Renewable Energy Markets Association Applauds Proposed Revisions to the FTC Green Guides

The Renewable Energy Markets Association (REMA) applauds the Federal Trade Commission for its proposed revisions to its Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims, also known as the “Green Guides.” The Green Guides offer guidance designed to help marketers ensure the environmental claims they are making are accurate, substantiated, and not misleading to consumers.

The Green Guides were first issued in 1992 and were last revised in 1998. Among the FTC’s proposed changes and revisions to the Green Guides is a new emphasis on renewable energy claims, a market which has grown exponentially over the past decade.

“More than a million businesses and households voluntarily purchase renewable electricity or renewable energy certificates,” said Jay Carlis, President of REMA and Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Community Energy. “We look forward to working with the FTC to further strengthen consumer confidence in the claims being made in this fast-growing market.”

Before issuing the draft revisions, the FTC solicited feedback from industry through a series of public workshops and a public comment period. REMA’s input was referenced specifically in the FTC’s revised Green Guides. REMA’s comments to the FTC can be found at www.renewablemarketers.org/legislative/comments.asp.

“Businesses and institutions across America are choosing renewable energy as a simple, effective way to minimize the overall environmental impact of their products and services,” said Rob Harmon, the Chairman of REMA’s national policy committee and the Chief Innovation Officer of the Bonneville Environmental Foundation. “This industry has worked for the more than a decade to ensure clarity in the voluntary renewable energy marketplace, and we commend the FTC for its efforts to ensure clear consumer understanding of the benefits of renewable energy products.”

In the upcoming weeks REMA is planning to provide additional input to the FTC on the proposed revisions to the Green Guides. The FTC is accepting additional public comments through December 10, 2010 and will then prepare a final Green Guides update, intended for official release in the first half of 2011. More information on how to comment can be found at https://ftcpublic.commentworks.com/ftc/revisedgreenguides/.

The Renewable Energy Markets Association (REMA) is a nonprofit trade association dedicated to maintaining and growing strong markets for renewable energy in the United States. It engages in education and advocacy efforts on behalf of renewable energy marketers, utilities, manufacturers, developers and others in renewable energy markets. www.renewablemarketers.org

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This release was published on openPR.