Ever.green Impact Scorecards for Solar and Wind

High standards for renewables

This is Ever.green’s framework for holding a high bar on the impact that big solar projects have on the climate, land, wildlife, and community.

Download scorecard

Overview

As the climate crisis continues to escalate, companies are increasingly stepping up and committing to reduce their carbon footprint. Scope 2 emissions, or the indirect emissions associated with electricity usage, can be addressed in numerous ways – the most common tactics are building on-site renewables, financially supporting a new project (VPPAs), and purchasing unbundled Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs).

Ever.green is helping companies meet their energy goals by allowing them to put their dollars towards enabling new solar projects. As we stand-up these projects in collaboration with corporate sponsors and solar developers, we consider the project’s impacts on the climate, land, wildlife, and communities, and seek to maximize benefits and minimize harms wherever possible.

Ever.green's Impact Scorecard

In order to more effectively ensure our high-bar is met, we’ve developed a scorecard organized into four themes (detailed below) where we set an ambitious minimum requirement for responsible development of medium to large solar projects and outline ways to go above and beyond.

Below is a non-editable scorecard example. Make a copy for your own project.

Ever.green Renewables Scorecard (DEMO) - Google Drive


1
2	All requirements met – Project is a go achieving a total score of 91 out of 100.

3	Demo Solar Field
4	Instructions: Confirm your solar project meets the requirements (highlighted in yellow) for each category and indicate where the project goes beyond to maximize good and minimize harm. Duplicate the worksheet tab for multiple projects or start with a new scorecard at go.ever.green/renewables-scorecard. About: This scorecard was built by Ever.green to score solar farms built for companies seeking to accelerate the transition to renewable energy. It was built with vital input from Atlassian, The Nature Conservancy, WattTime and St. Philip's College and is an evolution ofthe More Than a Megawatt framework by Salesforce and others.
5	1. Test for additionality
6	Requirements
7		Project is new or repowered: If the project is fully operational at the time sponsorship was established, it will be very difficult to make a case that additional clean energy is being built that accelerates the transition to renewable energy.	Comments
8		Project's impact is unclaimed: If an offtaker or other involved party is claiming the project's environmental impact, it is not available for a corporate sponsor to take the credit themselves in exchange for sponsorship.	Comments
9		Project needs sponsorship to be viable: Sponsorship should result in successful financing for the project and can achieve that in a number of ways: help with a significant percent of up-front financing, give a boost in the IRR, or reduce the risk for the project lenders or investors. If the project is able to get needed funding and is viable without corporate sponsorship, it is difficult to make a case that the corporate sponsorship made the project possible.	Comments
10
11	2. Maximize climate impact
12	Avoided emissions – Estimate the average avoided emissions by matching the anticipated hourly generation of the project with the regional grid's marginal emissions rate for the last 12 months as computed by WattTime.org or an equivalent source.
13	Requirements
14		The project will result in new clean energy that displaces fossil fuels	Comments
15	Bonus points for going beyond
16	3	Great: Project avoids between 0.6 and 0.8 tCO2e / MWh	Comments
17	3	Great: Project cost between $1 / watt and $1.50 / watt to build	Comments
18	6	Bonus
19
20	3. Minimize environmental harms
21	Materials impact (panels and inverters)– Screen for disclosure on ethical labor and supply chain of panel manufacturers in order in order to raise standards on transparency. Additional points for sustainability and registry qualification.
22	Requirements
23		The panel manufacturer has public statements regarding their supply chain and labor practices.	Comments
24	Bonus points for going beyond
25	1	Good: Manufacturer has published third-party certified documentation on supply chain and labor practices.	Comments
26		+2 BONUS: Uses refurbished equipment, or lower LCA materials like thin film panels or wood racking.	Comments
27		+1 BONUS: Registered and graded as acceptable in EPEAT ,SEIA ,or other approved registry.	Comments
28		+1.5 BONUS: Registered and graded above acceptable in approved registry.	Comments
29	1	Bonus
30
31	Land use– Utilize tools like USDA CroplandCROS, American Farmland Trust's Farms Under Threat tool, TNC's Resilient Land mapping tool, USDA Web Soil Survey, and/or NRCS from USDA to make sure land siting occurs in non-critical habitat. On-site surveys should also take place through a licensed biologist or other third-party. Bonus points for co-benefits and beneficial land management practices.
32	Requirements
33		The project is located in the built environment or on land that is not critical habitat for which a third-party expert impact assessment has been completed to assess impact and ensure compliance with applicable land and wildlife regulations.	Comments
34	Bonus points for going beyond
35	2	Good: Project has low potential to disrupt the ecosystem - Project is sited on previously modified land that does not have potential for rehabilitation (e.g. conversion to prime habitat or prime farmland).	Comments
36		+1 BONUS: Project is sited near urban centers reducing need for new transmission infrastructure.	Comments
37		+.5 BONUS: Instead of clearing soil and roots, vegetation is left in place or is replaced with low-growing native plants or crops.	Comments
38		+.25 BONUS: Instead of stripping topsoil, existing topsoil is left intact to allow for native vegetation growth and better soil health.	Comments
39		+.25 BONUS: Instead of leveling off or grading land with heavy machinery, project is designed around the natural contours of the land.	Comments
40		+.25 BONUS: Instead of land footprint for the foundations of vertical support structures (often including concrete), lower land footprint for foundations of vertical support structures, often driven piles.	Comments
41		+.25 BONUS: Instead of increasing soil compaction due to heavy machinery, soil and vegetation are left intact to help reduce stormwater runoff and improve soil health.	Comments
42		+.25 BONUS: Instead of utilizing herbicide spraying, mowing, and other high-impact O&M activities, minimum-impact O&M activities are used (such as livestock grazing, planting low-growing native vegetation).	Comments
43	4.5	Bonus
44
45	Wildlife – Complete due diligence with The Nature Conservancy's Resilient Land mapping tool and Site Renewables Right tool, and complete a biologist survey to ensure there are minimal wildlife impacts. Bonus points for co-benefits and beneficial sizing and placement.
46	Requirements
47		For projects not in the built environment, a wildlife assessment is completed and project complies with all applicable wildlife laws.	Comments
48	Bonus points for going beyond
49	3	Great: There are no adverse impacts to species of concern.	Comments
50		+1 BONUS: Project is sized to minimize impact on wildlife (under 100 acres of contiguous fenced land).	Comments
51		+.75 BONUS: Fencing that allows for wildlife to pass is used (normal migration and movement as well as climate migration).	Comments
52		+.5 BONUS: Vegetation that supports habitat for wildlife (e.g. pollinator plants, butterfly habitat, native species etc.) is planted on-site, equivalent to 25% of acreage of project site in size and maintained over the duration of the project.	Comments
53		+.5 BONUS: Project participates in wildlife coexistence research (e.g. allows site to be used for research, donates financially, etc.)	Comments
54	5.25	Bonus
55
56	4. Maximize social benefits
57	Just transition – Ensuring fair working conditions, prevailing wages, and apprenticeship hours. Bonus points for utilizing local labor and engaging in workforce development for marginalized communities.
58	Requirements
59		The developer has contracts and monitoring to ensure labor, environmental and safety standards are met (e.g. a Responsible Contractor Policy) AND the developer has a clear plan for compliance with prevailing wage requirements and apprenticeship hours as outlined in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (except when exempt from such requirements due to safe harbor provisions).	Comments
60	Bonus points for going beyond
61	2	Good: Minimum employee salary is above prevailing wages OR percentage of apprenticeship hours used are greater than requirement in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.	Comments
62		+1 BONUS: The developer has explicit contract provisions to utilize local labor in the development and ongoing maintenance of the project.	Comments
63		+1 BONUS: The developer commits to engage with employment opportunities that uplift marginalized communities and increase participation in the renewable energy workforce (e.g. job training for marginalized communities, career building programs, renewable energy courses via local community colleges or universities).	Comments
64	3	Bonus
65
66	Lift up communities – Engaging with local communities around solar projects. Bonus points awarded for minimal disruption, health benefits, and extra efforts to uplift the community. A Harvard study defines dollars of health benefits per MWh basis (see Figure 3, recommend using the midpoint on the Health & Climate graph for the Health indicator for the region of the project)
67	Requirements
68		Opposition to the project across the local community is minimal.	Comments
69	Bonus points for going beyond
70	1	Good: Project results in $20-$40 of health benefits / MWh	Comments
71		+1 BONUS: Project is less than 20 MW and disruption to the nearby community is minimal.	Comments
72		+.5 BONUS: Developer utilizes brochures/fact sheets etc. to increase awareness and educational opportunities regarding solar as a whole, community solar, and the project.	Comments
73		+.5 BONUS: Evergreen and developer partner help organize community activities related to the project (e.g. tours, presentations, community solar signups, etc.).	Comments
74		+1 BONUS: Project is <10 MW and is located in a low-income community or on Tribal land, helping to address environmental equity issues stemming from fossil fuel production (which disproportionately affects marginalized communities).	Comments
75		+.5 BONUS: On-site educational or community-building features are incorporated (e.g. an interactive kiosk, a community center, etc.).	Comments
76		+.5 BONUS: Local school program(s) are put in place to educate K-12 students on the importance of renewable energy and potential career paths.	Comments
77	3.5	Bonus
78
79	Project score
80	80	Project achieved 80 points for meeting all core requirements
81	11	Project achieved 11 points for going beyond (57% of possible bonus points)
82	91	Total project score out of 100
83

Download copy of scorecard Connect with Ever.green

‍ Who is this for?

This framework was built to score small (1-10MW) and large (> 50MW) utility scale solar farms built for companies seeking to accelerate the transition to renewable energy. We are publishing this work both to be transparent about the standards we hold our projects to and for use by companies sponsoring or building solar projects elsewhere.

Acknowledgements

We wouldn’t be here without the help and support of others working to address climate change with both urgency and intentionality. Atlassian has provided resources for defining our high-bar and vital feedback throughout the development process. We’ve also solicited opinions and incorporated suggestions from numerous other organizations including The Nature Conservancy, WattTime, and St. Philip's College. Biggest of all, this framework is an evolution and expansion of the fantastic More Than a Megawatt framework by Salesforce and others.

1. Test for additionality.

Additionality is a test traditionally applied to carbon offsets and in plain terms, means that the activity or project would not have happened without the contribution or incentive from the carbon offset, or in this case, corporate sponsorship of the solar project.

Testing for additionality is the first theme because it is a gating factor with Ever.green’s projects. Companies want to accelerate the transition to renewable energy. That only happens where more renewables are getting built than is today. We want sponsoring solar projects to be as impactful, if not more impactful, than choosing to install solar on-site.

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2. Maximize climate impact.

Building renewables where the grid is dirtier means more emissions are avoided. And aiming for a lower cost per watt allows you to build more solar with the same budget.

When planning a clean energy project, it is critical to take into account the grid mix of the region in question – is it already made up of primarily clean energy sources? If so, consider relocating the project to a region where there are more fossil fuels and the addition of the project would be more impactful.

Economic efficiency is also a factor we consider at Ever.green - what is the cost of development compared to the expected power generation? A better cost ratio means each dollar spent will build more renewable energy generation and avoid more greenhouse gasses. The cost of a project can be brought down through investment tax credit (ITC) and production tax credit (PTC) incentives outlined in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA).

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3. Minimize environmental harm.

We look at the impact of the materials as well as the impact of the project on the land and wildlife.

Materials impact looks at the physical components of the solar panel supply chain, i.e. disclosures on ethical labor practices, material recyclability, and certification or registration with a third-party group such as EPEAT or SEIA.

Land use requires that projects avoid critical habitat and conduct an expert assessment to ensure land use regulations are met. Bonus points are available for building in more low-impact areas (such as urban environments and brownfields), as well as best land management practices that can be utilized to further reduce the impacts of the project.

The Wildlife section focuses on conducting expert wildlife impact assessments and complying with local and federal wildlife laws. Bonus points are awarded for minimizing impact on species of concern, using best management practices, and wildlife-friendly construction and O&M.



4. Maximize social benefits.

The transition to renewable energy can have direct benefits to the community from creating jobs with fair wages and benefits to lowering energy costs and improving air quality. Sizing projects to be smaller and/or engaging with the community can help make sure everyone benefits from new projects.

A just transition to renewable energy requires contracts for fair labor practices and safety measures (e.g. a Responsible Contractor Policy), as well as paying prevailing wages and utilizing a certain percentage of registered apprentices in the construction of the project, as outlined in the IRA. Bonus points are awarded for going beyond the IRA requirements, employing local contractors and engaging in workforce development programs or something similar.

And to lift up communities, smaller projects must not have strong community opposition while larger projects should have community support. Bonus points are awarded for smaller projects that cause less disruption, community health benefits, community engagement initiatives (i.e. school programs, tours), on-site education centers or community centers, and siting smaller projects in low-income or Tribal communities to address environmental inequities.

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Demo

Below is an example non-editable scorecard. Make a copy for your own project.

Ever.green Renewables Scorecard (DEMO 2024) - Google Drive


1
2	All requirements met – Project is a go achieving a total score of 91 out of 100.

3	Demo Solar Field #1
4	Instructions: Confirm your solar project meets the requirements (highlighted in yellow) for each category and indicate where the project goes beyond to maximize good and minimize harm. Duplicate the worksheet tab for multiple projects or start with a new scorecard at go.ever.green/renewables-scorecard. About: This scorecard was built by Ever.green to score solar farms built for companies seeking to accelerate the transition to renewable energy. It was built with vital input from Atlassian, The Nature Conservancy, WattTime and St. Philip's College and is an evolution ofthe More Than a Megawatt framework by Salesforce and others.
5	1. Test for additionality
6	Requirements
7		Project is new or repowered: If the project is fully operational at the time sponsorship was established, it will be very difficult to make a case that additional clean energy is being built that accelerates the transition to renewable energy.
8		Project's impact is unclaimed: If an offtaker or other involved party is claiming the project's environmental impact, it is not available for a corporate sponsor to take the credit themselves in exchange for sponsorship.
9		Project needs sponsorship to be viable: Sponsorship should result in successful financing for the project and can achieve that in a number of ways: help with a significant percent of up-front financing, give a boost in the IRR, or reduce the risk for the project lenders or investors. If the project is able to get needed funding and is viable without corporate sponsorship, it is difficult to make a case that the corporate sponsorship made the project possible.
10
11	2. Maximize climate impact
12	Avoided emissions – Calculate the weighted average avoided emissions by matching the hourly anticipated generation of the project with the marginal emissions rate of the grid region where the project is located as computed by WattTime.org or an equivalent source.
13	Requirements
14		The project will result in new clean energy that displaces fossil fuels
15	Bonus points for going beyond
16	2	Good: Project avoids between 0.4 and 0.6 tCO2e / MWh
17	3	Great: Project cost between $1 / watt and $1.50 / watt to build
18	5	Bonus points
19
20	3. Minimize environmental harms
21	Materials impact (panels and inverters) – Screen for disclosure on ethical labor and supply chain of panel manufacturers in order in order to raise standards on transparency. Additional points for sustainability and registry qualification.
22	Requirements
23		The panel manufacturer has public statements regarding their supply chain and labor practices.
24	Bonus points for going beyond
25	1	Good: Manufacturer has published third-party certified documentation on supply chain and labor practices.
26		+2 BONUS: Uses refurbished equipment, or lower LCA materials like thin film panels or wood racking.
27		+1 BONUS: Registered and graded as acceptable in EPEAT , SEIA , or other approved registry.
28		+1.5 BONUS: Registered and graded above acceptable in approved registry.
29	1	Bonus points
30
31	Land use– Utilize tools like USDA CroplandCROS, American Farmland Trust's Farms Under Threat tool, TNC's Resilient Land mapping tool, USDA Web Soil Survey, and NRCS from USDA to make sure land siting occurs in non-critical habitat. On-site surveys should also take place through a licensed biologist or other third-party. Bonus points for co-benefits and beneficial land management practices.
32	Requirements
33		The project is located in the built environment or on land that is not critical habitat for which a third-party expert impact assessment has been completed to assess impact and ensure compliance with applicable land and wildlife regulations.
34	Bonus points for going beyond
35	2	Good: Project has low potential to disrupt the ecosystem - Project is sited on previously modified land that does not have potential for rehabilitation (e.g. conversion to prime habitat or prime farmland).
36		+1 BONUS: Project is sited near urban centers reducing need for new transmission infrastructure.
37		+.5 BONUS: Instead of clearing soil and roots, vegetation is left in place or is replaced with low-growing native plants or crops.
38		+.25 BONUS: Instead of stripping topsoil, existing topsoil is left intact to allow for native vegetation growth and better soil health.
39		+.25 BONUS: Instead of leveling off or grading land with heavy machinery, project is designed around the natural contours of the land.
40		+.25 BONUS: Instead of land footprint for the foundations of vertical support structures (often including concrete), lower land footprint for foundations of vertical support structures, often driven piles.
41		+.25 BONUS: Instead of increasing soil compaction due to heavy machinery, soil and vegetation are left intact to help reduce stormwater runoff and improve soil health.
42		+.25 BONUS: Instead of utilizing herbicide spraying, mowing, and other high-impact O&M activities, minimum-impact O&M activities are used (such as livestock grazing, planting low-growing native vegetation).
43	4.75	Bonus points
44
45	Wildlife – Complete due diligence with The Nature Conservancy's Resilient Land mapping tool and Site Renewables Right tool, and complete a biologist survey to ensure there are minimal wildlife impacts. Bonus points for co-benefits and beneficial sizing and placement.
46	Requirements
47		For projects not in the built environment, a wildlife assessment is completed and project complies with all applicable wildlife laws.
48	Bonus points for going beyond
49	3	Great: There are no adverse impacts to species of concern.
50		+1 BONUS: Project is sized to minimize impact on wildlife (under 100 acres of contiguous fenced land).
51		+.75 BONUS: Fencing that allows for wildlife to pass is used (normal migration and movement as well as climate migration).
52		+.5 BONUS: Vegetation that supports habitat for wildlife (e.g. pollinator plants, butterfly habitat, native species etc.) is planted on-site, equivalent to 25% of acreage of project site in size and maintained over the duration of the project.
53		+.5 BONUS: Project participates in wildlife coexistence research (e.g. allows site to be used for research, donates financially, etc.)
54	5.25	Bonus points
55
56	4. Maximize social benefits
57	Just transition – Ensuring fair working conditions, prevailing wages, and apprenticeship hours. Bonus points for utilizing local labor and engaging in workforce development for marginalized communities.
58	Requirements
59		The developer has contracts and monitoring to ensure labor, environmental and safety standards are met (e.g. a Responsible Contractor Policy) AND the developer has a clear plan for compliance with prevailing wage requirements and apprenticeship hours as outlined in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.
60	Bonus points for going beyond
61	1	Good: Minimum employee salary is above prevailing wages OR percentage of apprenticeship hours used are greater than requirement in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.
62		+1 BONUS: The developer has explicit contract provisions to utilize local labor in the development and ongoing maintenance of the project.
63		+1 BONUS: The developer commits to engage with employment opportunities that uplift marginalized communities and increase participation in the renewable energy workforce (e.g. job training for marginalized communities, career building programs, renewable energy courses via local community colleges or universities).
64	2	Bonus points
65
66	Lift up communities – Engaging with local communities around solar projects. Bonus points awarded for minimal disruption, health benefits, and extra efforts to uplift the community. The Harvard study defines dollars of health benefits per MWh basis (see Figure 3, recommend using the midpoint on the Health & Climate graph for the Health indicator for the region of the project)
67	Requirements
68		Opposition to the project across the local community is minimal.
69	Bonus points for going beyond
70	1.5	Great: Project results in $40-$60 of health benefits / MWh
71		+1 BONUS: Project is less than 20 MW and disruption to the nearby community is minimal.
72		+.5 BONUS: Developer utilizes brochures/fact sheets etc. to increase awareness and educational opportunities regarding solar as a whole, community solar, and the project.
73		+.5 BONUS: Evergreen and developer partner help organize community activities related to the project (e.g. tours, presentations, community solar signups, etc.).
74		+1 BONUS: Project is <10 MW and is located in a low-income community or on Tribal land, helping to address environmental equity issues stemming from fossil fuel production (which disproportionately affects marginalized communities).
75		+.5 BONUS: On-site educational or community-building features are incorporated (e.g. an interactive kiosk, a community center, etc.).
76		+.5 BONUS: Local school program(s) are put in place to educate K-12 students on the importance of renewable energy and potential career paths.
77	4	Bonus points
78
79	Project score
80	80	Project achieved 80 points for meeting all core requirements
81	11	Project achieved 11 points for going beyond (55% of possible bonus points)
82	91	Total project score out of 100
83


2a. Solar Scorecard

Download copy of scorecard Connect with Ever.green

High-Impact REC Methodology

Our high-impact RECs ensure that every certificate sold directly contributes to the financing and viability of new projects, addressing the core issue of additionality in a way that traditional markets have failed to do.

Ever.green’s new approach prioritizes long-term contracts, meaningful pricing, and rigorous additionality testing to ensure that REC purchases provide substantial economic benefits to renewable projects, making them more attractive to investors and more likely to proceed.

Download white paper

Ever.green High-Impact REC insights

\ \ Ever.green unites eight brands to upgrade wind farm \ \ Ever.green’s high-impact RECs play a critical role in supporting new clean energy projects by bolstering their initial financing prospects and long-term viability.\ \ Read more →](https://blog.ever.green/p/evergreen-55mw-repowered-wind-farm) \ \ Greenwashing or not? Not all RECs are created equal \ \ How can companies maximize the impact of their dollars in accelerating the transition to renewable energy? Is additionality relevant or is that just for carbon offsets?\ \ Read more →](https://blog.ever.green/p/role-of-additionality) \ \ REI Co-op and Compose[d] sign a fix-priced VPPA \ \ The fixed-price VPPAs, long-term financial contracts developed by Ever.green, will help stand up a solar project and enable REI Co-op and Compose[d] to reduce their emissions. \ \ Read more →](https://blog.ever.green/p/rei-co-op-and-composed-sign-with-evergreen)

\ \ RECs\ \ RECs\ \ RECs\ \ Jun 22, 2026\ \ Ever.green Brings REI Co-op and Cutler Development Together to Support a New Solar Project in Marion County, South Carolina\ \ Read more\ \ ](/content/insight/ever-green-rei-pruger-solar-marion-county-south-carolina/index.html)

\ \ RECs\ \ RECs\ \ RECs\ \ Jun 9, 2026\ \ Scope 2 Revisions: A Recommended Path Forward\ \ Read more\ \ ](/content/insight/ghg-protocol-scope-2-voluntary-clean-energy/index.html)

\ \ RECs\ \ RECs\ \ RECs\ \ Apr 22, 2026\ \ Ever.green Brings Microsoft Suppliers Together to Power a New Solar Project in Rural North Carolina\ \ Read more\ \ ](/content/insight/microsoft-suppliers-new-solar-rural-north-carolina/index.html)

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