The claim follows the certificate
Five ways to buy green power, and only some support a renewable claim.
EPA says renewable energy certificates (RECs) are issued when one megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity is generated and delivered to the electricity grid from a renewable energy resource. Whoever retires the certificate holds the claim.
Option types only, not any utility’s current terms or prices.
Five options, side by side
Option types only. Terms differ by utility and contract, so read the current offer before you compare.
| Option | What you buy | What you can claim | Typical contract shape | Questions to ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utility green tariff | Renewable supply matched to some or all of your use, billed on your existing account. | Renewable use for the matched share, if RECs are retired on your behalf. | An enrollment on your utility account; terms range from month to month to multiyear. | Are RECs retired in our name? What does leaving early cost? How can the price change? |
| Community solar subscription | A share of an offsite solar array’s output, credited on your utility bill. | Renewable use only if the subscription includes the RECs and they are retired for you. | A subscription agreement with the array’s operator, usually multiyear, with credits on the bill. | Who keeps the RECs? How are credits calculated? What happens if a site closes? |
| Unbundled RECs | Certificates only, bought separately from the electricity, often from projects in other states. | Renewable use for the MWh retired, if the vintage and location fit your reporting rules. | One-time or annual purchases from a broker or retailer, with no change to your bill. | Which registry tracks them? What project and vintage? Who retires them, and do we get the record? |
| On-site solar | A system on your roof or land, bought outright or through a lease or on-site PPA. | Renewable use for the output you consume, only if you keep the RECs. | Purchase, lease or on-site PPA; third-party ownership usually runs for many years. | Does the roof outlast the system? Who keeps the RECs? How does this tariff credit exports? |
| Offsite PPA | A long-term contract for a named project’s output or RECs, delivered physically or settled financially. | Renewable use for the RECs you receive and retire, tied to a specific project. | A multiyear contract, usually sized for large loads or several buyers together. | What is our exposure if market prices fall? Can sites aggregate? Who handles settlement and REC transfer? |
Green power questions, answered
Can we say our sites run on renewable power?
Only for the megawatt-hours backed by RECs you own and have retired. EPA says a REC is issued for each MWh of renewable electricity generated and delivered to the grid, so the certificate is the evidence. Without one, a statement about renewable use is hard to support. A Clean Claims Check tests each claim against the certificates.
Is community solar the same as buying RECs?
Not always. A community solar subscription pays bill credits for a share of an array’s output, but the RECs may stay with the operator or be sold to someone else. In that case the subscription can lower costs without supporting a renewable claim. Ask in writing who retires the RECs before you sign.
Which option costs the least?
It depends on your utility, load and contract, so we do not publish a ranking. Unbundled RECs often carry the lowest upfront cost and the loosest link to new projects, while on-site solar and PPAs need the most diligence. A Green Options Study prices each option for your portfolio across up to three utilities.
Do you sell green power or take commissions?
No. We do not sell power, RECs or solar systems, and we take no commissions from utilities, suppliers or installers. We charge a published fixed fee, so the option we recommend does not change what we earn. The Green Options Study is from $6,500 for a whole portfolio.
Price every option for your sites
A Green Options Study compares each option across your portfolio, from $6,500 for up to three utilities.