ICLEI USA Commons

ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability USA generally does not recommend that local governments purchase RECs as a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions-reduction strategy. This guidance document outlines if, when and how Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) should be incorporated into GHG inventories.

The purchase of unbundled RECs in particular is not recommended, as these RECs are not effective at reducing electricity-generation emissions and per the U.S. Community Protocol, cannot be included in an emissions inventory. There are some cases where acquiring RECs as part of a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), or utility green power or green tariff program, may make sense, particularly if the local government has limitations on other strategies to support local renewable energy. In these cases, RECs may be included in inventories but only in parallel with an inventory that does not include RECs.