The Legal Basis for Renewable Energy Certificates

There is a strong legal basis for the use of renewable energy certificates (RECs) as instruments that represent the attributes of renewable electricity generation and are used to demonstrate renewable electricity purchasing, delivery, and use within the broader context of functioning voluntary and compliance renewable electricity markets. This document provides a summary of different selected sources on the definition and function of RECs in the U.S. Originally published in 2012, revised in 2014 and 2015, and updated in April 2023.