SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- 03/04/08 --
3Degrees, a leading carbon solutions
company, is one of the first providers selling international
carbon offsets
certified under the new Green-e® Climate program launched by the Center
for Resource Solutions (CRS)
last week.
"We are pleased that 3Degrees joined Green-e Climate right from the start,"
said Lars Kvale, Green-e Climate Manager. "By selling offsets that have
been independently verified under this program, 3Degrees is showing
industry leadership and a real commitment to transparency for its
customers."
Green-e® Climate is a consumer-protection program requiring that
greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions be verified according to strict
project-level certification (including the credible and independent Clean
Development Mechanism, Gold Standard, and Voluntary Carbon Standard) that
ensure the reductions have taken place, are permanent, and come from
projects that would not have happened under a "business as usual" scenario.
Sellers must also undergo a yearly audit to ensure there is no double
selling and that the provider is complying with the program's
consumer-disclosure and truth in advertising requirements.
Well known as a leader in the Renewable Energy and Verified Emission
Reduction (carbon offsets) industry, 3Degrees' renewable energy
certificates (RECs) have been Green-e® Energy Certified since 2002
when the 3Degrees team launched its REC product. 3Degrees advocates for
strong industry standards for offset projects and sellers to build consumer
confidence and counter charges of a lack of standardization.
"We only source carbon offsets that have project level verification
according to credible and independent standards such as the Voluntary
Carbon Standard and the Gold Standard," said Gabe Petlin, Director of
Regulatory Affairs and Carbon Markets at 3Degrees and former Green-e®
Program Manager at CRS from 2001-2004. "The new Green-e Climate Program is
the nation's first retail level consumer protection program for greenhouse
gas emission reductions and 3Degrees is pleased to offer the highest level
of independent product oversight to our customers. For those calling for
greater standardization in the voluntary offset market take note: this is
the program."
3Degrees sources Verified Emission
Reductions (VERs) and Renewable Energy
Certificates from over 200 projects located in six countries.
3Degrees' initial Green-e Climate offering includes three emission reduction
projects from Brazil, India, and China that will be registered later
this year in the now forming Voluntary Carbon Standard registry. The Brazil
project installs biogas control systems that capture and combust methane
gas from manure treatment facilities at hog livestock operations. The
project captures methane, a potent greenhouse gas that would have otherwise
been emitted into the atmosphere. The other projects are wind farms in
North Eastern China and Southern India, two of the largest greenhouse
gas-emitting nations in the world. These projects displace fossil fuel
electricity generation with clean wind energy in these heavily coal-based
developing nations.
All three projects meet the CDM Tool for Assessment of Additionality that
is required
for satisfaction of the Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS). This additionality
test includes a regulatory test, timing test, barriers analysis, investment
analysis, and common practice test.
About 3Degrees
3Degrees is the 2007 DOE Renewable Energy Marketer of the Year and has
served more than 150 U.S. and international business customers, including
30 Fortune 500 companies (U.S. and Global). Beginning in 2002, the 3Degrees
team emerged as an early leader in the renewable energy marketing industry
and has since set the standard for turn-key climate solutions. From
voluntary reductions to understanding the regulatory market for renewable
energy generation and greenhouse gas emissions, the 3Degrees team helps
organizations chart a greenhouse gas strategy that fits business objectives
and preferences.
Contacts
Libby Klitsch
Creative Director
3Degrees
415.265.6686
Email Contact
