News Type: Press Release

3Degrees announced a five year contract with the Maine Public Utilities Commission to continue to offer Maine Green Power to the state’s electricity users. This second contract between the two organizations ensures customers of Central Maine Power and Emera Maine – the utilities servicing the majority of Maine’s population – will continue to have the option to support green energy.

2000 customers are already enrolled in the program, together supporting 10,000 megawatt-hours of renewable energy in 2015 alone. Maine is New England’s leader in hydro and wind power generation and as such it is no surprise that the program has garnered a positive reception during its first three years. “It makes sense that electricity users in Maine would want a program like Maine Green Power. It’s a natural outcome of Mainers’ passion and commitment for keeping things local” said Ryan Link, Director of Utility Partnerships at 3Degrees.  

Maine-based program staff will continue marketing the program through events and door to door canvassing. Representatives will also focus on helping commercial businesses meet sustainability goals by using green energy. “Businesses are always looking for ways to differentiate themselves from competition. Choosing renewable energy with Maine Green Power is a way to match business operations with customer values,” added Link.

About Maine Green Power

Maine Green Power is a program developed and overseen by the Maine Public Utilities Commision which allows any entity paying an electricity bill in Central Maine Power or Emera Maine territories to pay an additional charge to purchase renewable energy made in Maine. There is no contract, no equipment to install, and a person can enroll regardless of their competitive electricity supply.

More on 3Degrees + Green Power Programs

Joining forces to further the vision of a world where it is universally more valuable to solve environmental problems than to create them.

CDP and 3Degrees are pleased to announce that 3Degrees is coming on board as a partner to bring renewable energy products and services to CDP responding companies worldwide.

For more than 10 years, 3Degrees has been working with Fortune 500® clients, developing strategies to help them meet their carbon reduction and renewable energy goals. During this time, 3Degrees has played a leadership role in the renewable energy sector and has been named an EPA Supplier of the Year eight times.

“Climate change crosses political and geographic boundaries, and so must our solutions. 3Degrees has been working on this important issue for over a decade,” says Kim Fiske, vice president of Renewable Energy Procurement. “This partnership with CDP will allow us to make a larger impact as we work to connect people and businesses with cleaner energy on a massive scale.”

This partnership represents a new opportunity for 3Degrees to leverage their industry experience and help organizations worldwide reduce their carbon footprints by making direct investments in renewable energy.

“We are excited to welcome 3Degrees as a Gold Renewable Energy Partner that will help our global network drive the transition to a low-carbon future through renewable energy procurement,” says Paul Robins, Head of Partnerships at CDP.  “3Degrees’ extensive expertise in this field will be a positive addition to CDP and will add great value to our responding companies.”

MORE ON 3DEGREES + ENERGY & CLIMATE CONSULTING

Independent non-profit assessment identifies 3Degrees as a creator of positive community impact

3Degrees was honored today at the first annual Best for the World Celebration and Awards Ceremony. The company was recognized for the positive environmental impact of its products, services and internal business practices.

“We are honored to be part of today’s ceremony,” said Steve McDougal, CEO of 3Degrees after he accepted the award. “3Degrees is a company centered around two fundamental notions. First, that many people in this country are willing to direct their money and time to support renewable energy. Second, that as a business we could hold ourselves to a higher standard in how we built and operated the business. This distinction from B the Change Media recognizes that union.”

The Best for Environment category judges business practices and product offerings against environmental impact. In addition to its mission-based product line 3Degrees matches 100 percent of their electricity usage with renewable energy certificates, offsets employee commute emissions and gives preference to local, sustainable and fair-trade suppliers, just to name a few.

“The companies we are honoring as the best for the world represent the cutting edge of a global movement using business as a force for good. We are inspired by them, and feel deeply honored to join them in this historic and ground-breaking celebration,” said Bryan Welch, CEO of B the Change Media.

The ceremony took place at the University of California, Berkeley’s Haas Business School. Only the top 10 percent of Certified B Corporations received awards in a variety of categories.

Learn more about 3Degrees commitment for positive community change in the 2015 Sustainability Report. 

Good things come in threes.

3Degrees will showcase three executive speakers at the annual 2016 Renewable Energy Markets (REM) conference on October 16-18, a premiere clean energy industry conference focusing on national and international markets for renewable energy. Our speakers will highlight 3Degrees’ leading-edge work developing and delivering innovative renewable energy products for commercial, industrial and utility customers.

Kim Fiske

Vice President, Renewable Energy Procurement
Kim will bring her 15+ years of renewable energy development experience to a panel discussion about how corporations are navigating market risks, internal obstacles and policy barriers to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by buying renewable energy through power purchase agreements (PPAs).

Amanda Mortlock

Vice President, Utility Partnerships
Amanda will lead and moderate a panel addressing new, innovative product offerings at large utilities that are keeping green pricing programs relevant. Other speakers on this panel include: Kerynn Gianotti, PG&E; Josh Halley, Portland General Electric; and Eric O’Shaughnessy, NREL.

Scott Eidson

Vice President, Environmental Markets
Scott will be one of two speakers within the “Market Growth and Trends: Spotlight on California/Western Voluntary and Compliance Markets” session, focused on addressing market trends, drivers, barriers, and impacts in both voluntary and compliance markets in the WECC and the West.

For over 20 years, the annual REM conference has been the leading forum for the clean energy marketplace — attracting participants from around the globe who share a commitment to promoting clean energy. Organized by the nonprofit Center for Resource Solutions and co-sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, this annual meeting of clean energy stakeholders includes generators, marketers, utilities, purchasers, policymakers and regional stakeholders. Over the last decade, 3Degrees has been a proud REM sponsor.

“The energy industry is undergoing rapid change across both national and international markets. 3Degrees is excited to share insights at REM from our work helping corporations, utilities and project developers develop and implement next-generation renewable energy strategies —  including PPAs, community solar, and innovative approaches to getting new projects built,” says Steve McDougal, CEO of 3Degrees.

Learn more: www.renewableenergymarkets.com

First class customer service and strong industry relationships pave way for 3Degrees to stay at the top 

3Degrees announced today that it has been named the 2015 Best Trader for North American RECs by Environmental Finance Magazine.  The designation is based on reader assessment through the largest and most closely watched survey of the world’s environmental markets. 

3Degrees is known for managing a diverse portfolio of renewable energy certificates (REC). “Having a range of REC options means 3Degrees clients can support the type of clean energy that is most relevant to their business and geographic location,” says Scott Eidson, 3Degrees’ Head of Origination and Trading. 

The company has a long history of working with developers from project conception through contractual purchases of RECs and power. In 2014 alone 3Degrees took receipt of more than 11.5 million megawatt-hours from over 350 different renewable energy facilities. 47 percent of those were sourced from facilities that came on line in 2010 or more recently. The purchases were made under 255 distinct contracts. “Strong relationships with project developers and brokers are what help 3Degrees stand apart in the industry — and meet our mission to connect people with cleaner energy on a massive scale,” says Eidson. 

This is the fourth time 3Degrees has earned a top designation by Environmental Finance readers in this category. The company was also named EPA Supplier of the Year for the eighth time earlier this year. 

Creative products and stellar service sets 3Degrees apart

3Degrees was again named the 2016 Best Trading Company in the Renewable Energy Certificates (REC) – North America category by Environmental Finance magazine. This is the second year in a row the company earned the top position and is based on a survey of customers and peers.

The award reflects the value 3Degrees products and services bring to partners throughout the voluntary and compliance marketplaces. “These markets are complex and ever-shifting,” explained Scott Eidson, Vice President of Environmental Markets. “In response, 3Degrees has developed flexible products that use renewable energy certificates as well as other solutions to help clean energy suppliers and buyers mitigate risk and meet carbon reduction goals.”

3Degrees products and services span the globe including North America’s most complex markets such as the WECC, PJM, New England and Illinois but it is the extensive industry knowledge and focus on high-touch customer service that keeps hundreds of energy suppliers and buyers returning to Scott’s team each year. “Our focus on relationships and ease of transacting gives our partners a simple way to support the type of clean energy that is most beneficial to their business and geographic location.”

Since 2015 3Degrees has transacted  more than 90 million megawatt-hours of renewable energy from over 500 facilities – with nearly 50% of those facilities coming online in the last six years. Overall, this is the fifth time 3Degrees has earned a top designation by Environmental Finance readers in this category.

Find out more about RECs available from 3Degrees

Deepening our commitment to European renewable energy markets.

3Degrees is pleased to announce that we have joined RECS International, an organization committed to building global renewable energy markets that are standardized, transparent and most importantly, consumer-driven.   

“3Degrees – through its work with Green-e and WRI – has a proven commitment to building high-integrity renewable energy markets,” says Jared Braslawsky, Secretary General of RECS International. “We are proud to have them join RECS International and support our mission of creating reliable attribute tracking markets in Europe and around the world.”

Since its founding, 3Degrees has helped customers with needs for international renewable energy certificate (REC) and carbon offset products. Today, we offer comprehensive international offerings including GOs, I-RECS, TIGRs, carbon offset products, as well as PPAs, VPPAs and consulting services. We have done business in over 40 countries and are proud to be a CDP Global Renewable Energy Partner.

“More and more of our customers are looking to us to help them address their global needs around renewable energy and greenhouse gas emissions,” according to Steve McDougal, CEO of 3Degrees. “Joining RECS International allows us to stay plugged into the nuances of the European renewable energy markets and better serve our customers.”

3Degrees will be speaking at the upcoming RECS International conference in March of 2017, providing a perspective on the US RECs market.

Companies join together to offer comprehensive range of renewable energy and climate solutions for U.S. and global clients

Today, 3Degrees and Origin Climate announced that 3Degrees will acquire Origin Climate. Many U.S. and global organizations, from corporations to utilities, are navigating the complex world of carbon, renewable energy and sustainable development goals without the necessary resources. The combined company brings together industry-leading pioneers to offer a comprehensive range of renewable energy and climate expertise to transform clients’ organizational goals into impactful strategies and results.

Erin Craig and Mark Mondik, the managing directors of Origin Climate, will take on leadership roles within the newly expanded 3Degrees. Craig will lead the consulting organization that will serve clients’ climate and renewable energy needs. Mondik will lead the carbon market business, including carbon credit origination. Both Craig and Mondik will join the 3Degrees executive leadership team and board of directors. Dan Kalafatas will remain the executive chairman and Steve McDougal will continue to serve as the CEO.

 “We are pleased to join forces with Origin Climate. Our product and service offerings complement one another exceptionally well, enabling us to serve the tailored needs of more customers and serve them more comprehensively, both in the United States and around the world,” said Kalafatas.

Expanded Custom Offerings for Commercial and Industrial Clients

Over the past several years, many organizations have significantly broadened their climate and energy goals. These leaders need a wide range of products and an evolved set of services to ensure their success. In recent years, Origin Climate has quietly advised on more than 1400 MW of completed renewable power procurement transactions, and become a major force guiding corporate renewable energy strategy in the United States. By joining forces with Origin Climate, 3Degrees will enhance the depth of its offerings across consulting and transaction services—including PPAs, contracted purchases from competitive energy providers, green tariffs, and tax equity and other owner-investment options—as well as customizable renewable energy certificate (REC) and carbon offset products sourced from around the globe.

 “Origin Climate guided our organization as we committed to achieving 50% renewable energy and an absolute reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for our highly distributed content delivery network spanning 120 countries,” said Nicola Peill-Moelter, Ph.D., senior director of environmental sustainability for Akamai Technologies. “They helped us develop our procurement strategy and led us through our first virtual PPA (VPPA) process. We are excited to see how Origin Climate will bring success to more companies as part of the 3Degrees team.”

The expanded 3Degrees team provides energy users an unbiased assessment of a variety of climate-smart energy supply options. Their approach enables internal stakeholders to weigh in on the costs, risks and benefits of all possibilities, navigate the regulatory complexities, and help determine the best option. As a result, execution can proceed quickly and without surprises.

“We’re seeing a number of companies with impressive renewable energy goals rushing to sign VPPAs,” said Craig. “VPPAs are a great structure, but they’re not for everyone. The companies we work with are seeking renewable energy as a primary objective; participating at-risk in wholesale power markets is not on their ‘to-do’ list. By combining 3Degrees’ leadership in commercial, industrial and utility sectors with Origin’s experience advising companies on a wide variety of energy supply structures, we are now uniquely positioned to help clients identify and implement the solution that best meets their needs—whether a VPPA or otherwise.”

Serving the Utility of the Future

For more than a decade, 3Degrees has helped investor- and publicly owned utilities across the United States with custom compliance and voluntary REC products in order to meet renewable portfolio standards, as well as create successful voluntary renewable programs that engage their customers and drive satisfaction.

As utilities seek to retain customers and attract new economic development to their service territories, 3Degrees is now better equipped to help utilities navigate the renewable energy requirements of their largest energy users. 3Degrees’ leadership in managing community solar and voluntary green power programs is augmented by Origin Climate’s trail-blazing work designing and implementing one of the first utility “green tariffs” to allow electricity users to buy 100% project-specific renewable energy through their utility.

“For more than a decade, 3Degrees has helped us deliver compelling renewable energy choices that meet the commitments and interests of our customers. With the integration of Origin Climate, 3Degrees is even better positioned to serve a growing interest among our largest customers and position Silicon Valley Power as a utility of the future,” said Larry Owens, customer services manager of Silicon Valley Power, one of the top utility sellers of renewable energy.

Strong Alignment of Culture and Values

Both Origin Climate and 3Degrees are certified B Corporations. The combined company retains the 3Degrees name and now has more than 100 employees spanning offices in San Francisco, Portland, Ore., Seattle, and Richmond, Va. The Origin Climate team members will relocate to the 3Degrees headquarters in downtown San Francisco.

Added McDougal, “3Degrees and Origin Climate’s core values and company cultures are perfectly aligned, providing foundation to craft creative, impactful solutions for clients and make a greater impact on energy markets and climate change.”

13 projects in 10 states developed and registered in 2016  

3Degrees was recently named a 2017 project developer of the year by the Climate Action Reserve and recognized for its leadership in advancing climate solutions and strengthening carbon markets.

(L to R): Craig Ebert, President of the Climate Action Reserve, Nick Facciola, Director of Carbon Markets at 3Degrees, Linda Adams, Chair of the Climate Action Reserve and former Secretary of Cal/EPA

Specifically, 3Degrees was honored for registering the most projects in 2016 with 13 unique projects. These consisted of 10 compliance livestock projects, one voluntary livestock project and two voluntary landfill projects. These projects were developed in 10 different states by Origin Climate, which recently joined forces with 3Degrees and has over 20 projects on the Reserve. Origin Climate is one of the oldest and most successful carbon credit companies in the US and has registered more than 5 million verified carbon credits.

“3Degrees is honored to receive this award from the Climate Action Reserve,” said Mark Mondik, vice president of carbon markets. “We are committed to leveraging markets as a force for good and pride ourselves on being the honest and trusted voice in helping clients develop and implement strategies to fight climate change.”

The Climate Action Reserve is a carbon offset registry with a mission to develop, promote and support innovative, credible, market-based climate change solutions that benefit economies, ecosystems and society.

The award was presented at the Navigating the American Carbon World conference.