Define the business objective
Decide whether the goal is budget management, on-site production, a documented renewable attribute or resilience. A certificate purchase does not physically route a particular generating plant’s electricity to the building. On-site generation does not automatically provide backup power. A clear objective prevents an attractive product label from being mistaken for a solution to a different problem.
Review renewable attributes in writing
For a supply product or separate certificate purchase, ask about the percentage, resource type, location, vintage and retirement documentation. Determine who owns the attributes and whether they may be resold. Environmental statements should match the evidence. Avoid claims about emissions reductions, additional generation or local production that the actual product documentation does not support.
Evaluate physical projects separately
A solar or other on-site project requires site, engineering, utility and financial review. Model self-consumption, exports, demand and remaining charges. Confirm current interconnection and incentive rules rather than borrowing assumptions from another utility. A renewable supply agreement may be easier operationally, but it has its own term, pricing and attribute questions.
Keep a cost and claims record
Separate the commodity price from any renewable premium, project cost or certificate purchase. Record the source and date of each assumption. Maintain documentation for public sustainability statements and revisit it when the product changes. A credible program can state its scope and limits without claiming that every green option is cheaper or physically changes grid delivery.
A practical example
Illustrative explanation, not a customer outcome.
One certificate commonly represents the renewable attributes of one MWh. If a hypothetical program covers 50 MWh with 50 eligible certificates, its cost depends on the actual certificate offer and required documentation; no market price is assumed here.
Put the review into practice
| Review step | What to record |
|---|---|
| Define the objective | Separate procurement, consumption, resilience and capital needs. |
| Collect the baseline | Document quantities, operations and the relevant agreements. |
| Test practical cases | Include costs, constraints and a less favorable outcome. |
| Assign responsibility | Record who approves, monitors and maintains the plan. |
Questions worth asking
Does a renewable product change outage service?
No. Physical delivery and continuity need separate review.
Can I claim my business is locally solar-powered from any certificate?
Only make claims supported by the product’s actual attributes and documentation.
Continue the comparison
Sources and scope
Reviewed October 15, 2026. Follow the source’s own data period, effective dates and current terms. Examples are hypothetical unless expressly identified as a dated published result. A source is context, not a guarantee of eligibility or a product endorsement.