RECs Fact Sheet
CERCs Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)
CERCs Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)
CERC worked successfully with the Democratic National Convention
Committee and Constellation New Energy to power the Fleet Center
with renewable energy during the Democration National Convention
this past July in Boston, Massachusetts.
CERC estimated the Conventions' (the Fleet Center and associated
media buildings') electrical usage during the convention at approximately
800 MWh. Donations from individuals and corporations enabled CERC
to purchase 500 Renewable Energy Certificates (also called RECs
or Renewable Energy Credits) of one megawatt hour (1 MWh) each from
a portfolio of renewable energy projects. Constellation
New Energy donated an additional 300 RECs to meet the 800 MWh
estimate.
These 800 megawatt hours of donated and purchased RECs fully match
the estimated electricity use at the Democratic National Convention
in Boston in July.
Now with the Convention over, CERC and Constellation New Energy
shall determine how much electricity was actually used and will
secure additional RECs if needed.
Why is this important?
RECs provide electricity customers the opportunity to support green
power and enable utilities to meet renewable energy quotas. Renewable
energy has very significant environmental, health and climate protective
benefits when compared to traditional energy
sources, and RECs represent those benefits.
How do Renewable Energy Credits work?
For every unit of electricity generated from a renewable energy
source, there is a corresponding REC. These RECs can be tracked,
traded and retired in the name of the end customer.
When buying electricity from the grid, you cannot dictate where
the electricity will come from. Electricity follows the path of
least resistance (and most likely will come from the closest generator).
However, you can direct where your money goes. RECs provide
an easy and secure way to support renewable energy projects. The
money generated by the sale of RECs goes to existing renewable energy
facilities. The additional revenue stream provides a financial incentive
for developers to build more renewable energy projects.
How did CERC get 500 MWh Certificates?
CERC raised over $11,000 in tax-deductible donations from individuals
and corporations to green the electricity to power July's national
political convention in Boston. CERC used the money to purchase
500 RECs from two separate REC providers - Mass Energy and EAD Environmental.
Where do the Certificates come from?
The sources for CERC's Renewable Energy Certificates are as follows:
REC Donations from Constellation NewEnergy:
252 RECs from the Beaver Livermore Falls biomass plant located
in Maine. The plant has a 40 megawatt capacity to produce exceptionally
low- emission electricity from forestry-derived wood waste products.
44 RECs from the Fenner Windpower Project located in upstate
New York. The wind farm at Fenner has 20 wind turbines and was
completed in November 2001. Power from the Fenner Windpower Project
is wheeled into the New England Power Pool from New York.
4 RECs from solar projects located at schools or nonprofit organizations
in Rhode Island.
REC Purchases from Mass Energy:
84 RECs generated from the Hull Wind Turbine, a 660-kilowatt
wind turbine installed in Hull, MA in December of 2001. The Hull
Municipal Light Department owns the wind turbine. The turbine
produces 1,600 MWh of electricity per year.
CERC, The Island Alliance and BlueWave Strategies hosted a "Wind
& Waves"a Harbor Cruise for delegates, media, sponsors,
supporters and guests on July 27 which stopped over at Hull's
Windmill Point during the Convention week to visit the Hull Turbine
and learn about its operation first hand.
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REC Purchases from EAD Environmental:
281 RECs from the 30-megawatt Peetz Table Wind Farm located in
northeastern Colorado. The wind farm at Peetz has 33 wind turbines.
Completed in December 2001, the Peetz Table Wind Power Plant can
power up to approximately 9,000 homes a year.
125 RECs from the Dayville Pond Hydroelectric Project, a small
100-kilowatt hydroelectric facility located on the Five Mile River
in Dayville, Connecticut. The project generates approximately 350
MWh of electricity per year.
10 RECs from the Woodville Landfill Gas generating facility located
in Woodville, California. Completed and placed into service in December
1999, the Woodville facility generates approximately 6,500 MWh of
renewable power each year, enough to power approximately 600 average
US homes per year.
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