Green Power Purchasing

From Open Energy Information

Government entities, businesses, residents, schools, non-profits and others can play a significant role in supporting renewable energy by buying electricity from renewable resources, or by buying renewable energy credits (RECs). Many state and local governments, as well as the federal government, have committed to buying green power to account for a certain percentage of their electricity consumption. Green power purchases are typically executed through contracts with green power marketers or project developers, through utility green power programs, or through community aggregation. [1]


Green Power Purchasing Incentives

IncentiveIncentive TypePlaceApplicable SectorEligible TechnologiesActive
Alternative Energy Zone (Ohio)Green Power Purchasing
Siting and Permitting
Ohio: Energy ResourcesLocal Government
State/Provincial Govt
Biomass/Biogas
Concentrating Solar Power
Geothermal Electric
Hydroelectric energy
Hydroelectric (Small)
Solar Photovoltaics
Wind energy
Yes
Boulder - Green Power Purchasing (Colorado)Green Power PurchasingBoulder, Colorado: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentWindYes
CT Clean Energy Communities (Connecticut)Green Power PurchasingConnecticut: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentSolar Power
Small Wind
Solar Water Heat
Wind
Yes
Capacity and Energy Payments to Cogenerators Under PURPA Docket (Georgia)Green Power Purchasing
Renewables Portfolio Standards and Goals
Georgia: Energy ResourcesCommercial
Developer
Fuel Distributor
General Public/Consumer
Industrial
Installer/Contractor
Investor-Owned Utility
Municipal/Public Utility
Retail Supplier
Rural Electric Cooperative
Systems Integrator
Utility
Biomass/Biogas
Coal with CCS
Concentrating Solar Power
Energy Storage
Fuel Cells
Geothermal Electric
Hydroelectric energy
Hydroelectric (Small)
Natural Gas
Nuclear
Solar Photovoltaics
PRIMRE/Basics/Current Energy
Wave Energy
Wind energy
Yes
Cape Cod & Martha's Vineyard - Green Power Purchasing (Massachusetts)Green Power PurchasingMassachusetts: Energy ResourcesCommercial
Industrial
Residential
Local Government
No
City of Albuquerque - Green Power Purchasing (New Mexico)Green Power PurchasingNew Mexico: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentWindNo
City of Ann Arbor - Green Power Purchasing (Michigan)Green Power PurchasingMichigan: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentLandfill Gas
Solar Power
Small Hydroelectric
Yes
City of Aspen - Green Power Purchasing (Colorado)Green Power PurchasingColorado: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentHydroelectric energy
Wind
Yes
City of Austin - Green Power Purchasing (Texas)Green Power PurchasingTexas: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentLandfill Gas
Solar Power
Wind
Yes
City of Bellingham - Green Power Purchasing (Washington)Green Power PurchasingWashington: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentYes
City of Boston - Green Power Purchasing (Massachusetts)Green Power PurchasingMassachusetts: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentBiomass
Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels
Landfill Gas
Solar Power
Solar Thermal Electric
PRIMRE/Basics/Current Energy
Wave Energy
Wind
Yes
City of Chicago - Green Power Purchasing (Illinois)Green Power PurchasingIllinois: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentLandfill Gas
Solar Power
Wind
Yes
City of Dallas - Green Energy Purchasing (Texas)Green Power PurchasingTexas: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentWindYes
City of Davis - Green Power Purchasing (California)Green Power PurchasingCalifornia: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentSolar PowerNo
City of Evanston - Green Power Purchase (Illinois)Green Power PurchasingIllinois: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentWindNo
City of Grand Rapids - Green Power Purchasing Policy (Michigan)Green Power PurchasingMichigan: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentBiomass
Hydroelectric energy
Landfill Gas
Solar Power
Solar Thermal Electric
Solar Water Heat
Wind
Yes
City of Houston - Green Power Purchasing (Texas)Green Power PurchasingTexas: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentWindYes
City of Lansing - Green Power Purchasing Policy (Michigan)Green Power PurchasingMichigan: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentSolar Power
Wind
Yes
City of Los Angeles - Green Power Purchasing (California)Green Power PurchasingCalifornia: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentNo
City of Madison - Green Power Purchasing (Wisconsin)Green Power PurchasingWisconsin: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentBiodiesel
Ethanol
Solar Power
Renewable Fuels
Renewable Transportation Fuels
Wind
Yes
City of Oakland - Photovoltaic Generation Systems Project (California)Green Power PurchasingCalifornia: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentSolar PowerNo
City of Philadelphia - Green Power Purchasing (Pennsylvania)Green Power PurchasingPennsylvania: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentBiomass
Hydroelectric energy
Solar Power
Small Hydroelectric
Wind
Yes
City of Phoenix - Renewable Energy Goal (Arizona)Green Power PurchasingArizona: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentAnaerobic Digestion
Biomass
Landfill Gas
Solar Power
Solar Thermal Electric
Yes
City of San Diego - Green Power Purchasing (California)Green Power PurchasingCalifornia: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentBiomass
Fuel Cells
Geothermal Electric
Landfill Gas
Municipal Solid Waste
Ocean Thermal
Solar Power
Small Hydroelectric
Solar Thermal Electric
Solar Water Heat
PRIMRE/Basics/Current Energy
Wave Energy
Wind
No
City of San Francisco - Renewable Energy Purchasing (California)Green Power PurchasingCalifornia: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentFuel Cells
Solar Power
Solar Thermal Electric
Wind
No
City of San Francisco Solar Program (California)Green Power PurchasingCalifornia: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentSolar PowerNo
City of Santa Monica - Green Power Purchasing (California)Green Power PurchasingCalifornia: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentBiomass
Geothermal Electric
Yes
City of Scottsdale - Green Power Purchasing (Arizona)Green Power PurchasingArizona: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentSolar PowerNo
Clark County - Green Power Purchasing (Washington)Green Power PurchasingWashington: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentSolar Power
Wind
No
Clean Energy Procurement (Maryland)Green Power PurchasingMaryland: Energy ResourcesState GovernmentAnaerobic Digestion
Biomass
Landfill Gas
Municipal Solid Waste
Solar Power
Solar Thermal Electric
Wind
Yes
Conway - Green Power Purchasing (South Carolina)Green Power PurchasingSouth Carolina: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentLandfill GasNo
Delaware - Green Power Requirement For State Facilities (Delaware)Green Power PurchasingDelaware: Energy ResourcesState GovernmentOther Distributed Generation TechnologiesNo
Denver - Green Power Purchasing (Colorado)Green Power PurchasingColorado: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentWindNo
Fairfax County - Green Power Purchase (Virginia)Green Power PurchasingVirginia: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentWindNo
Green Power Offer (Maine)Green Power PurchasingMaine: Energy ResourcesCommercial
General Public/Consumer
Low-Income Residential
Multi-Family Residential
Residential
Biomass/Biogas
Coal with CCS
Concentrating Solar Power
Energy Storage
Fuel Cells
Geothermal Electric
Hydroelectric energy
Hydroelectric (Small)
Natural Gas
Nuclear
Solar Photovoltaics
PRIMRE/Basics/Current Energy
Wave Energy
Wind energy
Yes
Green Power Purchase Commitment (Rhode Island)Green Power PurchasingRhode Island: Energy ResourcesNo
Green Power Purchase Plan (Connecticut)Green Power PurchasingConnecticut: Energy ResourcesState GovernmentBiomass
Fuel Cells
Landfill Gas
Ocean Thermal
Solar Power
Small Hydroelectric
Solar Thermal Electric
PRIMRE/Basics/Current Energy
Wave Energy
Wind
Yes
Green Power Purchasing (Maine)Green Power PurchasingMaine: Energy ResourcesState GovernmentBiomass
Fuel Cells
Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels
Hydroelectric energy
Landfill Gas
Municipal Solid Waste
Solar Power
Solar Thermal Electric
PRIMRE/Basics/Current Energy
Wave Energy
Wind
Yes
Green Power Purchasing (Massachusetts)Green Power PurchasingMassachusetts: Energy ResourcesState GovernmentNo
Green Power Purchasing (Wisconsin)Green Power PurchasingWisconsin: Energy ResourcesState GovernmentBiomass
Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels
Geothermal Electric
Hydroelectric energy
Solar Power
Solar Thermal Electric
PRIMRE/Basics/Current Energy
Wave Energy
Wind
Yes
Green Power Purchasing Commitment (Massachusetts)Green Power PurchasingMassachusetts: Energy ResourcesState GovernmentAnaerobic Digestion
Biomass
CHP/Cogeneration
Fuel Cells
Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels
Geothermal Electric
Hydroelectric energy
Landfill Gas
Municipal Solid Waste
Ocean Thermal
Other Distributed Generation Technologies
Solar Power
Renewable Fuels
Small Hydroelectric
Solar Thermal Electric
PRIMRE/Basics/Current Energy
Wave Energy
Wind
Yes
Honolulu - Solar Bond (Hawaii)Green Power PurchasingHawaii: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentSolar PowerNo
Hydro-Quebec Distribution - Biomass - EAP 2011-1 (Quebec, Canada)Green Power PurchasingQuebec: Energy ResourcesCommercial
Industrial
Biomass/BiogasYes
Illinois - Green Power Purchasing (Illinois)Green Power PurchasingIllinois: Energy ResourcesState GovernmentSolar Thermal Electric
Solar Power
Wind
Biomass
Small Hydroelectric
No
Indiana - Green Power Purchasing (Indiana)Green Power PurchasingIndiana: Energy ResourcesState GovernmentSolar Thermal Electric
Solar Power
Landfill Gas
Wind
Biomass
Geothermal Electric
Municipal Solid Waste
Anaerobic Digestion
No
Iowa - Green Power Procurement (Iowa)Green Power PurchasingIowa: Energy ResourcesState GovernmentSolar Thermal Electric
Solar Power
Landfill Gas
Wind
Biomass
Municipal Solid Waste
Anaerobic Digestion
Small Hydroelectric
No
Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System (Multiple States)Green Power PurchasingIllinois: Energy Resources
Iowa: Energy Resources
Manitoba: Energy Resources
Minnesota: Energy Resources
Montana: Energy Resources
North Dakota: Energy Resources
Ohio: Energy Resources
South Dakota: Energy Resources
Wisconsin: Energy Resources
DeveloperBiomass/Biogas
Coal with CCS
Concentrating Solar Power
Energy Storage
Fuel Cells
Geothermal Electric
Hydroelectric energy
Hydroelectric (Small)
Natural Gas
Nuclear
Solar Photovoltaics
PRIMRE/Basics/Current Energy
Wave Energy
Wind energy
Yes
Moab - Green Power Community (Utah)Green Power PurchasingUtah: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentWindNo
Montgomery County - Green Power Purchasing (Maryland)Green Power PurchasingMaryland: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentAnaerobic Digestion
Biomass
Geothermal Electric
Landfill Gas
Solar Power
Solar Thermal Electric
PRIMRE/Basics/Current Energy
Wind
Yes
Montgomery County - Wind Power Purchasing (Pennsylvania)Green Power PurchasingPennsylvania: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentWindNo
Municipal Electric Power (Minnesota)Green Power PurchasingMinnesota: Energy ResourcesCommercial
Municipal/Public Utility
Hydroelectric energy
Hydroelectric (Small)
Yes
Myrtle Beach - Green Power Purchasing (South Carolina)Green Power PurchasingSouth Carolina: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentLandfill GasNo
Nassau County - Green Power Purchasing Policy (New York)Green Power PurchasingNew York: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentSolar Power
Biomass
Hydroelectric energy
Anaerobic Digestion
Wind
No
New Jersey - Green Power Purchasing (New Jersey)Green Power PurchasingNew Jersey: Energy ResourcesState GovernmentSolar Thermal Electric
Solar Thermal Process Heat
Solar Power
Landfill Gas
Wind
Biomass
Hydroelectric energy
Geothermal Electric
Anaerobic Digestion
PRIMRE/Basics/Current Energy
Wave Energy
Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels
No
North American Renewables Registry (Multiple States)Green Power PurchasingNorth Carolina: Energy Resources
Kansas: Energy Resources
Illinois: Energy Resources
Missouri: Energy Resources
Puerto Rico: Energy Resources
DeveloperBiomass/Biogas
Coal with CCS
Concentrating Solar Power
Energy Storage
Fuel Cells
Geothermal Electric
Hydroelectric energy
Hydroelectric (Small)
Natural Gas
Nuclear
Solar Photovoltaics
PRIMRE/Basics/Current Energy
Wave Energy
Wind energy
Yes
North Myrtle Beach - Green Power Purchasing (South Carolina)Green Power PurchasingSouth Carolina: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentLandfill GasNo
Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council - Aggregation (Ohio)Green Power PurchasingOhio: Energy ResourcesCommercial
Residential
Local Government
Solar Power
Wind
No
Omnibus Energy Bill of 2013 (Maine)Climate Policies
Generating Facility Rate-Making
Green Power Purchasing
Interconnection
Line Extension Analysis
Loan Program
Public Benefits Fund
Renewables Portfolio Standards and Goals
Siting and Permitting
Solar/Wind Access Policy
Maine: Energy ResourcesAgricultural
Commercial
Construction
Developer
Fed. Government
Fuel Distributor
General Public/Consumer
Industrial
Installer/Contractor
Institutional
Investor-Owned Utility
Local Government
Low-Income Residential
Multi-Family Residential
Municipal/Public Utility
Nonprofit
Residential
Retail Supplier
Rural Electric Cooperative
Schools
State/Provincial Govt
Systems Integrator
Transportation
Tribal Government
Utility
Biomass/Biogas
Energy Storage
Geothermal Electric
Natural Gas
Nuclear
PRIMRE/Basics/Current Energy
Wave Energy
Wind energy
Yes
PROINFA - Programa de Incentivo às Fontes Alternativas de EnergiaGreen Power PurchasingBrazil: Energy ResourcesNo
Pennsylvania - Green Power Purchasing (Pennsylvania)Green Power PurchasingPennsylvania: Energy ResourcesState GovernmentNo
Plano - Renewable Energy Purchasing Policy (Texas)Green Power PurchasingTexas: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentNo
Portland - Green Power Purchasing & Generation (Oregon)Green Power PurchasingOregon: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentSolar Power
Wind
Biomass
Geothermal Electric
Anaerobic Digestion
No
Prince George's County - Green Power Purchasing (Maryland)Green Power PurchasingMaryland: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentWindNo
Public Service Commission Authorization to Utilize an Alternative Method of Cost Recovery for Certain Base Load Generation (Mississippi)Green Power Purchasing
Industry Recruitment/Support
Performance-Based Incentive
Public Benefits Fund
Mississippi: Energy ResourcesCommercial
Construction
Developer
Fuel Distributor
General Public/Consumer
Industrial
Installer/Contractor
Investor-Owned Utility
Rural Electric Cooperative
Utility
Biomass/Biogas
Coal with CCS
Fuel Cells
Natural Gas
Nuclear
Yes
Renewable Power Procurement Policy (New York)Green Power PurchasingNew York: Energy ResourcesState GovernmentBiomass
Fuel Cells
Geothermal Electric
Landfill Gas
Solar Power
Solar Thermal Electric
PRIMRE/Basics/Current Energy
Energy Storage
Wind
Yes
Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources Tariff RNR-7 (Georgia)Green Power Purchasing
Mandatory Utility Green Power Option
Georgia: Energy ResourcesCommercial
Construction
Fuel Distributor
General Public/Consumer
Industrial
Installer/Contractor
Investor-Owned Utility
Municipal/Public Utility
Retail Supplier
Rural Electric Cooperative
Systems Integrator
Utility
Biomass/Biogas
Concentrating Solar Power
Energy Storage
Fuel Cells
Geothermal Electric
Hydroelectric energy
Hydroelectric (Small)
Natural Gas
Solar Photovoltaics
PRIMRE/Basics/Current Energy
Wave Energy
Wind energy
Yes
Rhode Island - Green Power Purchasing (Rhode Island)Green Power PurchasingRhode Island: Energy ResourcesState GovernmentHydroelectric energy
Wind
No
Salt Lake City - Green Power Purchasing (Utah)Green Power PurchasingUtah: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentWindNo
San Francisco - Solar Bonds (California)Green Power PurchasingCalifornia: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentSolar Thermal Electric
Solar Power
Wind
Fuel Cells
No
Santa Barbara County - Green Power Purchasing (California)Green Power PurchasingCalifornia: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentNo
Santee Cooper Green Power Purchasing (South Carolina)Green Power PurchasingSouth Carolina: Energy ResourcesGeneral Public/ConsumerSolar Power
Landfill Gas
No
Seattle - Green Power Purchasing (Washington)Green Power PurchasingWashington: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentWindNo
Small Generator Aggregation (Maine)Green Power PurchasingMaine: Energy ResourcesAgricultural
Commercial
Construction
Fed. Government
Fuel Distributor
General Public/Consumer
Industrial
Installer/Contractor
Institutional
Investor-Owned Utility
Local Government
Low-Income Residential
Multi-Family Residential
Municipal/Public Utility
Nonprofit
Residential
Retail Supplier
Rural Electric Cooperative
Schools
State/Provincial Govt
Systems Integrator
Transportation
Tribal Government
Utility
Biomass/Biogas
Coal with CCS
Concentrating Solar Power
Energy Storage
Fuel Cells
Geothermal Electric
Hydroelectric energy
Hydroelectric (Small)
Natural Gas
Nuclear
Solar Photovoltaics
PRIMRE/Basics/Current Energy
Wave Energy
Wind energy
Yes
South Carolina Municipalities - Green Power Purchasing (South Carolina)Green Power PurchasingSouth Carolina: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentLandfill Gas
Solar Power
Wind
Yes
Suffolk County - Green Power Purchasing Policy (New York)Green Power PurchasingNew York: Energy ResourcesLocal GovernmentBiomass
Hydroelectric energy
Solar Power
Wind
No
Tennessee - Green Power Purchase (Tennessee)Green Power PurchasingTennessee: Energy ResourcesState GovernmentLandfill Gas
Wind
No
U.S. Federal Government - Green Power Purchasing Goal (Federal)Green Power PurchasingUnited States: Energy ResourcesFed. GovernmentBiomass
Geothermal Electric
Hydroelectric energy
Landfill Gas
Municipal Solid Waste
Ocean Thermal
Solar Power
Solar Thermal Electric
PRIMRE/Basics/Current Energy
Wave Energy
Wind
Yes


References

  1. DSIRE Glossary