Neria Small Hydroelectric Project
Location: Karnataka State of India
Project type: Hydroelectric Energy
Standard: Voluntary Carbon Standard
Verification/Validation: Det Norske Veritas (DNV) International Climate Change Services
Environmental Benefits
- Mitigates climate change
- Run-of-river requires no dams to be built
- Reduces local air pollution
Community Benefits
- Locally sourced, renewable energy
- Additional employment opportunities
- Increased local investment in clean energy
Project Description
The Neria Small Hydroelectric Project is a 9 megawatt, grid-connected power project located near the famous Dharmasthala temple village on the River Neria. As a run-of-river hydroelectric project, it is a sustainable source of renewable energy that does not require the displacement of people nor a dam, which would impact the migration of marine species. While providing environmental and community benefits, the project – which has also been certified under the Clean Development Mechanism – will reduce nearly 200,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide over the project’s lifetime.
Gardner Sanitary Landfill Methane Project
Location: Gardner, Massachusetts
Project type: Methane Destruction
Standard: Chicago Climate Exchange
Verification/Validation: First Environment, Inc.
Environmental Benefits
- Mitigates climate change
- Waste management
- Odor control and less localized air pollution
- Reduction of local water pollution
Community Benefits
- Provides the City of Gardner with new source of revenue
- Development of new technologies and additional jobs created
Project Description
The Gardner Sanitary Landfill Methane Project is located in the city of Gardner, Mass. As landfills harbor methane from trash, the project destroys the landfill methane, which is approximately 23 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.
One of the real concerns about climate change is that as the frozen tundra of areas such as Northern Canada and Siberia melt, an enormous amount of methane - which was previously trapped in permafrost - will be released into our atmosphere, worsening global warming.
The Gardner Sanitary Landfill Methane Project offset more than 23,000 metric tonnes of CO2e in 2004, nearly 31,000 metric tonnes in 2007, and more than 33,000 metric tonnes of CO2e in 2008.
Clinton County Landfill Methane Project
Location: Near Plattsburgh, NY
Project type: Methane Destruction
Standard: US Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Leaders Program
Verification/Validation: US Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Benefits
- Mitigates climate change
- Prevents groundwater contamination
- Improves local air quality
Community Benefits
- Development of new technologies
- Job creation
- Controls landfill odor
- Promotes waste management in the surrounding area
Project Description
As the first-ever carbon offset project approved by the EPA Climate Leaders Program, the project is a landfill methane collection and destruction system. The project covers nearly 70 acres & handles approximately 160,000 metric tons of waste each year.
Landfill gas comes from decomposing organic material such as paper and food in solid waste. A component of the gas is the greenhouse gas methane. The project can destroy the methane by flaring it or, as a result of a recent addition, convert the gas to electricity to provide a clean, renewable source of energy.
Climate Leaders is a partnership between EPA & companies to develop climate change strategies including emissions reductions. Partner companies commit to reducing their impact on the environment by completing an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions, setting reduction goals, and reporting to EPA on their progress.
The Genesis Forest Project
Location: Tocantins, Brazil
Project type: Avoided Deforestation & Reforestation Project
Standard: Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standards with Social Carbon Methodology
Verification/Validation: To be verified by Rainforest Alliance/Imaflora
Environmental Benefits
- Mitigate climate change
- Restore and preserve a biological hotspot
- Revitalize endangered/threatened species such as Giant Anteater, Giant Armadillo, Jaguar, and Maned Wolf
- Improve local water quality
- Retain topsoil and control erosion
Community Benefits
- Provide alternative sources of income and employment opportunities
- Establishment of the Center for Biodiversity Learning and Climate Change
- Increased awareness and assistance with fire suppression
Project Description
The Genesis Forest Project was established with a generous contribution by Hyundai Motor America and is an avoided deforestation and reforestation project of more than 3,000 acres in Brazil. While conserving one of the world’s biological hotspots, this Project also incorporates reforestation activities which will ultimately sequester and mitigate about 93,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide.
With less than two percent of the region protected in national parks and conservation areas, this area is threatened by the expansion of agriculture for soy and corn as well as cattle ranching. Hence the avoided deforestation aspect of this project is critical.
Tengchong Conservation Carbon Project
Location: Tengchong County and Yunnan Province of Southwestern China
Project type: Reforestation Project
Standard: Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standards with Gold Distinction
Verification/Validation: TÜV SÜD
Environmental Benefits
- Mitigate climate change
- Suppression of invasive weed, Eupatorium
- Provide habitat for about 400 bird species and more than 150 mammals including the Leopard, Malayan Sun Bear and China’s only remaining population of Bengal Tiger
- Improve water quality and erosion control
Community Benefits
- Poverty alleviation through alternative economic livelihoods
- Technical training opportunities
- Sustainable fuel wood supplies
Project Description
The Tengchong Conservation Carbon Project is reforesting over 1,093 acres at the south end of the Gaoligongshan Nature Reserve in southwestern China. Carbonfund.org supports this project which will ultimately sequester nearly 170,000 metric tons carbon dioxide from our atmosphere.
Forest-based projects are beneficial not only for their carbon sequestration, but also for their positive impacts on the local farming communities and the variety of ecosystem services they provide. In addition, the Tengchong Project is the first forest-based project to be validated to the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standards with Gold Distinction.
The Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX)
Location: Worldwide
Project type: Carbon Financial Instruments and Carbon Offsets
Standard: Chicago Climate Exchange
Verification/Validation: Various
Environmental Benefits
- Mitigates climate change
- Allowances and offsets have additional environmental benefits depending on the project sector
Community Benefits
- Similar to Environmental Benefits, the Community Benefits from CCX allowances and offsets depend on the specific activities
Project Description
Carbonfund.org is an Associate Member of the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) in order to purchase and permanently retire what are known as Carbon Financial Instruments (CFIs) from the exchange. The CCX is North America’s largest carbon trading market to reduce CO2 emissions. Carbonfund.org is buying and retiring these allowances which would otherwise be used by polluting, non-compliant companies as well as buying and retiring registered offsets.
CCX members calculate their emissions from a 1998-2001 baseline and are required to reduce their emissions 4% by 2006 and 6% by 2010. If members exceed their target CO2 reductions, they may sell their credits; if they fall short, they must buy credits. Essentially, by retiring our CCX purchases instead of continuing to trade them, this forces companies to increase and maintain their productivity while releasing less carbon - the definition of energy efficiency.
New York State Landfill Methane Project
Location: Rodman, New York
Project type: Methane Destruction
Standard: American Carbon Registry / Environmental Resources Trust’s Monitoring, Reporting & Verification Protocol
Verification/Validation: First Environment, Inc.
Environmental Benefits
- Mitigates climate change
- Waste management
- Odor control and less localized air pollution
- Reduction of local water pollution
Community Benefits
- Development of new technologies and additional jobs created
Project Description
The New York State Landfill Methane Project serves the counties of Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence and Hamilton and in addition, destroys the methane emitted by a landfill by converting it into carbon dioxide and heat. Additional plans for the Project include capturing the waste heat and using it to warm a local greenhouse along with providing alternative energy.
The destruction of methane from such projects is important in the fight against global climate change because methane is approximately 23 times more efficient as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. One of the real concerns about climate change is that as the frozen tundra of areas such as Siberia and Northern Canada melt, an enormous amount of methane- which was previously trapped in the permafrost- will be released into our atmosphere.
The New York State Landfill Methane Project, from 2003 through 2008, offset approximately 564,465 metric tonnes of CO2e.
North Country Landfill Methane Project
Location: Bethlehem, New Hampshire
Project type: Methane Destruction
Standard: American Carbon Registry / Environmental Resources Trust’s Monitoring, Reporting & Verification Protocol and the Chicago Climate Exchange
Verification/Validation: First Environment, Inc.
Environmental Benefits
- Mitigates climate change
- Waste management
- Odor control and less localized air pollution
- Reduction of local water pollution
Community Benefits
- Development of new technologies and additional jobs created
Project Description
Carbonfund.org supports the North Country Landfill Methane project which safely and effectively disposes up to 7,200 gallons of landfill leachate a day from a municipal solid waste landfill in Northern New Hampshire. This project not only prevents methane, a potent greenhouse gas, from being released into the atmosphere, it also protects the area’s local groundwater from landfill leachate.
The destruction of methane from such projects is important in the fight against global climate change because methane is approximately 23 times more efficient as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. One of the real concerns about climate change is that as the frozen tundra of areas such as Siberia and Northern Canada melt, an enormous amount of methane - which was previously trapped in the permafrost - will be released into our atmosphere.
From 1998 through most of 2009, the North Country Landfill Methane Project has helped to offset approximately 1.3 million metric tonnes of CO2e.
New Bedford Landfill Gas-to-Energy Project
Location: Greater New Bedford, Massachusetts
Project type: Landfill Gas-to-Energy
Standard: American Carbon Registry / Environmental Resources Trust’s Monitoring, Reporting & Verification Protocol and the Chicago Climate Exchange
Verification/Validation: First Environment, Inc.
Environmental Benefits
- Mitigates climate change
- Waste management
- Odor control and less localized air pollution
- Reduction of local water pollution
Community Benefits
- Locally sourced, renewable energy
- Development of new technologies and additional jobs created
Project Description
The New Bedford Landfill Gas-to-Energy Project is a gas-to-energy plant which produces approx. 3.3 megawatt hours (MWh) of clean electricity. This landfill gas, which includes methane and carbon dioxide, is collected from the landfill to fuel four reciprocating internal combustion engine-generators. With support from Carbonfund.org, the project not only produces power for the regional electricity grid, but also reduces the amount of methane released into our atmosphere.
The destruction of methane from such projects is important in the fight against global climate change because methane is approximately 23 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. One of the real concerns about climate change is that as the frozen tundra of areas such as Siberia and Northern Canada melt, an enormous amount of methane - which was previously trapped in the permafrost - will be released into our atmosphere.
The New Bedford Landfill Gas-to-Energy Project offset more than 713,000 metric tons of CO2 during the time period of 2003 to 2008.
Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge Reforestation Project
Location: Tallulah, Louisiana (Northeastern Louisiana)
Project type: Reforestation Project
Standard: Voluntary Carbon Standard & Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standards with Gold Distinction
Verification/Validation: Rainforest Alliance
Environmental Benefits
- Mitigate climate change
- Restore habitat for estimated 400 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish
- Revitalize endangered/threatened species such as the Louisiana Black Bear, Florida Panther
- Improve water quality and erosion control
Community Benefits
- Improved area for hiking, biking, and other activities
- Nature photography
- Suitable destination for school groups
- Locally sourced seed, employment opportunities
Project Description
The Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge Reforestation Project is restoring native bottomland hardwood forests in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley region of Northeastern Louisiana. While once covered in dense forests, this region now supports less than 20% of its original 22 million forested acres due to decades of land conversion for agriculture.
Forest-based projects are beneficial not only for the local area and the variety of ecosystem services they provide, but forests also sequester significant amounts of carbon dioxide. This project was the first reforestation project in North America to be validated to both the Voluntary Carbon Standard and the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standards.
Over the project lifetime, the Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge Reforestation Project is expected to sequester more than 600,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide.
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Truck Stop Electrification Project
Location: US: Arkansas, California, Georgia, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas
Project type: Energy Efficiency
Standard: American Carbon Registry / Environmental Resources Trust’s Monitoring, Reporting and Verification Protocol
Verification/Validation: Environmental Resources Trust
Environmental Benefits
- Mitigate climate change
- Reduce localized air and noise pollution
- Reduce fuel usage and the environmental harm caused by fossil fuel extraction
Community Benefits
- Development of new technologies and additional jobs created
- Better resting conditions for drivers
- Provide alternative to idling in parking lots or road shoulders
Project Description
Carbonfund.org supports the Truck Stop Electrification Project which reduces tailpipe emissions from freight trucks that transport our consumer goods all across the country. Long-haul truck drivers idle their trucks to heat or cool their cab and to power on-board appliances during the federally mandated rest period. Engine idling creates poor resting conditions for the driver and fosters unhealthy conditions since a large number of trucks idle in close proximity. Idling also consumes fuel while moving no product, reduces engine life, and requires more frequent engine maintenance.
With this project, drivers can shut off their engines and utilize the advanced truck stop electrification technology. This system consists of an in-cab service module connected via a flexible hose to an efficient external unit that heats, cools, and powers the interior of the truck, and lets the driver run the radio and check email without forcing the engine to burn diesel while saving about a gallon of diesel per hour.
This project has offset over 112,000 metric tonnes over the time period of 2003 to 2007.
The Return to Forest Project
Location: Rivas and Granada Provinces, Southwestern Nicaragua
Project type: Reforestation Project
Standard: Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standards with Gold Distinction
Verification/Validation: Rainforest Alliance
Environmental Benefits
- Mitigate climate change
- Restore habitat
- Revitalize endangered/threatened species such as the Yellow-Naped Parrot and Central American Spider Monkey
- Improve local water quality
- Retain top soil and control erosion
Community Benefits
- Establish alternative sources of income and employment opportunities including three local tree nurseries, and planting fruit trees
- Potential for local ecotourism benefiting the area population
Project Description
The Return to Forest Project is a partnership between Carbonfund.org and Paso Pacifico with the goal of reconnecting critical biological corridors on the southwestern coast of Nicaragua, while benefitting local communities and sequestering an estimated 170,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide. Forest-based projects are beneficial not only for the local communities and the variety of ecosystem services they provide, but forests also sequester significant amounts of carbon dioxide. In addition, the Return to Forest project was one of the first projects to be validated to the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standards with Gold Distinction.
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Chino Basin Dairy Farm Biodigester
Location: Chino Basin, California
Project type: Waste-to-Energy Biodigester
Standard: American Carbon Registry / Environmental Resources Trust’s Monitoring, Reporting & Verification Protocol
Verification/Validation: Environmental Resources Trust
Environmental Benefits
- Mitigates climate change
- Waste management
- Odor control and less localized air pollution
- Reduction of local water pollution
Community Benefits
- Locally sourced, renewable energy
- Development of new technologies and additional jobs created
Project Description
Carbonfund.org supports the Chino Basin Dairy Farm Biodigester Project because it helps to reduce methane emissions and lessens the impact of global climate change. Biodigesters capture the methane generated by manure and transform it into a clean, renewable energy source. This particular biodigester collects manure from ten local dairy farms and is responsible for reducing more than 8,000 tons of CO2 equivalent emissions from the atmosphere every year, while also supporting local farmers and protecting the quality of the region’s groundwater.
From 2003 to 2009, the Chino Basin Dairy Farm Biodigester mitigated nearly 30,000 metric tons of CO2. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Climate Leaders Program notes that more than two billion livestock exist in the US and account for 7% for anthropogenic methane emissions.
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