Program Background & Management:

The Oregon Legislature passed legislation in 1997 which led to carbon dioxide emissions standards for new energy facilities. These standards have led to the solicitation of innovative CO2 offset programs such as C3.

The standard requires new power plants to offset a significant portion (approximately 17%) of their carbon dioxide emissions. Specific standards were established for base load gas plants (only natural gas fired plants), non-base load power plants and non-generating energy facilities that emit CO2. The net emissions rate for base load and non-base load power plants is set at 0.675 lb. CO2/kWh, and for non-generating facilities is set at 0.504 lb. CO2/horsepower-hour.

Gross CO2 emissions over thirty years are determined through methodologies established in the standard for each new base load and non-base load facility. Emissions rates are verified during the first year of operation. For non-generating facilities, total CO2 is estimated to create an incremental schedule of offsets, and the offsets are then based on actual emissions.

Plant developers have two ways to meet the CO2 standards through offset projects, either by proposing projects they or a third party manage or by providing funds to a qualified organization through the monetary path. The qualified organization uses the funds to carry out projects that avoid, sequester or displace the CO2 that the plant will emit in excess of the required standard. Funds paid by the plant developers include both a monetary offset rate, currently set at $0.85 per short ton of CO2, and selection and contracting funds, which compensate the qualified organization for selecting and contracting for the implementation of offsets.

The Climate Trust is approved by the State of Oregon to implement offsets for CO2 emissions in excess of the carbon dioxide standard.

The Climate Trust is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization originally formed in 1997 as Oregon Climate Trust. The mission of the Climate Trust is to promote climate change solutions by providing high quality greenhouse gas offset projects and advancing sound offset policy.

The Climate Trust plays a key role in implementing Oregon's carbon dioxide standard. A plant developer may choose to meet part or all of its reduction target by paying mitigation funds to a “qualified nonprofit” which in turn must use the funds to carry out projects that avoid, sequester, or displace the carbon dioxide the plant will emit in excess of the required standard. The Climate Trust conforms to the requirements of the law and is recognized as a qualified nonprofit. The Climate Trust uses the funds to acquire and manage contracts for offset projects from mitigation measures such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy system decarbonization and forest carbon sequestration.

The first priority of The Climate Trust is to effectively implement power plant carbon dioxide offset projects resulting from the 1997 law. However, The Climate Trust's purposes also include promoting or undertaking projects to prevent or mitigate the emission of greenhouse gases from sources other than the construction of new energy facilities in Oregon. An example of work in this area is the Greenhouse Gas Offset Partnership Program, which allows institutions and individuals to benefit from The Climate Trust’s offset acquisition expertise and processes.

Another focus for The Climate Trust is advancing sound offset policy by sharing its experiences as a leader in acquiring, developing, delivering, and managing cost-effective, innovative projects that reduce atmospheric greenhouse gas levels and provide significant related environmental and social benefits.

96% of The Climate Trust’s revenue from 1999–2002 went into programs and projects that mitigate climate change impacts. This high level of efficiency will continue into the future.

Horst, Inc. is a sustainable materials firm contracted with the Climate Trust to run the C3 Program.

Horst, Inc. is a leading sustainable materials firm that specializes in innovative environmental programs relating to materials technologies. Horst originally proposed the C3 program with the Civil Engineering Research Foundation and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

Horst, Inc. is a 7group company. 7group is a multi-service green building consulting LLC which is currently involved with over 60 LEED projects. 7group is one of five companies contracted nationally to review LEED certifications and write credit interpretation rulings. As a 7group company, Horst, Inc. has 5 LEED accredited professionals on staff. Scot Horst, president of Horst, Inc., sits on several USGBC committees including the Technical Scientific Advisory Committee where he chairs the PVC Task Group and the Commercial Interiors Core Committee.

Horst, Inc. also contracts to run Athena Institute International, the U.S. non-profit affiliate of the Canadian Athena Sustainable Materials Institute. In this work, Horst, Inc. is involved with a broad range of work related to Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), including regional database development and LCA education.