2012 Green-e Verification Report Shows 29% Increase in Certified Retail Sales
Report shows 29% increase in Green-e Energy certified retail sales in 2012, reaching almost 36 million MWh--enough to power nearly a third of U.S. households for a month
Nov 11, 2013 10:00 AM ET
SAN FRANCISCO, CA ,November 8, 2013 /3BL Media/ — Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) announced today the release of the 2012 Green-e® Verification Report, which highlights Green-e certified renewable energy and carbon offset sales in 2012, as well as organizations that participated in Green-e Marketplace to demonstrate their commitment to renewable energy. The report shows a remarkable 29% increase in total Green-e Energy retail sales volume over the previous year, equivalent to nearly 36 million MWh of renewable energy generation. Green-e certified renewable energy sales in the U.S. have increased an average of nearly 30% each year since 2008. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Green-e now certifies over 1% of the total U.S. electricity mix and approximately three-quarters of the total voluntary market.
In 2012 there were over 670,000 retail purchasers of Green-e certified renewable energy, including 378,000 customers participating in a certified green pricing program—a 10% increase over last year. In 2012, over 500 diverse companies and products were certified by Green-e Marketplace, with most growth occurring in Green-e re:print, a supply-chain program that certifies both printers and paper companies using renewable energy.
2012 was the most successful year for Green-e Climate, with a 47% increase in the number of certified offsets from the previous year. The four year-old program passed a milestone of one million metric tons of carbon dioxide–equivalent reduced since its inception, continuing the trend of annual double-digit growth.
The report shows that non-residential entities once again accounted for the vast majority of certified MWh purchased, at over 33 million MWh, up by 31% over 2011. 2012 also saw a 16% increase in certified residential sales volume, reaching nearly 2.9 million MWh. Wind was the dominant resource in the U.S. voluntary market, with nearly half of all installed U.S. wind capacity selling some or all of its output in a Green-e certified product.
Highlights of the 2012 Green-e Verification Report include:
- Total retail sales of Green-e Energy certified renewable energy rose 29% over 2011, to a total of nearly 36 million MWh.
- In 2012 there were over 670,000 retail purchasers of Green-e certified renewable energy, including 378,000 customers participating in a certified green pricing program—a 10% increase.
- Green-e Energy certified approximately 75% of the entire U.S. voluntary market in 2012, according to data from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
- Over 500 diverse companies and products were certified by Green-e Marketplace in 2012.
- 2012 was the most successful year for Green-e Climate, with a 47% increase in the number of certified offsets from the previous year, and one million metric tons of carbon dioxide–equivalent reduced since the program's inception.
- 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 2012 verification results represent renewable energy and carbon offset sales from marketers, utilities, distributors, and electric service providers.
