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.”

NEW ORLEANS, LA – Aug. 26, 2015 – Today, Tierra Resources announced the success of a three-year pilot project to plant mangroves to protect against wetland erosion and hurricane surge. This marks the first successful test of air seeding of mangroves by crop duster airplane, providing a cost-efficient, scalable method to prevent wetland loss.

Additionally, the American Carbon Registry has certified Tierra Resources’ expansion of a wetland carbon quantification methodology that provides a path to market for verified emissions reductions – issued as carbon credits – to help finance wetland restoration techniques that prevent wetland loss and the associated release of greenhouse gas emissions. As the tenth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina approaches, Tierra Resources, led by Dr. Sarah Mack and in collaboration with Entergy Corporation, ConocoPhillips and other companies, has developed the science and research to help fund and implement projects to restore America’s wetlands, which provide critical protection to the nation’s seafood, maritime trade, and oil and gas industries.

“Louisiana’s wetlands protect a large portion of our nation’s seafood industry, oil and gas infrastructure and key ports, but they are disappearing in front of our eyes,” said Dr. Mack. “Our carbon finance methodology paired with techniques like mangrove air seeding provide the opportunity to expedite wetland restoration at a scale and a cost that hasn’t been done before. This innovation is vital to the protection of our region’s communities, culture, and the national economy.”

It is estimated that Louisiana experiences wetland loss equivalent to one football field every hour. As these wetlands and waterways disappear, so does the protection of a region critical to the nation’s economy. For example, a three-week closure of Port Fourchon from a hurricane would result in national losses of $11.2 billion in sales, $3.1 billion in household earnings and negatively impact nearly 65,000 jobs. Oil pipelines at risk in the surrounding wetlands provide a critical connection to the nation’s refineries.  The loss of coastal wetlands is not a local problem. It is an American crisis that requires the support of public and private entities.

Tierra Resources selected mangroves for the project due to their ability to thrive in saltwater environments while protecting fish habitat and establishing complex root systems to reduce erosion. Mangroves protect communities and industry by slowing hurricane surge and reducing related flooding. Tierra Resources utilized the innovative method of air seeding by crop duster airplane, which proved successful at approximately 3 percent of the cost of conventional restoration techniques. Mangroves that were seeded in late 2013 are now a few feet high. This new technique establishes a scalable approach to conserve large areas of wetlands, in a short period of time, at a fraction of the cost. While the research focused on Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes – including the nationally important Port Fourchon – the technique shows potential to expand to other areas of coastal Louisiana and around the world.

“We have proven that wetland restoration can be cost-efficient and scalable,” stated Dr. Mack. “The future of this region and its ability to protect itself and the national economy will require new public-private paradigms and a national commitment to environmental stewardship.”

After the mangrove planting project’s success with ConocoPhillips, Entergy announced that they will join forces with Tierra Resources in 2016 to further demonstrate the scalability and affordability of mangrove air seeding.

“At Entergy we understand the economic value of our natural resources and are committed to helping preserve those resources for the benefit of all our stakeholders,” said Chuck Barlow, vice president of environmental strategy and policy. “Through our work with Tierra Resources and other partners, we are helping restore wetlands through a variety of initiatives funded by our shareholders and supported by our employees. Mangrove restoration is just one of many initiatives helping to ensure regional and national prosperity and preserve a way of life our customers value.”

As Tierra Resources and its many counterparts and partners in Louisiana lead the world in innovating cost-efficient, scalable restoration techniques to prevent wetland loss, creative funding strategies are critical to the viability of these techniques and the future of America’s coast. In early 2015, Tierra Resources and Entergy announced the results of a study that evaluated carbon finance opportunities from blue carbon – the carbon naturally stored in mangroves and coastal wetlands. The study provided potential positive financial impacts of the American Carbon Registry’s 2012 certification of the methodology Restoration of Degraded Deltaic Wetlands of the Mississippi Delta. This methodology, developed by Tierra Resources and supported by Entergy’s Environmental Initiatives Fund, introduced wetland restoration to carbon markets. The study showed that carbon finance has the potential to create as much as $1.6 billion in private wetland restoration funding over the next 50 years should the prevention of wetland loss also be included in carbon markets.

Using the results of the mangrove planting project, Entergy’s Environmental Initiatives Fund was able to support Tierra Resources’ expansion of the American Carbon Registry’s wetland methodology. This revision accounts for wetland restoration activities that prevent previously stored carbon from being released back to the atmosphere as wetlands erode and convert to open water. The inclusion allows for wetland restoration projects to account for more carbon benefits and may lead to additional long-term funding.

“While funding for wetland restoration remains a critical challenge, the carbon finance methodology provides a strong business case for companies around the country to invest in preventing wetland loss,” stated Dr. Mack.

The Gulf Coast is building globally relevant restoration techniques and funding strategies to increase economic and environmental sustainability. The commitment of capital and collaboration among companies and public entities will determine the future of the coast and the communities that call it home. In the next ten years, Tierra Resources aims to stand by its commitment to preserve wetlands for the next generation by scaling its proven air seeding restoration technique to over 30,000 acres of coastal Louisiana.