Sell RECS

Electric Utilities Sell RECS For Support

There are many individuals and companies that are passionate about the environment and renewable, clean energy that do not have access to energy sources such as solar generators.   There are also those who may wish to support the solar energy movement, but cannot afford to have a solar electrical system installed or do not live in an area that is conducive to solar generated electricity.  These people have another option for supporting the environment and clean energy in the form of recs, or renewable energy credits.  Electric companies can sell recs separately from the electricity generated, and thus offer those that cannot use the energy the ability to support what they believe in.

Recs, also known as green certificates, tradable renewable certificates, and green tags, represent the benefits associated with green, renewable energy.  These include renewability, lack of emissions, price stability, and more.  Those who sell recs are selling rights to these benefits.  These rights are sold separately from the electricity, meaning that whoever purchases them can do so regardless of whether or not they receive their electricity from such a source.   The idea is similar to that of mineral rights or air rights.  A person can own a piece of land and someone else can own the rights to the minerals below the ground and the air above it.

Those who have rights to the minerals can reap the benefits of any that may exists, and those who own recs can get credit for the benefits of the electricity, even though they do not own the electricity.  When a landowner sells mineral rights and air rights separately from the land, they create a supplemental source of income.  The same is true when electric companies sell recs.  They are supplementing the income they receive from selling the clean, renewable electricity.

Local utilities sell recs as well as competitive electricity marketers.  Customers can buy them whether or not they have access to green power, and they can do so without changing electricity providers.  In this way they can support green energy regardless of whether or not it is available to them to use.  They can also sell recs as a means of income if need be.  The idea of selling the benefits of renewable energy separately from the energy itself is pivotal to supporting any options there are for green energy production.  It allows those who want to make sure it survives to help it along if they cannot purchase the energy itself.