TerraPass Introduces New Carbon Offset Project Selection Method
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 02. 7.08
Everybody likes choice and openness. TerraPass, one of the more successful players in the US carbon-offset selling business, has introduced a new management system, commensurate with that preference. Current choices for new places to invest income from the sale of carbon offsets are described on the TerraPass website. Customers and onlookers have 30 days to offer comments; after which, staff makes the selections.
This public comment technique offers what green investment portfolio managers call a "positive screen." Instead of picking investments as a closed business matter, and then taking a drubbing for any faults that may surface, TerrPass is publicly jurying the choices up front. It's not perfect, of course, but certainly a step in a positive direction.
Take, for example, the manure digester project located on Scenic View Dairy farm in Michigan (pictured). This one happens to be at the top of the current TerraPass list of projects under consideration for portfolio addition. We read the TerraPass project summary, and then, using the Internets, grabbed some more secondary intel.
Somehow we know those Canadians would be lurking in the background.
Owing to a partnership with Canadian technology firm QuestAir Technologies Inc., the Fennville, Mich., operation is about to become the first commercial facility in the nation to convert animal waste into pipeline-grade methane. It will be used by Michigan Gas Utilities Corp...."This is the first site ever to produce electricity and pipeline-grade natural gas," said Norma McDonald, operating manager for Phase 3 Developments & Investments LLC, which is a systems integrator and consultant for Scenic View for the project. "We'll produce about 700 kilowatt-hours of electricity and in addition to that about 100 cubic feet per minute of pipeline gas."
From a Michigan Gas Utilities presentation we learned that:
Micro organisms from cow waste are cultivated and grown in tanks.
Waste from the culture is 50% methane.
New technologies are being utilized to increase 50% methane gas to 99% as well
as removing other impurities
After the power needs are met, the dairy makes an economic decision to either
generate and sell excess electricity or sell excess gas directly to MGU.
We hope TerraPass adds this one to the portfolio and that the offsets sold create an incentive for the project collaborators to expand as hoped for:
Additional sites being considered for Scenic View farms owner – Hillside Farms throughout Michigan
Centralized locations studied to serve multiple producers in an area
MGU will assist your local utility if needed to support other BioGas Initiatives
And, to keep more cow crap out of Lake Michigan.
Via::Detroit Free Press, "Cow manure packs energy - Michigan farm turns it into gas and electricity"
Image credit::Michigan Gas Utilities.
Thirsty for more? Check out these related articles:
- A Carbon Neutral Futurama
- 20% Renewable Energy for South Australia, 10 Years Ahead of Schedule
- New Carbon Offset Protocol Launched by US College & University Presidents Group
- California Voters Reject Well Meaning But Poorly Drafted Renewable Energy Ballot Initiatives
We should do this for sewer systems as well, it treats the waste killing harmfull stuff and makes some money back at the same time.
"choices for new places to invest income "
Invest? The offset-barons are spinning it once again. I would be happy to INVEST in a SHARE of the project, but this is just asking for handouts. No return on investment, just doing good - which is great, but I don't approve of misleading the "investors." I suppose the "return on investment" spin is a healthier environment. It's called "buying a service" when you pay someone to do the work for you (the great American past time).
Hey John:
Thanks for the kind shout-out. Comments are rolling in, so thank you to everyone who is getting interested in these projects.
One note -- we do intend this as a positive screen, but all of these projects have passed our internal screen with the information available to us. We're hopeful comments will add additional information. What we're looking for are flags that would make the project inappropriate for TerraPass.
If the projects are found to be appropriate, then we're excited to support them all!
Tom Arnold
Chief Environmental Officer
TerraPass
I was hoping green oriented businesses would be ethical, not deceptive. Please define "invest income."
Hey Anon: We try not to use the term invest, because you're right this is just about doing your part and balancing our your carbon footprint. I think John used the term to refer to what happens to our sales -- i.e. which projects does it go to.
Also, "offset barons" implies a scarf, biplane, and pointy helmet. Just looking around the office, I don't see of those (although a few bicycles are hanging out)
Cheers,
Tom
I found a very interesting carbon off setter http://www.balanzco2.com, instead of the most which are dealing with reforestation, which is not a genuine way to offset the carbon emissions, they are only invest in solar energy. And what really impressed me is that they give you the choice to invest the money into your own country.
I have found the only non-deceptive carbon offset at carbonoffsetjoke.com it's a carbon cylinder that is, literally, offset. Terrapass is doing good things, and the term "carbon offset" has been a successful marketing pitch for them to raise money for a good cause.