Frequently Asked Questions about Carbon Offsets

A carbon offset represents one ton of verified greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions below a pre-set baseline or regulatory mandate. All Carbon Offsets that OneEnergy Renewables sells are real and exceed "business-as-usual" practices. Carbon offsets are a good way to balance your GHG emissions from your business' operations with real, tangible reductions elsewhere.

The Climate Action Reserve (CAR) is an independent carbon offset program. It was created to deliver regulatory-like standards for the offset market and to ensure the integrity, transparency, and financial value of the U.S. carbon market. CAR has been endorsed by environmental regulators in California and Pennsylvania, and is likely to be incorporated into any future national carbon markets.

CAR issues a Climate Reserve Tonne (CRT - pronounced "carrot") for every ton of verified CO₂e (carbon dioxide equivalent) emissions reduction. CRTs are given a serial number and tracked in CAR's registry. CRTs have financial value and can be traded. In order to claim the emissions reductions as your own, the CRT must be retired in CAR's registry. Once retired, a CRT cannot be reactivated.

CAR has two tests to determine additionality: the Performance Standard Test and the Legal Requirement Test. Basically, to pass these tests, a new project must prove that it is actively collecting and destroying methane, and that it was built voluntarily - i.e. without any legal or regulatory mandate. If a project passes these two tests, the project's emissions reductions exceed the norms of "business-as-usual" and are therefore "additional." For further details about these tests, please see section 3.4 of the Climate Action Reserve's Landfill Project Protocol.

Landfill gas is composed of methane, CO₂, water, and other gases. The methane forms when organic matter decomposes. It occurs when a cow digests food, an apple rots, manure decomposes, food breaks down into compost, or when fallen leaves turn into dirt. It is a naturally occurring process. This also means that organic matter in every landfill in the world is emitting methane as it breaks down.

Methane is a potent GHG that traps heat 21 times more efficiently than does carbon dioxide (CO₂). Thus, releasing a ton of methane has the same effect as emitting 21 tons of CO₂. Methane is a leading cause of climate change.

Yes. A landfill gas project can have two different components: the capture and destruction of methane gas, and the creation of renewable energy. A CRT is created for the voluntary destruction of methane regardless of whether it is flared or converted into renewable energy. A REC is created (in addition to the CRT) if renewable energy is created from the methane destruction, which displaces the use of fossil fuels elsewhere. These two aspects deliver distinct and separate benefits to society and the environment, which is why both a CRT and REC can be created.

Climate Action Reserve: The only program that has been endorsed by regulators in California and Pennsylvania and is the expected standard for any future U.S. carbon market.

Climate Action Reserve Landfill Gas Protocol: The full protocol with guidelines for accounting for CO₂e (carbon dioxide equivalent) reductions during the construction and operations of a landfill gas project.

EPA Landfill Outreach Program: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) is a voluntary assistance program that helps to reduce methane emissions from landfills by encouraging the recovery and beneficial use of landfill gas (LFG) as an energy resource.