Status and Trends in the U.S. Voluntary Green Power Market (2016 Data)

Abstract

Green power-for the purposes of this report-refers to renewable electricity voluntarily purchased by retail electricity customers. It is substantiated through renewable energy certificates (RECs). The voluntary green power market encompasses seven green power procurement mechanisms: utility green pricing programs, utility renewable contracts, unbundled RECs, competitive suppliers, community choice aggregations (CCAs), power purchase agreements (PPAs), and community solar. About 6.3 million customers procured about 95 million megawatt-hours (MWh) of green power in 2016 (Table ES-1), which represents a 45% increase in the number of customers and a 19% increase in the amount sales from 2015. The voluntary green power market now accounts for about 28% of all U.S. renewable energy sales, excluding large hydropower.

Advancing transformative sustainability: A comparative analysis of electricity service and supply innovators in the United States

“…The details of each program differ, but some common features characterize CCAs: Customers within the CCA service territory are automatically enrolled unless they opt out. Automatic enrollment of customers improves participation: the lowest CCA participation rate stands at about 75%, comparing favorably to the typical 20% seen in voluntary programs (Jones, Bennett, Ji, & Kazerooni, ); The aggregator selects power supply options and sets electricity rates; The incumbent utility remains responsible for transmission and distribution, including billing and collections (O'Shaughnessy et al, ; Stoner & Dalessi, ); and Many CCAs also implement energy efficiency and other demand side management programs (Local Power Inc., 2009). …”

“…There is growing interest in the CCA model: CCA sales in the United States increased by ~18% over 2015–2016 in particular due to expansions of CCA programs in California, Massachusetts and New York (O'Shaughnessy et al, ). Seven states have now passed CCA‐supporting legislation (Jones et al, ; O'Shaughnessy et al, ).…”

“…Community Choice Aggregator data from O'Shaughnessy, Heeter, Cook, & Volpi (O'Shaughnessy et al, ) for count, customers and sales. Revenue data from EIA (Energy Information Administration, ).…”

“…Ranking is determined by taking the mean of the two normalized variables. A detailed list of the selection of "innovators" is available as supplementary material at http://www.freefutures.org/research b Community Choice Aggregator data from O'Shaughnessy, Heeter, Cook, & Volpi (O'Shaughnessy et al, 2017) for count, customers and sales. Revenue data from EIA (Energy Information Administration, 2017).…”

Hot Topic Brief: Emerging Policies for Mobilizing Private Sector Investment into Clean Energy in the Philippines

“…How power purchase agreements workThe figure provides a simplified schematic for visualization purposes. Specific contract structures may vary(O'Shaughnessy et al 2017). …”