pool An association of interconnected electric systems in a region, often

having an agreement to coordinate operations and plans for reliability
improvements.

Power Purchase A contract for electricity.

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Agreement

Price, Terms & A primary disclosure document required for all sales of Green-e
Conditions certified products. The Price, Terms & Conditions requirements are
listed in the program's respective Code of Conduct. See "Green-e
Energy Code of Conduct" or "Green-e Climate Code of Conduct."

Product The renewable electricity or REC that a Participant sells to customers.

Product Content A disclosure document showing the REC or renewable energy's

Label (PCL) generation type, proportions, and location in a standardized form.
Green-e requires all participants to provide their customers with a
Product Content Label.

Prospective Product
Content Label
A primary disclosure document required for all sales of Green-e Energy
certified renewable energy and REC products. This document contains
information about the certified product, including the expected mix of
resources to be sold to the customer. The delivery and contents of the
label is monitored by Green-e.

Qualifying Green-e Energy Certified renewable energy products or onsite

Renewable Energy generation that meets the Green-e Energy National Standard.

Re-sell The act of purchasing RECs or carbon offsets, and selling them to
another party. The re-seller must be a Participant in Green-e in order to
re-sell a commodity as "certified."

Real Applies to GHG emission reductions and the extent to which they have
been quantified in accordance with technically and scientifically sound
accounting practices such that they represent actual emissions
reductions beyond a baseline and are not artifacts of incomplete or
technically flawed accounting.

REC Broker A broker connects a buyer and seller of renewable energy, but does not
purchase or take title to the renewable energy being traded.

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REC Marketer
REC or Renewable
Energy Aggregator
Referenced Carbon
Offset Project
Standard
Regional Greenhouse None states in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic (Connecticut, Delaware,
Gas Initiative
(RGGI)
Renewable Energy
Renewable Energy
Attributes
Renewable Energy
Certificate (REC)
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Green-e Glossary | Green-e
A REC marketer (seller) purchases renewable energy from a generator
or a wholesale renewable energy provider, and then "markets" (sells)
that energy to retail or wholesale customers who wish to buy a
renewable energy product. A marketer takes title to the renewable
energy and resells it, but at no time claims the environmental benefits
of that renewable energyonly the final buyer can make those claims.
A REC aggregator purchases RECs from distributed generation and
sells as an aggregated unit
A Carbon Offset Project Standard that is referenced in another standard
or by another program such that the project standard is maintained by
an external organization.
Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode
Island and Vermont) have agreed to take part in a regional cap-and-
trade program for greenhouse gas emissions arising from the electricity
section on those states, commencing January 1, 2009.
Electricity generated from resources that naturally replenish themselves
over a period of time.
The physical characteristics and the environmental benefits of
renewable electricity generation that are determined by those physical
characteristics (such as facility size, location, and resource type).
A tradable, contractual instrument that represents the full suite of
attributes of 1 Megawatt-hour of renewable energy generation on the
electricity grid. RECs are the sole means to claim usage of grid-
connected renewable electricity in the United States, and the
compliance instrument for consumption- or delivery-based state
Renewable Portfolio Standards. Renewable electricity generation and
use are tracked through RECs, and so by matching RECs with your
electricity service you are using renewable electricity. A REC
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represents the environmental benefits of 1 megawatt-hour of renewable

electricity that can be paired with electricity.

Renewable Energy Renewable energy generation ownership can be accounted for in two
Tracking System different ways: through contract-path auditing and through tracking
systems. Tracking systems are becoming the preferable method
because they can be highly automated, contain specific information
about each MWh, and are accessible over the internet to market
participants. Tracking systems are databases, typically electronic, with
basic information about each MWh of renewable power generated in
the region. Electronic tracking systems allow RECs to be transferred
among account holders much as in online banking. Renewable energy
tracking systems assign a unique identification number for each
megawatt hour of renewable electricity generated in a particular region.
The database tracks certain information for each megawatt hour,
including facility location, generation technology, facility owner, fuel
type, nameplate capacity, the year the facility began operating, and the
month/year the MWh was generated. Since each MWh has a unique
identification number and can only be in one account at any time, this
reduces ownership disputes.

A tracking system can be used by regulators as a registry of generating

facilities, as a means of verifying compliance with a Renewable
Portfolio Standard, for aiding in the creation of disclosure labels, and
for other purposes such as verifying wholesale supply for green power
products. Tracking systems are not substitutes for certification and
verification, as tracking systems only monitor wholesale transactions
individual retail green power customers do not hold accounts on
tracking systems. That is why certification such as Green-e is so
important for voluntary purchasers.

There are several regional tracking systems in operation in the U.S.,

and more under development. Fully operational tracking systems
include the New England Generation Information System, ERCOT's
Texas Renewables, WECC's Western Renewable Energy Generation
Information System, the Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System
and PJM's Generation Attribute Tracking System. (see map,

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"Renewable Energy Tracking Systems in North America" as

a PNG or PDF):

Renewable MWh A term used to refer to RECs or renewable energy.

Renewable Portfolio A state or federal level policy that requires that a minimum amount
Standard (usually a percentage) of electricity supply provided by each supply
company is to come from renewable energy. Green-e Energy does not
certify RECs that are counted toward a state RPS. Also see
"Compliance Market."

Reporting Year The year-long period over which sales of Green-e certified renewable
energy and carbon offsets are reported to CRS for verification.
Historically, the reporting year has been the calendar year of sales or
delivery. Specific Reporting Years are specified in Green-e Verification
materials.

Repowering / A generation facility that has replaced enough of it generation

Repowered Facility
equipment to be equivalent to a brand new facility. To be eligible under
the National Standard, a repowered facility must meet certain criteria,
submit paperwork to Green-e Energy, and be pre-approved before
being used to supply Green-e Energy certified sales. See Section II.E.2
of the National Standard.

Retirement Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) and carbon offsets must be

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fully retired in order to substantiate a customer's purchase of the

commodity and claim to use. The Green-e programs annually verify
that all supply sold as "certified" has been retired on behalf of or by the
customer.

Scope See "Emissions Categories" above.

Service Area or The geographical territory served by an electric service provider.

Territory

Solar Power Sources that use solar radiation to produce electricity. Photovoltaic
technologies convert sunlight directly into electricity. Solar thermal
electric facilities use the heat of the sun to generate electricity.

Single Mix product
This category of certification covers a product for which all customers
of the product receive one unique resource mix (a fixed combination of
resource types, proportion of each resource type, and generation
location). A Single Mix product may be sold to any customer type
(residential, commercial, or wholesale).

Specific Purchases Electricity transactions which are traceable to specific generation

sources by an auditable contract trail or equivalent, such as a tracking
system, that provides commercial verification that the electricity source
claimed has been sold once and only once to the Green-e Participant.

Supply Supply for RE Products is RECs or RECs and electricity, depending on

the product. Supply for carbon offsets is GHG Emission Reduction
Credits or retired Emission Allowances.

Third-party A company that has partnered with a participating carbon offset Seller
Distributor and is registered with Green-e to sell Green-e Climate certified carbon
offsets on behalf of the participating Seller.

Tracking System (see Renewable Energy Tracking System)

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Transfer An exchange of ownership from one party to another party. This may
occur in a registry account or in a tracking system

Unbundled RECs that are sold, delivered, or purchased separately from electricity.
Renewable Energy
Certificates
(unbundled RECs)

Utility Regulatory Any utility regulatory authority or governing board having jurisdiction
Authority over the allocation of costs from the electricity generating facility. For
example, a state's Public Utilities Commission, or a Municipal Utility's
Board.

Verification Annual process of checking supply matches sales of eligible resources

and that customer expectations have been met.

Verification The Green-e document that details the timeline, due dates associated
Submission Timeline with preparing and submitting Green-e Verification Submissions for a
and Deadlines given Reporting Year.

Verified Emission Applies to GHG emissions reductions and sequestrations and the extent
Reduction to which they have been independently substantiated and authenticated.

Vintage The date or time period that a GHG emissions reduction occurred or
REC/renewable electricity was generated.

Voluntary The Voluntary Market refers to purchases of renewable energy that are
Renewable Energy made above and beyond the minimum amounts required by law.
Market

Welcome Materials Any materials distributed by Seller to the buyer after the purchase of
Green-e Certified renewable energy or carbon offsets.

Welcome Packet The packet of materials that must be sent to customers of Green-e
Energy certified products within 60 days of enrollment. The packet

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must at a minimum include a welcome letter, the Prospective Product

Content Label, and the Price, Terms, and Conditions.

Wholesale Customer A company that buys renewable energy or carbon offsets from a Seller
with the intension of reselling them to another wholesale or retail
customer.

Wholesale Product Renewable energy or carbon offsets sold to a customer that will resell
the commodity. This is opposed to a retail customer who keeps or
retires the commodity in order to make claims about purchase.

Wholesale Supplier A company that sells renewable energy or carbon offsets to a company
that intends to resell them.

Wind Energy A renewable resource using wind to turn a turbine to generate

electricity.

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