(1) A thermal renewable energy credit may be used as an unbundled REC under RCW 19.405.040 (1)(b) if it is created in association with the generation of qualifying thermal energy for a secondary purpose at a facility that generates electricity from biomass energy. For multiple-fuel facilities, only the portion of thermal energy generated from eligible biomass sources is eligible for the generation of a thermal REC.

(2) Thermal energy may not be used to create a thermal REC if the thermal energy:

(a) Is used to operate the generating facility or process the facility's fuel;

(b) Is returned to the biomass conversion device that initially created the eligible thermal resource;

(c) Bypasses the electricity generation device; or

(d) Is produced while the electricity generation equipment is out of service.