SAN FRANCISCO, CA: Consumers in Texas and Ohio will soon have a reliable assurance of the quality of their choices when shopping for cleaner, greener electricity. The Center for Resource Solutions recently released two new Green-e certification standards for green electricity offerings sold in Texas and Ohio. The Green-e logo will now appear next to certified renewable energy offerings that meet strict environmental and consumer protection standards.

For seven months, the Green-e Program has been working with electricity providers, environmental organizations, consumer protection advocates, government officials, and renewable energy generators in each of the two states to develop recommendations for Green-e Certification. These local stakeholders formed Advisory Committees and set the standards by adapting Green-e’s national standard to accommodate specific regional environmental, regulatory and market supply issues in each state. Electricity products that meet Green-e’s product requirements are identified by the Green-e logo and can be marketed as Green-e Certifiedâ Power.

“We’re delighted to have a Green-e standard for Ohio and Texas consumers,” said Dr. Jan Hamrin, Executive Director of the Center for Resource Solutions, which administers the Green-e Program. “Consumers now have a way to differentiate cleaner, renewable electricity and can be assured that the electricity is independently verified.”

To be eligible for Green-e certification, at least half of an electricity product's energy supply must come from renewable resources such as wind, solar, geothermal, biomass or small hydro. The product must also contain an increasing percentage of new renewable resources each year. Any non-renewable portion of the product must be as clean or cleaner than the traditional power mix and none of the electricity for the product can be purchased directly from a nuclear facility. The Center for Resource Solutions verifies that companies are meeting their requirements through an annual verification process by an independent auditor. In addition, Green-e staff conduct a semi-annual review of product marketing materials to ensure companies are adhering to Green-e's Code of Conduct.