RECs and Carbon Offsets with Spring Power & Gas
Carbon offsets and Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) are the foundation of Spring Power & Gas’ efforts to provide sustainable solutions for customers’ energy needs. We purchase RECs and carbon offsets to match your electric and natural gas usage, thus limiting the impact to the environment. Since carbon offsets and RECs are an important aspect to our programs, we want to help you understand how they work.
Carbon Offsets
A carbon offset symbolizes a set amount of reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the resulting environmental benefit from avoiding those emissions. By purchasing offsets, you are granted the right to claim the environmental gains represented.
Rather than being considered as a donation or investment in future emissions reductions, carbon offsets are considered environmental commodities, with the verified GHG reductions sourcing from projects that have been validated under high-quality standards.
Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)
A single REC stands for 1 Megawatt-hour of renewable energy using an electricity grid, with the full suite of related attributes such as environmental benefits. RECs function as contractual or trading entities, which are tracked and matched to officially record your use of renewable electricity.
In the US, you can only claim the usage of grid-connected renewable electricity with RECs. RECs can also be utilized as compliance instruments for delivery and consumption-based state Renewable Portfolio Standards. Please also note that specific states have different regulations regarding the definition and use of RECs.
Environmentally-Friendly Energy Solutions
These carbon- and REC-offsetting options are the primary ways in which Spring Power & Gas works to establish more sustainable uses of energy. To find out more about our involvement in renewable energy initiatives, and to get involved yourself, sign up for Spring Power & Gas.
