Do RECs Cut Carbon Emissions near Portland?
That's a very good question. We need to look closely.
Q1: Has any existing fossil-fuel generation facility reduced its production in MWh as a direct result of the utility, say PGE, purchasing RECs?
If it can be shown that an existing fossil fuel generator has reduced its production such that it's clear that it isn't (1) a scheduled outage, or (2) an unscheduled outage, or (3) due to any issue with the power system, then and only then can it be claimed that carbon emissions has declined as a direct result of replacing the output of a fossil fuel electricity generator with that of a renewable (wind, water, sum, etc) production. Then and only then can it be claimed that carbon emissions have actually declined.
Q2: Could the purchase of RECs replace a new fossil fuel generator?
Yes, it could. However, the electricity from the renewable generator must be bundled with the REC in order to claim the carbon reductions. If the electricity from the renewable generator and the REC associated with that electricity aren't bundled, we could not claim a carbon reduction even though the electricity from the renewable is flowing into our homes and businesses.
Q3: Legally, only the party who purchases a REC tclaim the right to say they have renewables equal to the REC, right?
Correct. However, PGE can purchase RECs from any reputable party who is selling them. For example, the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) sells RECs. If you look at their site, you'll see that they are selling RECs from states outside the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC). That means that consumers in other parts of the country get the renewable power delivered to their homes and businesses while PGEs customers use electricity from fossil fuel generators. However, PGE gets to claim that they have reduced their carbon footprint even though they've not changed what fossil fuel resources they use to generate electricity. Here is a good, short, overview of this issue.
Q4: Does it matter since more renewables have been developed?
Part of the answer to that question revolves around the importance of truth. When unbundled RECs are used (for example, PacifiCorp plans to up unbundled RECs to meet Oregons higher RPS requirements) it impacts how many greenfield renewable construction occur, possibly in Oregon, maybe even in Multnomah County and/or Portland. That affects employment locally. Further, if renewables are developed locally, then a fossil fuel plant may be used less and that would result in lower emissions of SOx and NOx closer to Portland. From the perspective of customers, especially low income customers, since a REC costs a costs a fraction of what a greenfield wind or utility scale solar generator costs, the price of electricity will be lower.. Finnally, since renewable advocates generally join forces with social justice advocates, its difficult to see how purchasing an unbundled REC from another part of the country imptoves social justice here.
Q1: Has any existing fossil-fuel generation facility reduced its production in MWh as a direct result of the utility, say PGE, purchasing RECs?
If it can be shown that an existing fossil fuel generator has reduced its production such that it's clear that it isn't (1) a scheduled outage, or (2) an unscheduled outage, or (3) due to any issue with the power system, then and only then can it be claimed that carbon emissions has declined as a direct result of replacing the output of a fossil fuel electricity generator with that of a renewable (wind, water, sum, etc) production. Then and only then can it be claimed that carbon emissions have actually declined.
Q2: Could the purchase of RECs replace a new fossil fuel generator?
Yes, it could. However, the electricity from the renewable generator must be bundled with the REC in order to claim the carbon reductions. If the electricity from the renewable generator and the REC associated with that electricity aren't bundled, we could not claim a carbon reduction even though the electricity from the renewable is flowing into our homes and businesses.
Q3: Legally, only the party who purchases a REC tclaim the right to say they have renewables equal to the REC, right?
Correct. However, PGE can purchase RECs from any reputable party who is selling them. For example, the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) sells RECs. If you look at their site, you'll see that they are selling RECs from states outside the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC). That means that consumers in other parts of the country get the renewable power delivered to their homes and businesses while PGEs customers use electricity from fossil fuel generators. However, PGE gets to claim that they have reduced their carbon footprint even though they've not changed what fossil fuel resources they use to generate electricity. Here is a good, short, overview of this issue.
Q4: Does it matter since more renewables have been developed?
Part of the answer to that question revolves around the importance of truth. When unbundled RECs are used (for example, PacifiCorp plans to up unbundled RECs to meet Oregons higher RPS requirements) it impacts how many greenfield renewable construction occur, possibly in Oregon, maybe even in Multnomah County and/or Portland. That affects employment locally. Further, if renewables are developed locally, then a fossil fuel plant may be used less and that would result in lower emissions of SOx and NOx closer to Portland. From the perspective of customers, especially low income customers, since a REC costs a costs a fraction of what a greenfield wind or utility scale solar generator costs, the price of electricity will be lower.. Finnally, since renewable advocates generally join forces with social justice advocates, its difficult to see how purchasing an unbundled REC from another part of the country imptoves social justice here.
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