California Poised for Fundamental Change with Green Credit Trade

[jpak]

http://www.renewableaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=50437

This fall the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) began evaluating whether utilities mandated to include a rising proportion of green energy in their electricity supply mix can meet the state's renewables portfolio standard (RPS) through the purchase of renewable energy credits (RECs) separately from the power associated with them.

The outcome of the CPUC's deliberations could fundamentally change one of the largest renewable energy markets in the United States—and with nationwide consequences.

With mixed results for REC trading in other areas of the U.S.—and uncertainty about the validity of trading credits between states for stimulating healthy markets for renewables—the concept has supporters but also detractors. Some say REC trading could undermine wind projects for developers and dampen its value to California customers.

The CPUC has previously explored the use of RECS "unbundled" from green electricity for compliance with the RPS, but has always postponed implementation of a certificates trading market. A law passed last year gave the CPUC discretion to decide whether such a market should be introduced and what the trading rules should be.

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[razzleberry]

1. a variation of the carbon-offset scam .n/t.