Renewable energy facilities create electricity that is delivered to a network of transmission wires, often referred to as “the grid”. The grid is segmented into regional power pools and in many cases, these pools are not interconnected. To help facilitate the sale of renewable electricity nationally, a system was established that separates renewable energy generation into two parts: the electricity or electrical energy produced by a renewable generator and the renewable “attributes” of that generation. The renewable attributes or “green” attributes are sold separately as renewable energy certificates, or RECs. Only one certificate may be issued for each unit of renewable energy produced. The electricity that was split from the REC is no longer considered “renewable” and cannot be counted as renewable or zero-emissions by whoever buys it.
