Bill Summary
The "Renewable Energy Certificate Study Act of 2025" mandates the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a comprehensive study on the use of renewable energy certificates (RECs) by federal agencies. The study will assess several key areas, including:
1. **Market Demand and Investments**: Evaluating how the demand for different types of RECs influences investments in renewable energy generation compared to scenarios without such demand.
2. **Compliance Progress**: Analyzing federal agencies' progress in meeting directives from Executive Order 14057, which aimed to promote clean energy and sustainability, particularly in relation to their energy procurement practices using RECs and other strategies.
3. **Compliance Options**: Investigating whether RECs, power purchase agreements, or onsite renewable sources can effectively fulfill federal compliance requirements under the Energy Policy Act of 2005, including a comparison of costs and risks associated with each option.
4. **Cost Assessment**: Determining the average costs incurred by federal agencies when using RECs to support existing and new renewable energy projects.
5. **Future Cost Projections**: Estimating potential costs for federal agencies if they rely solely on RECs, power purchase agreements, or onsite renewables for funding new projects.
The findings from this study will be compiled into a report for Congress, including recommendations for potential legislative and administrative actions to enhance the effectiveness of the REC market in facilitating federal investments in renewable energy generation.
Possible Impacts
The "Renewable Energy Certificate Study Act of 2025" could affect people in several ways. Here are three examples:
1. **Increased Investment in Renewable Energy**: The study mandated by the bill could lead to a better understanding of how renewable energy certificates (RECs) drive investment in renewable energy generation. If the findings indicate that RECs significantly contribute to new projects, it could encourage more federal agencies to prioritize renewable energy in their procurement processes. This could result in more renewable energy projects being developed, potentially creating jobs in the renewable energy sector and benefiting communities with cleaner energy sources.
2. **Policy Recommendations Impacting Local Communities**: The report that the Comptroller General submits to Congress may contain recommendations for legislation that could influence how federal agencies procure energy. If the recommendations promote the use of renewable energy certificates or other methods that favor local renewable energy projects, communities might see more investment in local energy infrastructure, leading to economic growth and improved environmental conditions.
3. **Cost Implications for Federal Agencies and Taxpayers**: The study will evaluate the costs associated with using renewable energy certificates versus other forms of compliance for federal agencies. If the findings reveal significant cost savings or financial risks associated with different compliance methods, this could lead to changes in how federal agencies approach energy procurement. Such changes could ultimately affect taxpayers, as more efficient energy procurement could reduce government spending on energy, potentially freeing up funds for other public services or initiatives.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3096 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3096
To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a
study on Federal agency use of renewable energy certificates.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 30, 2025
Ms. Brownley introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a
study on Federal agency use of renewable energy certificates.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Renewable Energy Certificate Study
Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. RENEWABLE ENERGY CERTIFICATES STUDY.
(a) In General.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall
conduct a study of the use of renewable energy certificates by Federal
agencies.
(b) Consideration.--In conducting the study under subsection (a),
the Comptroller General shall evaluate--
(1) the extent to which the aggregate market demand for
each type of renewable energy certificate, or other energy
attribute certificate, leads to new investments in renewable
energy generation capacity relative to scenarios in which such
demand is absent;
(2) the progress Federal agencies made towards complying
with Executive Order 14057 (85 Fed. Reg 70935; relating to
catalyzing clean energy industries and jobs through Federal
sustainability), prior to the date on which such Executive
Order was revoked, with respect to the directives of such
Executive Order for energy procurement and compliance with
existing statutory requirements, by using--
(A) renewable energy certificates, including the
progress made by using each type of renewable energy
certificate; and
(B) approaches other than renewable energy
certificates;
(3) whether renewable energy certificates, power purchase
agreements, or onsite renewables, could be used by Federal
agencies to meet the requirements of section 203 of the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15852), and the trade-offs of
using one such form of compliance over the others, including--
(A) the difference in the average cost of each form
of compliance to Federal agencies; and
(B) the risk to Federal agencies of becoming
noncompliant with section 203 of the Energy Policy Act
with respect to each form of compliance;
(4) the average cost Federal agencies have incurred by
using renewable energy certificates to fund--
(A) existing renewable energy projects; and
(B) new renewable energy projects that otherwise
would not have been implemented without the sale of
renewable energy certificates; and
(5) the average cost Federal agencies would incur by only
using renewable energy certificates, power purchase agreements,
or onsite renewables to fund new renewable energy projects.
(c) Report.--The Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a
report--
(1) detailing the findings of the study conducted under
subsection (a); and
(2) providing recommendations for legislation and
administrative action, the Comptroller General considers
appropriate, to improve the impact the renewable energy
certificates market has on Federal Government investments in
renewable energy generation.
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