Green-e Energy Updates Biomass Eligibility in National Standard
San Francisco, Calif., April 25, 2013 /3BL Media/ - Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) today announced updates to the Green-e Energy National Standard regarding the eligibility of biomass as a renewable fuel source. The new language clarifies the circumstances under which organic matter can be burned for electricity generation and have it be considered eligible for inclusion in a Green-e Energy certified renewable energy product.
The update was approved by the independent Green-e Governance Board after two open-stakeholder consultation periods conducted throughout 2012.
Highlights of the changes include clarified language on forestry residues, tree plantations, and the limited circumstances under which whole trees will be eligible as a fuel source (e.g. trees that are certified as thinnings that improve ecology, or have died and fallen naturally). Whole trees from Federal lands are ineligible, as are waste-to-energy technologies such as municipal solid waste gasification. There have been no changes to landfill gas and wastewater methane eligibility. Rules around hydropower, related to repowering and efficiency upgrades, have also been updated as part of this stakeholder consultation.
These changes will go into effect with generation occurring July 1, 2014 and later and used toward Green-e Energy certified sales, with the potential for extended recognition of contracts with biomass facilities that would otherwise no longer be eligible under the revised National Standard.
The latest version of the Green-e Energy National Standard v2.3 is available atwww.green-e.org/energystandard.
Green-e will be holding a free informational webinar about these changes on Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at 11:00 AM PT. Register Here.
About Green‑e and Center for Resource Solutions
A program of Center for Resource Solutions, Green‑e is North America's leading independent consumer protection program for the sale of renewable energy and greenhouse gas reductions in the retail market. Green‑e offers certification and verification of renewable energy and greenhouse gas mitigation products through Green‑e Energy, a renewable energy certification program; Green‑e Climate, a greenhouse gas emission reduction certification program; and Green‑e Marketplace, a program that provides forward-thinking organizations a simple, nationally recognized logo they can use to communicate their renewable energy and climate commitment to their customers and shareholders. To learn more about Green‑e Certified products and programs available in all 50 states and Canada, visit www.green-e.org.
