The Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF), the Regional Development Corporation (RDC) and the Coalition for Clean Affordable Energy (CCAE) have partnered to build a program that will increase public awareness of the economic and environmental benefits of renewable energy and will market environmentally-preferred green energy resources in the state of New Mexico. A key component of the Program is the marketing and sale of renewable energy certificates (RECs) or “Green Tags”, in a manner that ensures reinvestment into new renewable energy projects in New Mexico.
The ultimate goal of Green Energy NM is to increase the number of renewable energy resources in New Mexico. By selling Green Tags to New Mexican businesses and individuals, we hope to create a large reinvestment fund. These funds will be committed to supporting the development of new renewable energy facilities in New Mexico. As new projects come online in NM, we will shift our product blend towards one that is weighted more heavily on NM projects, culminating ultimately in a 100% NM product. For Details go to
http://www.greenenergynm.org
Partners
Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF): BEF, located in Portland, Oregon, was founded in 1998 to support watershed restoration programs and develop new sources of renewable energy. BEF markets green power products to public utilities, businesses, government agencies and individuals. A non-profit organization, BEF reinvests all net revenue from the sale of Green Tags in the next generation of new renewable energy projects. It is the ONLY non-profit seller of green tags in the United States. All others are for-profit.
Coalition for Clean Affordable Energy (CCAE): The CCAE, a coalition of eleven environmental organizations, was formed in Santa Fe in 1997 to combat electricity deregulation in New Mexico. The coalition currently advocates rigorously for clean energy at both the Legislature and Public Regulation Commission. Each member group of the CCAE provides a representative who works directly with the formulation of the Coalition's positions, reports back to their group, and helps the Coalition advocate these positions. Member groups also provide technical assistance of various kinds, ranging from public outreach to legal services to technical analysis.
Regional Development Corporation (RDC): The RDC, located in Santa Fe, is an economic development organization focusing on economic development initiatives in New Mexico. RDC was incorporated in 1996 as a 501(c)(3), nonprofit economic development organization to serve as the Department of Energy (DOE), Los Alamos Site, “Community Reuse Organization” (CRO). In the years hence, RDC has progressively diversified its funding base and project focus. As a result, RDC currently has several initiatives, ranging from small business support projects to clean energy initiatives.
What is a Green Tag?
Green Energy NM. , "Green Tag", also known as a renewable energy certificate (REC), represents the environmental attributes associated with electricity generation from new renewable technologies like wind and solar energy.
A renewable energy facility produces two distinct "products." The first is electricity. The second is the package of environmental benefits resulting from not generating the same electricity -- and emissions -- from a conventional gas or coal-fired power plant. The renewable electricity displaces the dirtier (coal or natural gas) power that would otherwise have been generated and delivered to the power grid.
These environmental benefits can be separated from the electrical power and packaged into a Green Tag. The Green Tag then represents those collective environmental benefits (e.g. so many tons of CO2 displaced).
What does a Green Tag cost?
A Green Tag is the bundle of pollution emissions offsets and other environmental benefits created by the generation of one megawatt hour (one thousand kilowatt hours) of renewable energy. That is approximately the amount of electricity the average American home uses in one month. A BEF Green Tag costs $20 and there is a minimum purchase of two Green Tags, or three Green Tags for monthly payment orders. In some cases Green Tags are purchased by utilities and bundled with their commodity (non-renewable) electricity and sold as green power.
Mini-Green Tag
A fractional Green Tag representing 1/10 of a “full” Green Tag. Mini-Green Tags are used for small retail purchases of renewable energy as a way to offset other activities. For instance, a person might buy a Mini-Green Tag to offset the emissions associated with their drive to and from their favorite ski area. Each Mini-Green Tag reduces 140 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions – enough to offset around 150 miles worth of air pollution caused from driving an average sized U.S automobile. A mini-tag costs $2 at the Pajarito Mountain Ski Area, Toas Ski Valleg, Pajarito Moutain Ski Area, and Angel Fire Resort will be selling mini-tags at their ticket windows this winters.
Where does Green Energy NM's green power come from?
Green Energy NM's Green Tags are from a blend of new wind and solar facilities placed into service after May 1999 and mostly located in the Pacific Northwest. As new projects come online in NM, that balance will shift towards a blend that is weighted more heavily on NM projects, culminating ultimately in a 100% NM product. Our Green Tags are certified by Green-e, the leading national third-party certification for green power, and The Climate Neutral Network. All facilities have been reviewed and endorsed by knowledgeable, qualified environmental organizations. These groups include the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Northwest Energy Coalition, and the Renewable Northwest Project.
Reinvestment of "Profits" from Green Tags
All of our net revenues from the sale of Green Tags are reinvested in the next generation of new renewable energy projects. BEF is setting aside twenty (20) percent of the gross revenues generated from New Mexico sales in a Reinvestment Fund. These funds will be committed to supporting the development of new renewable energy facilities in New Mexico. Reinvestment Fund expenditures will be mutually agreed upon by BEF, RDC and CCAE.
Green Tags can be tax deductible
When you make a contribution to BEF for the express purpose of buying Green Tags, it is tax deductible to the full extent allowed under the law.