FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

California Directs State’s Largest Utilities to Offer Green-e Energy Certified Green Power Programs

Historic decision ensures California residents across the state will have the option to choose certified green power

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA (February 5, 2015)—In a landmark decision last week, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved the “Green Tariff Shared Renewables Program,” a measure that will give millions of California residents and businesses the chance to participate in a utility clean energy program for the first time. The decision, which benefits the majority of the state’s businesses and over 38 million residents, directs the three largest investor-owned utilities—Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Southern California Edison Company, and San Diego Gas and Electric Company, which together cover nearly 80% of the state—to offer a Green-e Energy certified 100% renewable energy option to their customers. The measure also encourages the three utilities to develop a range of green power options that will allow ratepayers at all income levels to use more renewable energy than the state’s current requirement of 33% by 2020.

The measure, which passed the Commission in a 5-0 vote on January 29, directs utilities to seek Green-e Energy certification for their programs. “Green-e Energy certification will provide consumers with assurance that the product meets the Green-e Energy National Standard,”¹ it says. “Green-e Energy certification will also provide customers with standardized, understandable information on the energy’s attributes.”² The measure also underscores Green-e’s open-stakeholder process, explaining that it is “developed with input from the public, including electricity users, generators, consumer protection groups, environmental policy and advocacy groups, renewable fuel companies, environmental regulatory bodies and others.”³

“California continues to lead the way by ensuring households and businesses across the state can make the choice for clean energy,” said CRS Executive Director Jennifer Martin. “This historic decision means that pent-up demand for renewable electricity can soon be met, and will drive new clean energy development.”

The Green Tariff Shared Renewables Program is the first step in implementing Senate Bill (SB) 43, which passed in September 2013 and requires the three utilities to develop green pricing programs for their customers that go over and above the amount of clean energy currently required by the state.

About Green‑e and Center for Resource Solutions
A program of the nonprofit Center for Resource Solutions, Green‑e is North America’s leading independent consumer protection program for the sale of renewable energy and greenhouse gas reductions in the retail market. Green‑e offers certification and verification services through Green‑e Energy, a renewable energy certification program; Green‑e Climate, a greenhouse gas emission reduction certification program; and Green‑e Marketplace, a program that provides forward-thinking organizations a simple, nationally recognized logo they can use to communicate their renewable energy and climate commitment to their customers and stakeholders. To learn more about Green‑e Certified products and programs available in all 50 states and Canada, visit www.green‑e.org.

NOTES

^{1, 2, 3.} California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Decision 15-01-051 January 29, 2015. Decision Approving Green Tariff Shared Renewables Program for San Diego Gas & Electric Company, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, and Southern California Edison Company pursuant to Senate Bill 43. Available online: http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/Published/G000/M146/K250/146250314.PDF.

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©2015 Center for Resource Solutions. For more information, see us at www.resource-solutions.org or call 415-561-2100.