SAN FRANCISCO: The Center for Resource Solutions (CRS), a non-profit
organization devoted to promoting customer confidence in environmentally
preferable electricity choices, today announced the launch of
the first independent Accreditation Initiative for utility green
pricing programs. The Initiative is designed to recognize and
accredit best practice utility programs which offer qualified
green electricity options to their customers.
CRS is administering the initiative and will offer accreditation
to utilities that provide green choice options to their customers
in markets where consumers cannot yet choose their retail electricity
provider. To receive accreditation, utilities will have to meet
stringent standards for consumer and environmental protection
in addition to using renewable energy resources. Accredited utilities
will also undergo an annual, independent verification documenting
that they delivered promised green power to their customers.
"The Green Pricing Accreditation Initiative is part of
our efforts to help use the power of customer choice to promote
renewable energy and protect the environment," said Jan
Hamrin, Executive Director of CRS. Accreditation Governing Board
Members, a coalition of environmental and consumer protection
groups, have the following comments on the Initiative:
"Local environmental and community groups can offer customers
an important service by developing standard environmental criteria
for 'best practice' green pricing programs," said Sheryl
Carter, Senior Project Policy Analyst with the Natural Resources
Defense Council. "Accreditation will give consumers confidence
that they are getting what they paid for."
"The Tennessee Valley Authority and
many other utilities are offering green pricing programs as
a value-added service
to their customers. The third-party recognition and verification
offered by this Initiative will ensure quality control for consumers
in this new area of 'green' electricity, said Stephen Smith,
Executive Director of the Tennessee Valley Energy Reform Coalition.
Rudd Mayer, Green Marketing Program Director
of the Land and Water Fund of the Rockies said, "Consumer
choice in support of green power is a critical step in our
efforts to support renewables,
clean the air and protect the environment. Accreditation provides
a valuable guidepost to customers interested in making smart
choices with their electricity dollars."
Michael Vickerman, Executive Director of
RENEW Wisconsin said, "Wisconsin
is fortunate to have two of the most successful utility green
power programs in the country, serving over 16,000 customers
combined. We expect this accreditation initiative to accelerate
the spread of high-quality green power programs throughout Wisconsin
and the Upper Midwest."
The core criteria for the Initiative, developed by the Accreditation
Initiative's governing board of environmental advocacy, consumer
protection, and renewable energy experts, will be adapted for
use in various regions of the country, through the work of local
stakeholder groups. CRS expects to announce the first utility
programs Accredited by the Initiative early next year.
CRS is also home to the "Green-e" certification
for green power marketers operating in restructured electricity
markets.
More information on the Accreditation Initiative and its standards
is available at www.resource-solutions.org
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