Counting renewable energy credits attached to wind, solar, and other alternative power projects in and outside the state towards their green power obligation continues to be an issue in play. This “green tag,” represents the renewable attribute of the power--not the juice itself. The question remains whether it can be counted towards a utility’s renewable mandate in California. Private and public utilities, generators and some environmental organizations support counting bona fide renewable energy credits (RECs) throughout the West towards the state renewables portfolio standard. The unsettled issues are the size of the role the credits may play and the duration of the tags. Current law allows the trading of green energy tags in California. Senate Bill 107 by Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) authorized the California Public Utilities Commission and Energy Commission to make way for allowing renewable energy credits to count towards the renewable portfolio mandate. The California Energy Commission voted unanimously December 3, 2008, to adopt a joint commission staff report outlining criteria and evaluation methods for tracking renewable energy credits used to meet renewables portfolio obligations. However, the CPUC still has not released its proposal setting parameters for interstate REC trading. The CPUC’s proposed decision “sets rules to allow the best chance for a healthy trading REC market to develop and aid in the attainment of California’s RPS goals,” it states. Regulators put off voting on the issue in late December and last month. A vote is scheduled for a February 19 meeting but it may be pulled off the agenda. Senator Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego) said she was concerned about the veracity of tradable renewable credits. “If you allow a lot of trading of green power credits and you get in dirty power you depress the price of renewable energy” she warned during this week’s Senate Utilities & Commerce Committee hearing on the 33 percent renewables bill (see story above). Currently, a tracking system for tradable credits from renewable projects in the West is in use. It’s known as the Western Renewable Energy Geographical Information System. Delaney Hunter, lobbyist for PacifiCorp, said this week that RECs would allow the utility, which operates in California, Oregon, and Washington, to meet its renewable obligations in the short term. The credits are “an essential bridge to getting to the essential number of resources in the marketplace,” she said. Pacific Gas & Electric is working on a wind deal involving importing power from British Columbia. Critics warn that the utility is more interested in renewable projects outside than inside California. “PG&E should get more wind from Kern County,” instead of British Columbia, insisted V. John White, Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies executive director.