Vermont Business Magazine Following up on previous guidance provided to solar projects this past December, the Vermont Attorney General’s Office and Department of Public Service provided additional guidance to all companies, including utilities, who market renewable energy projects in Vermont. “Today’s Guidance follows the earlier statement on solar energy projects and clarifies that all renewable energy projects must comply with the law and avoid deceptive marketing statements,” said Attorney General Sorrell. See Guidance below.
The Guidance only applies to renewable energy projects in which the renewable energy certificates or credits (referred to as “RECs”) are sold to out-of-state entities. When the RECs are sold, only the purchaser of the RECs can claim the renewable attributes. The Guidance advises any marketer of renewable energy projects selling the RECs out-of-state to avoid public claims that state or imply that Vermonters are consuming renewable energy from those projects. The Guidance is based on the Federal Trade Commission’s established regulations and “green guides” prohibiting deceptive claims by renewable energy projects that sell RECs.
Consumers or businesses may file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program regarding renewable energy deception, or contact [email protected] for more information.
Vermont AG: Apr 13, 2016