In Episode 120 of the Squeaky Clean Energy Podcast, Lucas Grimes from the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) joined Nick Jimenez of the Southern Environmental Law Center and Casey Collins from Duke University to discuss North Carolina’s newly approved Green Source Advantage Choice program. This program, aimed at enabling large customers to procure clean energy, faces challenges that may impact customer participation.
During the episode, CRS highlighted areas where Duke Energy’s programs fall short of meeting Green-e® certification standards because they do not enable customers to purchase renewable energy that accelerates decarbonization beyond what is already required by law. This impact that customers want is referred to as “regulatory surplus” and is essential to voluntary renewable energy purchases. CRS also offered recommendations on how these programs could be refined to align with Green-e® Energy standards and better support voluntary renewable energy markets.
Lucas emphasized the critical role voluntary markets play in advancing renewable energy, particularly as more states adopt ambitious clean energy laws through policies like Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS), Clean Energy Standards (CES), and cap-and-trade programs. CRS’s insights underscored the interplay between voluntary markets and state-level policies, exploring how these markets can thrive alongside evolving compliance requirements. This episode provides valuable perspectives on the opportunities for clean energy programs in North Carolina and beyond, shedding light on how thoughtful program design can enhance their impact in the energy transition.
