LAKEWOOD, Colo.—Support services are being sought to help develop a national market for wholesale tradable renewable certificates from consumer-owned power sources.

            Western Area Power Administration, in partnership with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and the American Public Power Association, released a request for information Jan. 12 requesting support for a consumer-owned utility tradable renewable certificates initiative. Tradable renewable certificates—also called green tags or green certificates—are the non-energy environmental, economic and social attributes associated with generating renewable power.

            “We’re seeking a description of the framework, and the terms and conditions required for consumer-owned power entities to do business with prospective organizations in supporting the tradable renewable certificates initiative,” said Randy Manion, Western’s Renewable Resources program manager.

            Consumer-owned utilities across the nation are looking for information in three areas related to developing of the tradable renewable certificates market, specifically:

• Wholesale tradable renewable certificate certification support
• Wholesale tradable renewable certificate branding and marketing assistance
• Retail tradable renewable certificate product development

            Responses will be reviewed to determine future directions for the TRC initiative. All responses should be in submitted electronically in PDF format to Manion at manion@wapa.gov by 5 p.m. (MST), March 1. Questions about the RFI may be submitted to Manion by Feb. 16.

            Western annually markets and transmits more than 10,000 megawatts of power from hydroelectric powerplants owned and operated by the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 15 western and central states. Western is one of four U.S. Department of Energy power marketing administrations.