The North American market for "Green Credits" - that is, Green Certificates, Emission Reduction Credits, greenhouse gas allowances, and other methods of trading the environmentally beneficial attributes of renewable energy plants -- is not yet well established, and there is no generally accepted framework for the trading of such credits. Yet, this market is gradually emerging, and Green Credit transactions between buyers and sellers have occurred on a voluntary basis.
Enel North America has provided Emission Reduction Credits from certain of its small hydro and biomass plants in both the U.S. and Canada, and has been involved in a large international Green Credit transaction based on geothermal energy. We maintain an inventory of renewable energy plants that may be eligible for providing Green Credits in various forms, and we will work with potential buyers to structure appropriate transactions and pricing terms.
In addition, the Company is a leader in promoting "green premium" transactions - that is, sales of renewable energy at higher-than-market prices, based on its environmentally beneficial attributes and desirability for environmentally-conscious electricity purchasers.
