SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (June 1, 2007) — This week the Texas Legislature removed doubts about the integrity and importance of its voluntary market for renewable energy when it passed a repeal of a provision of utility law in the State. That provision of law, known as Subsection (m) and inserted in a special legislative session two years ago, would have required all renewable energy and Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), even those associated with voluntary purchases of renewable energy, to count against the state mandate. For that reason, Green-e determined it could not ensure that voluntary renewable energy purchases sourced in Texas could meet Green-e's additionality criteria, and the Green-e program ceased to certify Texas renewables and RECs last December. The new legislation repeals the problematic Subsection (m) and affirms the prohibition against double counting by stating:

(m) A renewable energy credit retired for purposes other than to meet the requirements of Subsection (c)(1) may not affect the minimum annual renewable energy requirement under Subsection (c)(1) for a retail electric provider, municipally owned utility, or electric cooperative.

The full text is available at: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/80R/billtext/html/HB01090F.HTM

The new law codifies Texas' commitment to a voluntary renewable energy market with integrity, and allows the Green-e program to immediately resume certifying renewable energy and RECs sourced in Texas.

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