ClimateSmart Program Update

The ClimateSmart program ended on December 31, 2011. With the support of over 30,000 PG&E residential and 700 business customers, the ClimateSmart program made people aware of the connection between energy use and climate change, while helping to establish the infrastructure for a low-carbon economy in California.

Please note that the ClimateSmart program 2011 tax letters were mailed on January 30, 2012.

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How the ClimateSmart program works

The energy used to power our homes can also emit greenhouse gases (GHG) into the atmosphere. PG&E's ClimateSmart program—a first-of-its-kind, helped to balance out your home’s GHG emissions through environmental conservation, restoration and protection projects right here in California. The ClimateSmart program was also available for business customers.

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ClimateSmart Projects: Where Your Money Goes

One hundred percent of funding for the ClimateSmart program goes directly to GHG reduction and capture projects. These diverse projects include conserving and restoring native redwood forests, destroying refrigerants from old refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners and capturing methane gas from dairy farms and landfills. All projects are independently verified, registered and retired under the stringent protocols of the Climate Action Reserve.

Big River and Salmon Creek Forests, The Conservation Fund

Goal: Generate 600,000 metric tons of verifiable greenhouse gas reductions from California forests

With more than 16,000 acres of protected forests on the Mendocino Coast, the Conservation Fund's Big River and Salmon Creek Forest carbon project will generate 600,000 metric tons of verifiable greenhouse gas emission reductions.

Garcia River Forest, The Conservation Fund

Goal: Generate 200,000 metric tons of verifiable greenhouse gas reductions from California forests

By preserving and enhancing the vigorous growth of large, older trees in the Garcia River Forest, which spans 23,780 acres of forestland, The Conservation Fund will generate 40,000 tons of verifiable greenhouse gas emission reductions a year for a five year period.

Sempervirens Fund: Lompico Forest Carbon Project

Goal: Generate 14,148 metric tons of verifiable greenhouse gas reductions from a forest in the Santa Cruz Mountains

Founded as a non-profit in 1900, the Sempervirens Fund is dedicated to the permanent protection of California’s redwoods.

Recology: Hay Road and Yuba Sutter Landfill Projects

Goal: Generate 137,750 metric tons of verifiable greenhouse gas reductions from California landfills

Recology’s projects collect and destroy the methane gas produced as the waste in the landfill naturally decomposes.

Environment Credit Corp.: Ozone Depleting Substance Destruction

Goal: Destroy 38,000 pounds of ozone depleting substances

Environmental Credit Corp. is collaborating with Appliance Recycling Centers of America Inc. (ARCI) to collect and destroy more than 38,000 pounds of ozone depleting substances (ODS) from California sources.

California Bioenergy: Methane Capture from Dairy Farms

Goal: Generate 75,000 metric tons of verifiable greenhouse gas reductions from California dairies

California Bioenergy is striving to be the partner of choice for dairy farms as they seek to take action in reducing GHG emissions in a way that can create economic value for the agricultural community as well as regional employment opportunities.

City of Arcata: Arcata Community Forest

Goal: Generate 40,000 metric tons of verifiable greenhouse gas reductions from California forests

By reducing harvesting in the 460 acres of redwood and Douglas fir forests comprised of the Jacoby Creek and Sunny Brae tracts, the City of Arcata will allow them to grow larger and capture more greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.

To make participating customers carbon neutral, PG&E may enter into contracts which may produce greenhouse gas emission reductions two or more years into the future.