Climate Change, Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency

Renewable Energy Credits (RECs)

Various states have established Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) that require energy utilities to source a certain percentage of the energy they transmit from renewable sources. The states have established this to assure that renewables play a larger role in the state’s energy mix. Utilities are able to create their own renewable energy power sources or purchase credits called Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) from outside producers.

Producers can be individual homeowners through large scale renewable energy producers who have built wind farms, solar arrays or other forms of renewable energy. RECs are traded under compliance or voluntary markets. Compliance markets are created under Renewable Portfolio Standards also called Renewable Electricity Standards.

These standards require that by a certain date, a certain percentage of energy produced by each energy provider must come from renewable resources. Voluntary markets exist for utilities that generate non-renewable energy but that are not yet under an RPS and companies that want the PR value of using renewable energy.

Energy Efficiency Certificates (EEC)

Some states have established Energy Efficiency Certificates as an additional means of promoting energy savings. Utilities can purchase these certificates from certificate producers to satisfy the states’ requirements. Individuals, homeowners, and businesses of all sizes can receive these credits.

Also called White Certificates or White Tags, EECs reflect energy savings calculated relative to a baseline of past energy usage levels. Like RECs, EEC’s are unique, identifiable, traceable, and can be traded in some states.

For example, energy service companies (ESCO) are able to reduce energy usage at a client relative to a baseline and can generate EECs for the documented reduction. The EECs can then be sold to a retail energy supplier that is obliged to meet an energy saving target. Legislation exists for EECs in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Nevada. Other voluntary markets exists where purchasers seek to enhance their “green” reputation. Mission Markets Earth can supply the EEC market with liquidity and transparency.

Our carbon credit, REC & EEC transactions services include:

Price discovery and transparency for over the counter (OTC) traded RECs, EEC’s and carbon credits
More efficient platform for credit aggregators such as brokers and ESCO’s
Price quotes and order routing to 3rd party exchanges and platforms increasing access to liquidity
Diverse range of socially and environmentally focused members who care about the origination and quality of listed credits
Capital raising for carbon offset projects and renewable projects through Mission Markets private capital marketplace

Carbon Credits

Concerns about climate change and green house gas (GHG) pollution coupled with the economy’s dependence on petroleum and coal are creating both risks and opportunities for companies and organizations worldwide. International, regional and State-based regulated and voluntary or “Impact Carbon” markets are now well established with many large players.

Regulated or “compliance” markets are well established in Europe under the European Emissions Reduction scheme Mission Markets will create a carbon credit transaction platform focusing primarily on the carbon projects and credits that have added benefits for the environment and communities with special emphasis on voluntary impact carbon markets.

The Earth platform is providing a means for trading impact carbon credits that have been Third party certified and placed on a credit registry such as Markit. Our focus is on credits that have more value than just one ton of carbon dioxide equivalents not emitted into the atmosphere. Our focus is on carbon credits that have additional benefits to society and the environment.

These added values are measured and verified by a growing range of standards and verification methods that combine traditional Third Party Certification with more innovative and holistic approaches such as those of the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Alliance (CCBA) and others.

We encourage credit listing in the following categories:

Improved forest management
Reforestation / afforestation
Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+)
Avoided habitat conversion
Soil carbon sequestration
Agricultural methane capture
Organic waste digestion
Low emission transportation

The Earth platform accepts the following base certifications for voluntary carbon credits:

In addition to the above base certifications, we require at least one of the following additional certifications that prove the project has multiple benefits:

All credits must be registered on an Environmental Credit Registry to be offered for sale on Mission Markets Earth.