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Extracted Content

• Ocean-based energy (e.g., wave or tidal energy conversion)*

  • Low-impact hydropower*

  • Biomass production*

These renewable electricity generation sources should meet the criteria in Green-e ® Framework for Renewable Energy Certification Section III. A Renewable Resource Types, [76] including any applicable location-specific criteria (e.g., Section II. Eligible Sources of Supply from the Green-e ® Renewable Energy Standard for Canada and the United States ). [77]

Nearly all solar electric, wind, and geothermal power generation systems that meet the Greene® “New Date” criteria qualify as Green-e® renewable resource types.

By contrast, many hydropower, biomass power generation, and ocean-based energy systems do not meet the Green-e ® Framework [78] criteria governing those system types. If considering a renewable resource that is not wind or solar, and is not Green-e® certified, review applicable Green-e® criteria to confirm resource eligibility.

For instance, in the U.S., hydropower must meet one of the following criteria per the Green-e® Renewable Energy Standard for Canada and the United States, Section II. Eligible Sources of Supply:

• New generation capacity on a non-impoundment

• New generation capacity on an existing impoundment from a hydropower facility certified by the Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI), or from a hydropower facility consisting of a turbine in a pipeline or in an irrigation canal

Additional considerations: Geoexchange systems ineligible Geoexchange systems such as geothermal heat pumps that use vapor compression cycles are not considered a renewable energy resource. These systems are credited in EAc2: Optimize Energy Performance .

RENEWABLE ENERGY CRITERIA

Contract Length

Projects must retain Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs) for the annual renewable energy generation for a minimum of three years. Contractual documentation must show ownership of

76 Green-e®, “Green-e® Framework for Renewable Energy Certification, Center for Resource Solutions,” 2024, https://www.greene.org/programs/energy/documents. 77 Green-e®, “Green-e® Framework for Renewable Energy Certification, Center for Resource Solutions,” 2024, https://www.greene.org/programs/energy/documents. 78 Green-e®, “Green-e® Framework for Renewable Energy Certification, Center for Resource Solutions,” 2024, https://www.greene.org/programs/energy/documents.

U.S. Green Building Council LEED v5 Reference Guide for Operations and Maintenance, April 2025 Launch Edition 145