Colorado’s Project C: Carbon Offset Credits to Fund Community-Based Clean Energy
Businesses, organizations, and individuals in Colorado can offset their greenhouse gas emissions and support local clean energy with carbon offset credits from Project C.
“Global warming is our generation’s greatest environmental challenge. The scientific evidence that human activities are the principal cause of a warming planet is clear, and we will see the effects here in Colorado. But the seeds of change are also here in Colorado, in our scientific and business communities, and in each of us individually.” - Governor Bill Ritter, Jr.
Project C is the nickname for the Colorado Carbon Fund, a program developed by Colorado’s Governor’s Energy Office to develop funding for clean energy projects and provide credible carbon offset credits for individuals and businesses.
The Colorado Carbon Fund will only support new, verifiable, greenhouse gas reduction projects that are developed in Colorado. The GEO is partnering with The Climate Trust, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, to manage this program.
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Project C has a three part method for engaging Colorado consumers to pursue a “sustainable energy lifestyle”. First, measure your emissions from energy usage and traveling with their emissions calculator; second, take action to reduce energy usage; third, purchase offset credits through the Colorado Carbon Fund to fund further greenhouse gas reduction efforts.
“Think. Act. Fund.” is the motto.
Colorado Carbon Fund is currently soliciting proposals for high quality greenhouse gas offset projects, with a preference for:
- Anaerobic digestion projects
- Biomass projects
- Commercial solar hot water heater installations
- Energy efficiency projects with direct emissions reductions
- Transportation-related projects
Project proposals must meet these requirements:
- Within the state of Colorado
- Reduce one or more of the six greenhouse gases
- Meet the additionality standard
- Have not yet been implemented and will not be implemented until after a purchase agreement is executed
For consideration in funding, project developers may fill out the Offset Project Proposal Form. Project C is not currently considering any biological or terrestrial sequestration projects such as low or no till farming, reforestation, or underground CO2 injection and storage. Additional project types may be added in the future.
If you’re headed to the National Renewable Energy Marketing Conference in Denver (October 26 - 29th), catch up with the Colorado Carbon Fund there, and either purchase offset credits or find funding for an offset project of your own.
Image: Wikimedia Commons in the Public Domain
