What are carbon offsets?

The act of paying someone else to reduce greenhouse emissions is called “carbon offsetting.” A carbon offset is an instrument that represents the avoided emission of one metric ton (2,205 lbs) of carbon dioxide, the most abundant greenhouse gas. Developers like California Bioenergy create projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create offsets, which are then sold on to individuals and organizations who use them to reach their voluntary emissions goals or future compliance requirements.

Offsets are usually expressed as metric tons of “CO2 equivalent,” because offset projects can capture or destroy other greenhouse gases as well. Emissions reductions are converted into CO2e based on their global warming potential. For example, methane is 21 times as potent a greenhouse gas as carbon dioxide.

How does California Bioenergy create offsets?

While there are many different types of projects that create carbon offsets, CalBio focuses its efforts on developing projects that capture and destroy methane produced from dairy farm waste. Our projects consist of anaerobic digesters that capture methane that would have otherwise been released to the atmosphere. The methane is then destroyed, in most cases by fueling the generation of electricity.

CalBio is committed to creating offsets with the highest environmental integrity. Our offsets are generated according to the Climate Action Reserve’s (CAR) Livestock Project Protocol, and are verified by a CAR-approved, independent third-party to ensure that they meet protocol standards and have been calculated accurately. The Climate Action Reserve has emerged as one of the leading offsets registries. The Reserve sets high quality standards, and registers and tracks carbon offset projects across the U.S. The Reserve is recognized and supported by the California Air Resources Board, the State of Pennsylvania, the Voluntary Carbon Standard, and leading environmental organizations including Environmental Defense Fund, Natural Resources Defense Council and Sierra Club.