Carbon Projects

Types

There are two types of carbon projects:

1. Natural – These projects capture and store carbon in natural carbon sinks, like soils and forests. An example project might include paying farmers to implement cover crops so more carbon is stored in their soil.

Natural projects are usually more expensive than industrial projects on a per ton basis, but they often accomplish more than just capture and store carbon. For example, these types of projects may encourage biodiversity, collect storm water, and reduce heat islands in cities.

2. Industrial – These solutions reduce emissions using man-made technologies. An example might be reducing how many refrigerants leak from a grocery store.

Industrial projects often cost less on a per ton basis. Why? Take refrigerants for example. They are very potent greenhouse gases. If you can destroy one ton of refrigerant it might be equivalent to removing thousands of tons of carbon dioxide.

Projects Funded

Below are some of the many projects we’ve funded so far.

Afognak Forest

TypeNatural
Sub-typeForestry & land use
LocationAlaska, USA

The Sitka Spruce forests of Afognak are also home to a variety of wildlife like Kodiak brown bears, river otters, bald eagles and five different species of Pacific salmon. There may be as many as 1,000 bears on the 700 square mile island. Unfortunately, in the past some of the forest was clear-cut, leaving nothing, without any program to replant the trees. Projects like this one regrow and protect the forest and animal habitats with the goal to conserve this forest in perpetuity.

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Henrico County Landfill Gas

TypeIndustrial
Sub-typeMethane capture and utilization
LocationVirginia, USA

As products in landfills rot, landfills release methane into the air. Methane is a greenhouse gas, like carbon dioxide, but it’s about 30 times worse. Projects like this capture that methane – so it’s not released – and burn it to generate electricity. In this case, it can generate 4 MW at peak times, enough to power about 2,000 homes.

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Terra Yazoo City #9, Nitrous Oxide Abatement

TypeIndustrial
Sub-typeN2O avoidance from nitric acid production
LocationMississippi, USA

Nitric acid is used to create many types of other chemicals. It’s used in various applications, like dying maple and pine wood to make it look aged. Unfortunately, one byproduct of creating it is nitrous oxide (N20) which is a highly potent greenhouse gas. N2O is about 300 times worse than carbon dioxide. Usually it’s vented into the atmosphere as it has no economic value, but projects such as this capture and reduce those emissions.

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Lee County Waste To Energy Facility

TypeIndustrial
Sub-typeEnergy industries (renewable/non-renewable sources)
LocationFlorida, USA

This project incinerates municipal solid waste and uses that heat to create steam and generate electricity. By burning the waste, it prevents methane from leaking into the atmosphere. The electricity generated also displaces fossil fuel-generated electricity.

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Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) Landfill Gas Combustion Project

TypeIndustrial
Sub-typeMethane capture and utilization
LocationBritish Columbia, Canada

As products in landfills rot, landfills release methane into the air. Methane is a greenhouse gas, like carbon dioxide, but it’s about 30 times worse. Projects like this capture that methane – so it’s not released – and burn it to generate electricity. In this case, it can generate 4 MW at peak times, enough to power about 1,200 homes.

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