Center for Resource Solutions

Background

The Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) operates primarily as a certification and standard-setting body for voluntary energy markets, generating nearly 90 percent of its revenue from program service fees rather than charitable contributions. Its Green-e certification program sets standards for suppliers and purchasers of electricity generated from non-hydrocarbon sources, carbon offsets, and biomethane. CRS has maintained a longstanding working relationship with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) co-administering the annual Green Power Leadership Awards and regularly presenting at EPA technical webinars on voluntary energy markets. ^{4  5  6}

CRS was founded in 1997. CEO Jennifer Martindescribed the organization’s founding purpose in a 2018 interview as an effort “to accelerate this growth and to encourage a healthy development of markets and policies together.” ^{1  7}

In 1997, CRS launched Green-e, which it describes as the first independent certification program for weather-dependent electricity in North America. Green-e establishes standards for how non-hydrocarbon energy products should be tracked, verified, and retired on behalf of purchasers. The program expanded to include certification for carbon offsets (2008), company and product marketing claims (2012), renewable natural gas and biomethane (2020), and an international standard (2023). ^{1  8}

Programs

The Center for Resource Solutions’ main program is Green-e certification, which it launched in 1997 as the first independent certification program for weather-dependent electricity in North America. Green-e certifies suppliers and purchasers of non-hydrocarbon electricity products and carbon offsets in the voluntary market, and its standards are recognized or required by environmental and corporate reporting frameworks including Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the CDP, the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, RE100, and B Corporation certification. In 2023, Green-e certified retail sales totaled more than 125 million megawatt-hours, with 1.3 million retail purchasers, of which 298,000 were businesses. ^{1  5  1  9}

CRS has worked with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPAs) Green Power Partnership program, co-presenting technical webinars and co-administering the annual Green Power Leadership Awards, which recognize leading purchasers and suppliers of non-hydrocarbon electricity. ⁶

In 2020, CRS launched the Clean Energy Accounting Project (CEAP), which develops standardized guidance on non-hydrocarbon electricity and greenhouse gas accounting for voluntary and regulatory markets. Apple, Entergy, and Meta joined as founding partners, and the advisory committee has included AT&T, CDP, Google, and others. ¹⁰

CRS also operates under the China Sustainable Energy Program (CSEP), described by CRS as an effort of the San Francisco-based Energy Foundation, engaging Chinese policymakers and research institutions on renewable energy policy. ³

Advocacy

The Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) argues that it advocates at the state, national, and international levels for policies that increase weather-dependent electricity development and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This includes writing comments to state public utility commissions, trade associations, and federal agencies. Its stated policy priorities include maintaining the integrity of voluntary energy markets, preventing double-counting in renewable energy accounting systems, and advancing standards for greenhouse gas accounting and reporting. CRS has stated that it also seeks to advance policies specifically supportive of its Green-e certification program. ¹¹

Leadership

As of June 2026, Jennifer Martin was serving as chief executive officer of the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS). Martin joined CRS in 2005 as director of certification and deputy director, assuming the chief executive role in 2010. She has worked as a renewable markets advisor to the Low Impact Hydropower Institute since December 2013, as a member of the Stakeholder Advisory Group of the Western Renewable Energy Generation Information System since 2009, and as a board member of solar financing nonprofit RE-volv from 2011 to 2025. ^{12  13}

Karl R. Rabago was chair of the CRS board of directors as of June 2026. A consultant and attorney, Rabago previously served as a commissioner on the Texas Public Utility Commission, as deputy assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Energy, and as vice president for distributed energy services at Austin Energy. Board member Deborah Burke was affiliated with the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. ^{14  2  15}

Financials

In 2024, the Center for Resource Solutions reported total revenue of $5,670,491, a decrease from $5,851,925 in 2023. CRS derives most of its revenue from program service fees, primarily certification and verification fees charged to Green-e program participants, rather than from charitable contributions. In 2024, program services accounted for $5,041,476, or approximately 89 percent of total revenue, with contributions comprising $468,758 (roughly 8 percent) and investment income $160,257 (approximately 3 percent). ⁴ Total expenses in 2024 were $6,404,814, producing a net deficit of $734,323 for the year. As of year-end 2024, CRS reported total assets of $4,684,333, total liabilities of $1,483,569, and net assets of $3,200,764. ^{16  17}