New Renewable Energy Tracking System
Launched for Western U.S.
June 25, 2007
The California Energy Commission today
announced the launch of the Western Renewable Energy
Generation Information System (WREGIS), a renewable
energy registry and tracking system for electricity
generation.
"The WREGIS system is a critical element in measuring
California's success as we move forward to reaching
the mandate to generate 20 percent of our electricity
from renewable energy by 2010," stated Energy Commission
Chairman Jackalyne Pfannenstiel. "California is
also serious about achieving our goal of generating
33 percent of our electricity from renewable energy
by 2020. With WREGIS, we can manage the many transactions
that will allow us to achieve the mandate as we
track our success."
The system, which is the largest
of its kind in the world in terms of coverage, includes
the western United States, parts of Canada, and
a portion of Baja California, will be used to meet
renewable portfolio standard requirements and other
renewable energy policies for states and provinces
within the Western Interconnection transmission
area.
"We are pleased to help get this project up
and running," said Louise McCarren, Chief Executive
Officer of the Western Electricity Coordinating
Council (WECC), which serves as the institutional
home for the program. "WREGIS fits well with WECC's
west-wide scope and history of providing independent
and verifiable information and analyses to users
of the Western power system."
The innovative, independent
regional system was developed in response to policies
set by the California Legislature and the Western
Governors' Association to develop and implement
a system tracking renewable energy generation. WREGIS
will track the renewable generation to help ensure
the credibility of the "green" value of renewable
electricity. Using independent, verifiable, and
reliable data, the system will make it easier to
implement renewable policies and achieve renewable
energy goals. WREGIS will facilitate the growth
of renewable energy throughout the Western U.S.
Data in WREGIS includes megawatt-hours produced,
fuel source, facility location, and all state, provincial
and voluntary renewable energy program qualifications.
One WREGIS certificate is issued for each megawatt-hour
of renewable energy produced and deposited on the
grid. To prevent double counting, each WREGIS certificate
has its own unique serial number.
WREGIS consists
of two components: software provided by APX, Inc.
with program administration by the Western Electricity
Coordinating Council (WECC). WECC covers 1.8 million
square miles in the Western Interconnection System
and provides an independent forum for the day-to-day
administration of WREGIS.
Participation in WREGIS
is voluntary. WREGIS will be available in the area
covered by the Western Interconnection System, which
covers Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Idaho,
Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana,
Texas, South Dakota, Nebraska, British Columbia,
Alberta and the northern portion of Baja California.
In 2002, the California Legislature charged the
Energy Commission with developing a tracking system
for implementing California's Renewable Portfolio
Standard. The functional design of WREGIS was developed
through a stakeholder process that involved utility
regulators, state energy offices, electric market
participants, consumer advocates and other stakeholders.
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Created by the Legislature in 1974, the California
Energy Commission is the state's primary energy
policy and planning agency. The Energy Commission
has five major responsibilities: forecasting future
energy needs and keeping historical energy data;
licensing thermal power plants 50 megawatts or larger;
promoting energy efficiency through appliance and
building standards; developing energy technologies
and supporting renewable energy; an planning for
and directing state response to energy emergency.
Members of the Energy Commission are Chairman Jackalyne
Pfannenstiel; Vice Chair James D. Boyd; Commissioners
Jeffrey Byron; John Geesman; and Dr. Arthur H. Rosenfeld.