SACRAMENTO, CA, August 2, 2017 – The American Carbon Registry (ACR), a non-profit enterprise of Winrock International, has published a new Methodology for the Quantification, Monitoring, Reporting and Verification of GHG Emissions Reductions from the Destruction of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) and High-Global Warming Potential (GWP) Foam. The Methodology developed by EOS Climate and ACR significantly and substantively expands the California Air Resources Board (ARB) ODS Compliance Offset Protocol to include multiple additional eligible sources of ODS and foam, new monitoring and verification methods and destruction facilities, and updated quantification, emissions factors and sources. The emissions reduction potential in the U.S. alone from the destruction of ODS and foam totals over 50 MMT CO2e by 2020, equivalent to taking over ten million cars off the road each year.

Chloroflourocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) are used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems, aerosol sprays and medical devices as well as foam blowing agents for the manufacture of insulation and noise reduction in buildings, appliances, coolers, marine applications and industrial pipe insulation. CFCs and HCFCs are classified as Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) because they deplete the stratospheric ozone layer, and they have extremely high GWPs, ranging from 4,750 to 10,900 times more potent to the atmosphere than CO2.

Under the Montreal Protocol, the production of CFC refrigerants in the U.S. is phased out and the production of HCFC-22 will be phased out by 2020. However, the use of these ODS is not prohibited, and standard practice is to recycle these compounds for reuse. This practice leads to ODS refrigerants leaking into the atmosphere at rates estimated by the EPA to be up to 25 percent annually.

By providing a financial incentive through the carbon market, the ARB Offset Protocol has incentivized the destruction of ODS resulting in 15 MMT of emissions reductions over the last decade. ACR’s new methodology will build on that success and more broadly incentivize large-scale GHG emissions reductions from the destruction of ODS and foams.

The ACR methodology includes new eligible sources of ODS used in air conditioning and refrigeration equipment, in medical aerosol applications and for fire suppression. Additionally, to incentivize foam destruction projects, of which there have been none to date, the ACR methodology includes multiple new eligible foam sources including walk-in coolers, refrigerated transportation, refrigeration cases, pipe insulation and marine foam, and provides new emission factors and quantification methods for foam projects as well as for monitoring destruction events conducted at destruction facilities that are a part of an enclosed equipment de-manufacturing system. Foam projects have the potential to supply 30 MMT of CO2e emissions reductions by 2020.

“This expanded Methodology provides needed updates to EOS Climate’s original, circa-2008 ODS offset protocol to reflect new science, current regulatory and baseline conditions, and advances in recycling and destruction technologies”, said Jeff Cohen of EOS Climate. “ODS projects under California’s cap-and-trade program have prevented the equivalent of millions of tons of carbon emissions, while also speeding the transition to climate-friendly advanced technologies. We have a limited time window to permanently retire the remaining inventories of these most powerful climate pollutants before they get released to the atmosphere, while ensuring correct carbon accounting. It is important for California, Ontario and other regulated markets to review this updated Methodology for inclusion in their programs.”

SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 25, 2017 – Today the American Carbon Registry (ACR), a nonprofit enterprise of Winrock International, announced approval of a new carbon offset methodology to scientifically quantify greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions from the restoration of California deltaic and coastal wetlands. The methodology was developed by a high-profile group of partners — the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy as lead agency and HydroFocus as lead author with technical support from the University of California at Berkeley and Tierra Resources. Funding for the methodology was provided by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), the California Coastal Conservancy, the Metropolitan Water District and California Department of Water Resources (DWR).

The new ACR methodology combines California data and restoration techniques to create a rigorous scientific framework for carbon offset project development. Opportunities are abundant to enhance current land-use practices by restoring wetlands or converting to rice cultivation in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, Suisun Marsh, and California coastal areas. Carbon offsets generated by the projects can be sold to corporations to meet their voluntary emissions-reduction goals. Additional sources of offsets are also being considered by California regulators for eligibility in the state’s Cap-and-Trade Program, under which power plants and oil refineries are mandated to reduce or offset their emissions.

“Restoration activities that rebuild subsided lands are critical to long-term ecosystem sustainability, are important to reducing the risk of levy failure and sea level rise, and are a significant source of GHG emissions reductions.” said Steve Deverel, President of HydroFocus.

In the Bay-Delta Area, more than 90 percent of historic tidal wetlands disappeared in the last 150 years. Over 2.5 billion cubic meters of organic soils have disappeared since delta islands were first diked and drained for agriculture in the late 1800s, resulting in land subsidence up to 25 feet below sea level. Drained and cultivated organic soils continue to oxidize, subside and emit an estimated 1.5 to 2 million metric tons of CO2-equivalent annually — equal to annual emissions from over 300,000 passenger vehicles.

Research in freshwater emergent wetlands on delta organic soils shows that carbon capture wetlands are the most carbon-rich landscape per acre. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), DWR, HydroFocus and the University of California at Berkeley have been studying subsidence and GHG emissions of rice and managed wetlands in the delta since the 1980s and have documented very high rates of primary productivity in wetlands.

“State and federal funding remains insufficient to address land subsidence that threatens the California water system, and carbon market revenues could help fill the funding gap,” said Campbell Ingram, executive officer of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy. ”The new ACR methodology provides an incentive to landowners in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, Suisun Marsh, and other historically natural wetland areas in California to convert their most subsided and marginal agricultural lands to wetlands or to produce wetlands crops such as rice, which will stop land subsidence and reverse it over time.”

SACRAMENTO, CA, March 28, 2017 – The American Carbon Registry (ACR), a nonprofit enterprise of Winrock International, has approved a methodology for generating carbon offset credits from Landfill Gas Destruction and Beneficial Use projects. The methodology was developed by ACR with technical support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Landfill Methane Outreach Program.

The decomposition of waste in landfills produces landfill gas (LFG), which is comprised of about half methane and half carbon dioxide. Methane is a greenhouse gas (GHG) that is 25 to 86 times more potent than carbon dioxide and is also considered a short-lived climate pollutant. Therefore, mitigating methane emissions is important for limiting near term climate impacts.

GHG emissions from over 2,400 U.S. landfills are the third largest source of methane emissions in the country, accounting for annual emissions equivalent to over 31 million passenger vehicles. The collection and combustion of methane that would otherwise have been vented into the atmosphere is an effective method for decreasing GHG emissions from landfills.

Additionally, significant opportunities exist for LFG to be captured and used as an energy resource to generate heat and electricity. It can also be processed and sent into natural gas pipelines or as clean fuel for vehicle fleets.

LFG collection and control systems and systems for beneficial energy use, however, are expensive to install and operate. The new ACR methodology is intended to provide access to carbon market finance to incentivize LFG capture and destruction at unregulated landfills and to stimulate investment in LFG beneficial use energy projects.

“ACR’s approval of this methodology is an important step to reward landfills that are going beyond business as usual to stimulate meaningful emissions reductions and to promote the use of LFG as a clean energy resource,” said Mary Grady, American Carbon Registry deputy director.

ACR’s LFG Destruction and Beneficial Use methodology will be highlighted at this week’s annual meeting of the Solid Waste Association of North America, SWANApalooza in Nevada.

SACRAMENTO, CA, February 17, 2017 – The American Carbon Registry (ACR), a nonprofit enterprise of Winrock International, is proposing updates to the following Program documents and is soliciting public comments:

1)  The American Carbon Registry (ACR) Standard v4.0, which details ACR’s requirements and specifications for the quantification, monitoring, and reporting of project-based GHG emissions reductions and removals, verification, project registration, and issuance of offsets

Stakeholders are invited to review the proposed changes to the ACR Standard posted on the ACR website and submit comments to ACR@Winrock.org by March 20, 2017.

2)   ACR Validation and Verification Standard, which details requirements for Validation and Verification Bodies as well as for independent third-party validation and verification of all carbon offset projects.

Stakeholders are invited review the proposed changes posted on the ACR website and submit comments to ACR@Winrock.org by March 20, 2017.

SACRAMENTO, November 1, 2016 – The American Carbon Registry (ACR), a nonprofit enterprise of Winrock International, announces an open public comment period for modifications to the methodology for Improved Forest Management Methodology for Quantifying GHG Removals and Emission Reductions through Increased Forest Carbon Sequestration on Non-Federal U.S. Forestlands. The methodology revision is proposed by Blue Source, TerraCarbon and L&C Carbon. Detailed information is included on the ACR methodology webpage.

ACR is accepting public comments on the proposed changes through November 30, 2016. Please send comments to ACR@Winrock.org.

May 2, 2016 – The American Carbon Registry (ACR), a nonprofit enterprise of Winrock International, has announced an open public comment period and is accepting stakeholder comments on the following three offset methodologies that are in the ACR approval process:

1)    A new methodology entitled Emission Reduction Measurement and Monitoring Methodology for Destruction of Ozone Depleting Substances and High-GWP Foam. The methodology is an update to the 2014 California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) Compliance Offset Protocol for Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) Projects including proposed changes to eligible sources of ODS, updated emissions factors, new methods for foam projects and new methods for monitoring destruction events

2)    A new wetlands methodology entitled Accounting for the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Benefits of Pocosin Restoration. The methodology details the requirements for the quantification of greenhouse gas emissions reductions associated with rewetting previously drained pocosin wetlands in the Atlantic coastal plain of the southeastern U.S.

3)    A new methodology for Emissions Reductions from Landfill Gas Destruction and Beneficial Use Projects. The methodology provides the quantification and accounting frameworks for the destruction or utilization of landfill gas at eligible landfills in the U.S.

Visit ACR’s website for details on these proposed modifications.

Please send comments to ACR@winrock.org by June 3, 2016.

SACRAMENTO, CA, April 29, 2016 – The American Carbon Registry (ACR), a nonprofit enterprise of Winrock International, has approved a methodology for Emission Reduction Measurement and Monitoring for the Transition to Advanced Formulation Blowing Agents in Foam Manufacturing and Use. The methodology was developed by Dentons US LLP and Foam Supplies, Inc.

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are commonly used blowing agents that are released at varying rates during manufacture, use and at end-of-life of foams. Foam blowing agents are used in numerous applications including refrigerators and freezers; industrial refrigeration systems and refrigerated transport; boats and buoys; and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.

According to the EPA Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions and Sinks, industrial process emissions account for over 300 MMT of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent annually, over half of which is from chemicals such as HFCs. While HFCs are not Ozone Depleting Substances and are therefore an acceptable substitute under the Montreal Protocol, they have global warming potentials (GWPs) up to 4000 times higher than CO2 and contribute to global GHG emissions.

HFCs are also considered short-lived climate pollutants, so mitigating emissions of HFC is important for limiting near term climate impacts. In fact, HFCs are considered one of the fastest growing sources of GHG emissions globally, and there is currently no internationally agreed phase out schedule for HFC consumption or production.

Alternatives to HFC-based blowing agents are available but are not commonly used in certain segments of the foam manufacturing industry due to cost and other challenges to adoption. The ACR methodology is intended to provide access to carbon finance to increase uptake of available advanced technologies and accelerate a transition to low GWP blowing agents in these sectors more rapidly than would otherwise occur.

“ACR’s approval of this methodology is an important step to reward early action and facilitate meaningful and significant reductions in emissions from HFCs in foam blowing agents,” said Jeff Fort, senior partner at Dentons.

Methodology co-author Susan Wood, former senior advisor to Dentons, added “the publication of this work is very timely in that it addresses the reduction of the short-lived climate pollutants currently being discussed by scientists around the world. We appreciate ACR’s support and leadership to move the needle in this offset category.”

Arlington, Va., Oct. 19, 2015 – The American Carbon Registry (ACR), a nonprofit enterprise of Winrock International, announced today the approval of a methodology for the measurement, monitoring, reporting and verification of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions from the use of certified reclaimed hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants and advanced refrigeration systems. The methodology was developed by EOS Climate, with financial support provided by A-Gas Americas, Hudson Technologies and Diversified Pure Chem.

Under the Montreal Protocol to Protect the Stratospheric Ozone Layer, all nations ended production of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) refrigerants. A phasedown in production of, hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) is also underway and in the U.S. is more than 90% complete.

Developed as “ozone-friendly” alternatives, HFC refrigerants are powerful greenhouse gases when released to the atmosphere. Pound for pound, HFCs have global warming potentials (GWPs) up to 4000 times higher than carbon dioxide (CO2). Unless bold action is taken to limit their production and use, HFC emissions are expected to nearly triple in the U.S. by 2030. The new ACR offset methodology incentivizes GHG emissions reductions through the re-use of certified reclaimed HFC refrigerants and deployment of advanced low-GWP commercial refrigeration technologies.

“This is a major milestone in our ongoing efforts to deliver market-based solutions addressing global climate impacts of carbon-intensive chemicals and other commodities,” said Jeff Cohen, Senior Vice President at EOS Climate. “Through the new ACR methodology, industry leaders across the refrigerant value chain – service technicians, refrigerant suppliers and producers, equipment manufacturers, and the wide range of refrigerant end-users such as commercial building owners, hotels, supermarkets, car makers, and municipalities, now have an additional tool to strengthen their carbon reduction strategies.”

A groundbreaking industry collaboration to leverage the new ACR methodology was announced at a White House event last week. The collaboration, involving EOS Climate, The Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy, The Indoor Environment & Energy Efficiency Association (ACCA), Heating, Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) and The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) will develop and implement a Reclaimed HFC Credit Bank as a component of the Global Refrigerant Management Initiative (GRMI) – GRMI is targeting reductions in global HFC emissions by 30 to 50 percent in 10 years.

The new methodology is part of a continuum of market-based solutions targeting fluorochemicals, notably an ODS Destruction Protocol, also originated by EOS Climate and an important part of California’s cap-and-trade market. The new industry effort complements domestic regulations including California’s Refrigerant Management Program, U.S. EPA’s SNAP program and the recently proposed extension of federal regulations issued under Section 608 of the Clean Air Act.

“American Carbon Registry is extremely pleased to announce the approval of this first-of-a-kind methodology, which we hope will stimulate large-scale emissions reductions from HFC production and use,” said John Kadyszewski, American Carbon Registry Director. “We look forward to working with companies as they implement their HFC reduction strategies.”