Rating System

LEED BD+C: New Construction, LEED BD+C: New Construction, LEED BD+C: New Construction

Rating System Version

v2 - LEED 2.0, v2 - LEED 2.2, v2 - LEED 2.2

Inquiry

Our LEED-NC 2.1 registered project is an office/laboratory building located on a University campus. A single-axis tracking PV generation system, donated to the University by a local electric utility, will be installed on the campus at an optimum location for collecting solar energy. The value of the energy output of the PV system will equal 20% of the total annual energy cost of the registered LEED project and will be applied for points under credits EAc2 and EAc1. The University will own the system and the electricity, which will be delivered directly into the campus grid. A 12/23/2002 CIR ruling for EAc2 states that if a project owner "...sells the renewable energy credits...then the project cannot apply the corresponding energy to the calculations for this credit or for EAc1." The Memorandum of Understanding between the University and the local utility states that "...the REC\'s that will be associated with the PV system shall be retired." We are seeking LEED Platinum certification and, consequently, each point is critical. We want to be sure that we execute this properly. Therefore: Can we retire the REC\'s and use the value of the generated energy of this PV system toward EAc2 (and EAc1) points? If so, then will a copy of the signed MOU be sufficient proof that this transaction has taken place? Thank you.