Volts The debate over renewable energy certificates (RECs)
24 snips
Sep 10, 2025 
Michael Leggett, from Evergreen, and Peggy Kellen, a seasoned expert in greenhouse gas policies at the Center for Resource Solutions, dive into the complex world of renewable energy certificates (RECs). They debate the proposed '24/7' model for matching energy consumption with renewable production. Michael and Peggy explore the implications of such reforms—how they could impact market participation, transparency in sustainability claims, and the pace of decarbonization. Tune in to discover the nuances of RECs and their critical role in the renewable energy landscape!
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Additionality Is Not Automatic
- Additionality questions ask whether REC purchases actually cause new renewable projects to be built.
- You can design REC purchases to target new builds, but additionality is not the default.
What 24/7 Matching Means
- 24/7 matching tags RECs by specific hour and grid and aims to make claims more temporally and geographically precise.
- Big tech like Google leads the voluntary shift toward 24/7 purchasing.
Hourly RECs Improve Data Not Delivery
- Greater temporal granularity (hourly certificates) is technically desirable but may confuse physical delivery claims.
- Creating infrastructure for hourly RECs would improve data but not magically trace electrons.