Center for Resource Solutions: Renewable Energy Education

Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) is a U.S.-based global NGO focused on creating policy and market solutions to advance sustainable energy. Founded in 1997, CRS is a proven international leader working to mitigate climate change via forward-thinking sustainable economic development strategies, energy policy collaboration, and real-time expert assistance. CRS's innovative programs and initiatives help to significantly lower carbon emissions, reduce fossil fuel dependence, and increase local job development by increasing the supply, demand, and consumer confidence in renewable energy and carbon emission reductions. In addition to its certification programs and market development activities, CRS provides educational resources relevant to renewable energy and carbon markets. These resources include conferences, workshops, webinars, and publications covering a range of topics, such as procurement best practices and consumer protection issues. The annual Renewable Energy Markets (REM) conference is an important source of information-sharing and networking for the clean energy marketplace. REM is the clean energy industry's most important annual event focused on the states, businesses, organizations, and households that choose clean, renewable electricity every day. Since 1996, REM has been attended by leaders from federal and state governments, large corporate purchasers, the nation's leading utilities and electricity generators, and marketers from around the world. REM is organized by the NGO Center for Resource Solutions, with significant support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Learn more about the conference at www.renewableenergymarkets.com. In June 2017, CRS co-organized a one-day "Corporate Sourcing Day" side event at the 8th Clean Energy Ministerial in Beijing, China with other global NGOs. This event highlighted the role of corporate purchasing in accelerating the global development of renewable energy. In addition, the event served as a launch of the Green Electricity Consumption Cooperative Organization (GECCO), a new China-based organization aimed at promoting the development of voluntary markets and certification in China. CRS is an Organizational Partner for the Clean Energy Ministerial's Corporate Sourcing of Renewables Campaign and looks forward continue supporting the campaign's efforts to facilitate more renewable energy commitments globally. Additionally, CRS co-hosted with UNEP a two-day workshop in December 2016 in Paris entitled "Growing Renewable Energy Through Voluntary Markets: Aligning Public and Corporate Decision Making". This workshop included attendees from IRENA, International Energy Agency, World Resources Institute, REN21, WBCSD, Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP), corporate renewable energy purchasers, project developers, and others. CRS also provides a variety of educational materials to the public. Background materials on renewable energy markets are available at resource-solutions.org/learn, more detailed publications are available at resource-solutions.org/publications, and an interactive list of procurement options is available at www.buycleanenergy.org. On top of these written materials, CRS regularly hosts educational webinars that are free to attend and open to audiences worldwide. By promoting renewable energy education through its programs, events, website, and outbound communications, CRS has helped both producers and consumers achieve a better understanding of best practices and market trends. As market participants become better educated, the size and stability of the renewable energy economy will continue to grow. CRS has seen increased interest in its conferences, workshops, and webinars, and while most of its events have taken place in the U.S., it continues to plan more events outside North America.