The CEBA Spring gathering in Minneapolis was a timely check-in on where corporate clean energy is headed—and what’s keeping procurement leaders up at night. While the mood was grounded in economic reality, the tone was hopeful and pragmatic: forward-looking organizations are getting smarter, more strategic, and more adaptive.
Here are seven key insights for energy buyers to keep in mind as the market evolves:
1. 👀 All Eyes on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHGP)
The proposed GHGP changes—especially around hourly time-matching and tighter geographic boundaries—were front and center at CEBA. While there was wide awareness, enthusiasm was mixed. Corporate leaders expressed concern about the complexity and timing of these changes, with some arguing that this isn’t the moment to raise the bar without clearer support infrastructure.
Takeaway: While the market may not be ready to go “fully granular” today, the momentum is building. Forward-thinking teams are preparing by strengthening data systems, defining load baselines, and keeping options open for future reporting requirements.
2. 📉 ERCOT Remains the Top Market for PPA Transactions
ERCOT remains the strongest market for transactions, but other ISOs are still seeing interest, particularly with the potential for GHGP revisions to have stricter market boundaries. A notable trend: decreased PPA activity in the MISO and PJM regions, largely due to economic headwinds. That’s pushed more procurement toward ERCOT, which remains the most active market.
Takeaway: Buyers should keep an eye on market cycles. Slowdowns in some ISOs may be temporary—and could present future opportunities when prices reset. For now, ERCOT remains a strong option, but it’s also under the microscope (see below).
3. ⚠️ ERCOT PPAs Have Potential to be Impacted by Evolving GHGP Rules
While ERCOT is seeing the most activity, if changes to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHGP) go through there is a potential for stranded assets that will no longer count towards Scope 2 reductions. Proposed updates could more narrowly define what counts as “local” clean energy.
Takeaway: Be cautious when modeling future carbon claims in locations outside of your operational regions. As GHGP evolves, tools and strategies that incorporate market boundary risk will become increasingly important.
4. 📈 Load Growth and Tariff Innovation Are Rising Priorities
Data centers, AI adoption, and electrification continue to drive demand—but the conversation is shifting from capacity to how we pay for it. Many are exploring scalable green tariffs that leverage the foundations set by tech giants. There’s a real appetite for more accessible, replicable “bring your own PPA” utility programs.
Takeaway: If you’re buying energy in a regulated market, stay alert to tariff innovations. Green tariff design is becoming a key enabler of decarbonization—especially for mid-sized or distributed buyers.
5. ⚡ Storage Is About Resilience, Not Just Emissions
Batteries were a quiet but important theme. While there is limited appetite to take on merchant risk right now the long-term value of storage is becoming clearer: it’s about risk mitigation and reliability, not just carbon reduction.
Takeaway: As you think about adding storage to your portfolio, consider its role in hedging risk, flattening volatility, and providing grid resilience—not just emissions impact. These use cases are likely to define the future of battery investment.
6. 🛠️ PPA Operations is Becoming More Important
The Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA) recently announced that corporate and industrial customers have surpassed 100 GW of clean energy procurement since 2014—a milestone larger than any U.S. state’s peak electricity demand. In 2024 alone, 21.7 GW of voluntary deals were signed, making 2024 the highest procurement year to date, according to CEBA’s 2024 Deal Tracker. As more organizations make headway toward their 100% renewable energy goals, the focus is shifting from procurement to operations—managing the complexity of live PPAs and ensuring performance aligns with expectations.
Takeaway: The operational phase of clean energy programs is here, and it’s no longer feasible to rely on spreadsheets and irregular consultant updates. At Verse, we’re helping customers manage their PPA data through Verse Portfolio Insights™—a purpose-built platform that replaces static spreadsheets with daily market updates, automated validations, and improved forecasting models.
7. 🧠 Most Energy Data Still Lives in Spreadsheets—But That’s Changing
Many attendees admitted their energy data still lives in spreadsheets. But there’s a growing recognition that as accounting and procurement get more complex, the gap between tools and needs will widen.
Takeaway: Now is a good time to evaluate your data infrastructure. Leading organizations are adopting software to establish load baselines, improve forecasting, and prepare for a more data-driven future of energy.
Final Thought: Stay Strategic, Stay Adaptive
If there was one unifying theme at CEBA, it’s this: clean energy strategy is evolving from deal-making to system-thinking. It’s less about one-off wins, and more about how your entire energy footprint performs—financially and environmentally—over time.
Across all these themes—from tariff design to PPA operations to emissions reporting—data management is emerging as the critical foundation. As your energy program grows more complex, spreadsheets simply won’t scale. Accurate forecasting, risk modeling, performance tracking, and compliance will all depend on strong data infrastructure.
That’s why Verse exists. From understanding your energy costs to managing a global PPA portfolio, Verse’s platform helps you meet the energy challenges of the future—today.
👉 Watch how our Portfolio Insights solution works.
Buyers who stay informed, flexible, and intentional—and who invest in the right tools—will be best positioned to lead in this next era of energy leadership.