11.21.2006 - 07:30am ET

(CSRwire) SAN FRANCISCO - November 20, 2006 - In the wake of the harrowing predictions included in the Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change, and in light of other similar reports recently in the press, the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) announced today that the new Green-e Retail Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Product Certification Standard will be released for stakeholder comment in the next few weeks. CRS is developing the new standard with the Green-e GHG Advisory Group, comprised of key environmental organizations, government agencies, businesses, and advocacy organizations who work on climate change issues.

The Green-e Program is developing this new certification standard to provide consumer protection and market support to the emerging retail greenhouse gas reduction market and the growing number of consumers who choose to decrease their own contribution to global warming by purchasing greenhouse gas reductions. Recent press coverage of voluntary greenhouse gas reduction programs highlights the need for a well designed standard that ensures customers are getting high quality reductions and are protected from double counting and misleading marketing practices.

Growing public and business interest in voluntary climate action, along with predictions in the Stern Report that highlight the need to take immediate action, have added an additional level of urgency to CRS's work. "For consumers wanting to use their market power to bring about change, certification and verification of greenhouse gas reduction products will give them the reassurance that their purchase is making a difference," said Dr. Jan Hamrin, president of CRS.

For 10 years, CRS has developed standards for renewable energy in a complex electric regulatory environment. CRS brings that valuable experience to the table in the creation of this new standard for retail greenhouse gas reduction products. The CRS consumer protection standards use transparent, open, stakeholder-driven processes to ensure consensus-based standards that are widely accepted by stakeholders.

Those interested in participating as stakeholders in the upcoming standard review process should should contact Alex Pennock, measurement & verification services associate, at alex@resource-solutions.org.

About Green-e and the Center for Resource Solutions
Launched in 1997, the Green-e Renewable Energy Certification Program is the leading independent certification and verification program that sets standards for renewable energy options. The Green-e logo serves as national symbol for consumer protection and the "seal of approval" indicating high quality, verified renewable energy. Over one hundred marketers and utilities throughout North America now offer Green-e certified renewable energy products. Collectively these suppliers sold over five million MWh of Green-e certified renewable energy in 2005.

To learn more about certified renewable energy available in all 50 states, visit www.green-e.org, or call 888.63.GREEN.

Green-e is a program of the Center for Resource Solutions, a national nonprofit organization that works to make it easier for people and organizations to use renewable energy as a tool for mitigating climate change. CRS designs and operates national and international programs that support the increased supply and use of renewable energy resources such as wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, low-impact hydroelectric power, and other clean energy sources. To learn more about CRS, visit: www.resource-solutions.com.

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