Center for Resource Solutions

What Center for Resource Solutions does

Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1997 and headquartered in San Francisco, California. It creates policy and market solutions that advance sustainable energy, working internationally with utilities, corporate buyers, government agencies, project developers, energy attribute certificate (EAC) tracking systems, and grid operators. CRS is best known for the Green-e® certification program, described as the trusted global leader in clean energy certification, which verified over 125 million retail megawatt-hours in 2023. The organization is funded through program sponsorships, foundation grants, and mission-driven advisory engagements rather than disclosed equity financing.

CRS's core programs include Green-e® Certification (consumer protection and verification for renewable energy and carbon offsets), the Clean Energy Accounting Project (CEAP, launched in 2020) which develops stakeholder-reviewed accounting guidance covering residual mix, granular matching, impactful procurement, and clean fuels, and the Clean Energy Tracking Collaborative (CETC) which convenes regulators, tracking system operators, and industry leaders to evolve EAC tracking infrastructure. Supporting programs include CRS Listed™ (a facility-level designation tied to Green-e eligibility), the Green Power Leadership Awards (GPLAs), the annual Renewable Energy Markets Conference (REM), advisory services, and the China Sustainable Energy Program (CSEP), which has operated for over 20 years with support from the Energy Foundation, GIZ, and the World Bank. The technology layer is primarily standards-based rather than software-based: Green-e, CEAP, and CETC outputs are guidelines, certifications, and convening forums, with no proprietary AI/ML components, APIs, or mobile products disclosed.

CRS generates revenue primarily through mission-driven advisory services (coaching, workshops, trainings, policy design, and custom consulting) and program grants. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Founding partners (Apple, Meta, Entergy) and advisory committee members (Google, Constellation, AT&T, 3Degrees, CDP, Clean Energy Buyers Institute) contribute via sponsorship and in-kind participation rather than disclosed equity. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and operated by a small leadership team including Directors of Technical Projects (Todd Jones, Rachael Terada) and Director of Policy (Chris Cooper), with founder Jan Hamrin credited as the original founder.

Name

Center for Resource Solutions

Legal name

Center for Resource Solutions

Website

https://resource-solutions.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) is a San Francisco-based nonprofit founded in 1997 that develops the Green-e clean energy certification, the CEAP clean energy accounting standards, and the CETC tracking infrastructure for utilities, corporate buyers, project developers, and government agencies worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Renewable Energy Certification and Policy Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

SIC

Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) & Clean Energy Standards Compliance (EUAMANAF)

Keywords

• Renewable energy certification
• Clean energy standards
• Energy policy advisory
• Emissions accounting services
• Sustainable energy markets

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Advisory Services: CRS provides mission-driven advisory services to help organizations navigate their clean energy transitions and achieve decarbonization goals, including coaching, workshops, trainings, policy design, and custom consulting engagements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) is a nonprofit that creates policy and market solutions to advance sustainable energy through the Green-e certification program for renewable energy and carbon offsets, the Clean Energy Accounting Project (CEAP) for standardized emissions accounting guidance, and the Clean Energy Tracking Collaborative (CETC) for energy attribute certificate tracking. It also provides mission-driven advisory services covering market development, procurement strategies, emissions accounting, policy design, and energy tracking system guidance.

Product overview

Center for Resource Solutions is a nonprofit organization that operates a portfolio of interconnected programs focused on advancing sustainable energy through policy, market development, certification, and standards. The core offerings include the Green-e® Certification program (a consumer protection and verification mechanism for clean energy products), the Clean Energy Accounting Project (CEAP) which develops accounting guidance, and the Clean Energy Tracking Collaborative (CETC) which advances energy tracking infrastructure. Supporting programs include the CRS Listed™ facility designation, Green Power Leadership Awards (GPLAs), Advisory Services for organizations navigating clean energy transitions, and the annual Renewable Energy Markets Conference (REM™). The China Sustainable Energy Program (CSEP) extends international market development efforts. Together, these programs create a comprehensive ecosystem supporting renewable energy market integrity, policy development, and consumer protection.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Green-e: The trusted global leader in clean energy certification, making it easy for businesses and individuals to purchase verified clean energy with confidence.

Products and services

• Green-e Certification

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 125 million retail MWh certified through Green-e (2023 data)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• ApplecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020CEAP Founding Partner with extraordinary early commitment. Provides advanced understanding of clean energy procurement in the technology industry. Guides CEAP priorities, strengthens standards discussions, and collaborates with other Advisory Committee members.
• MetacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020CEAP Founding Partner with early commitment. Contributes advanced understanding of clean energy procurement to guide CEAP priorities and support activities. 25 years of CRS leadership makes it exceptionally qualified to solve energy accounting questions.
• EntergycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020CEAP Founding Partner with extraordinary early commitment. Provides utility sector perspective on clean energy procurement to advance CEAP goals.
• 3DegreessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory Committee member providing input on CEAP priorities and clean energy accounting challenges.
• AT&TsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory Committee member contributing to clean energy and GHG accounting guidance development.
• GooglecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory Committee member and funder of research including Accelerating Corporate Renewable Energy Engagement in China report.
• ConstellationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory Committee member contributing to CEAP priorities and clean energy accounting guidance development.
• Clean Energy Buyers Institute (CEBI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory Committee member and key collaborator on consensus-driven work essential to advancing voluntary market participation. Provided endorsement of CEAP mission.
• CDPsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory Committee member contributing to clean energy accounting guidance development.
• Granular EnergysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiative Sponsor for Hourly Utility Product Design Options, providing expertise and guidance throughout CEAP initiative development.
• Retail Energy Advancement LeaguesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiative Sponsor for Power Source and Emissions Disclosure initiative, contributing expertise and guidance to CEAP project development.
• Energy FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSan Francisco-based foundation supporting the China Sustainable Energy Program (CSEP), an effort enabling CRS to make renewable energy a significant component of China's national energy system for over 20 years.
• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman sustainable development organization that supported CRS in developing reports and trainings for Mexican Energy Regulatory Commission on clean energy certificate programs.
• World BanksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization with which CRS has continuing joint projects as part of CSEP work supporting US/China MOU on addressing global climate change.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Clean Energy Buyers Institute (CEBI): Mission-aligned nonprofit convening corporate clean energy buyers and developing buyer guidance. CEBI's focus on demand-side education, supplier engagement, and consensus frameworks closely mirrors CRS's CEAP and CETC activities; the two organizations already collaborate as CEAP Advisory Committee partners.
• Greenhouse Gas Protocol (WRI/WBCSD): The dominant global standard-setter for corporate GHG accounting (Scope 1/2/3). CRS's CEAP work on residual mix, hourly matching, and REC accounting is functionally complementary — and competitive — to GHG Protocol's Scope 2 Guidance, making it the closest authoritative peer.
• CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project): Global disclosure system for environmental impact used by 20,000+ companies. CDP's climate questionnaire and scoring methodology directly intersect CRS's clean energy accounting guidance, and CDP already participates on CEAP's Advisory Committee.
• Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi): Corporate net-zero standard-setter defining how companies set emissions targets. SBTi's expansion into market-based Scope 2 rules creates direct overlap with CRS's CEAP guidance on credible energy claims.
• Climate Group (RE100): International nonprofit running RE100, the corporate renewable electricity commitment initiative. RE100's technical criteria for credible renewable electricity procurement directly intersect CRS's Green-e certification and CEAP matching guidance.
• Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA): Nonprofit coalition of state clean energy funds and programs. CESA's convening role among state agencies and its work on shared clean energy policy frameworks mirror CRS's PUC engagement and CSEP international programs.

Broad incumbents

• Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI): Larger, well-resourced clean energy research and advisory nonprofit. RMI's work on corporate renewable procurement, carbon-free electricity, and energy transition strategy overlaps materially with CRS's advisory services, though RMI operates at greater scale and broader scope.
• World Resources Institute (WRI): Global research organization co-managing GHG Protocol. WRI's broader sustainability portfolio (climate, water, forests, cities) makes it a broader incumbent, but its stewardship of GHG Protocol makes it a direct peer in corporate emissions accounting.
• Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): Major environmental advocacy organization with active clean energy and utility regulation programs. NRDC's state and federal policy engagement on RPS, RECs, and utility regulation overlaps with CRS's policy and market development work.

Emerging players

• Institute for Market Transformation (IMT): Nonprofit working on buildings and real estate decarbonization with adjacent standards development. IMT's focus on disclosure and policy frameworks for buildings partially overlaps CRS's electricity market development, though its sectoral focus differs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/resourcesolutions
• Xx.com/greenemarktplc
• Facebookfacebook.com/CenterForResourceSolutions
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/center-for-resource-solutions

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Center for Resource Solutions