ClimateSmart™ Projects
Generating 200,000 metric tons of verifiable greenhouse gas reductions from California forests.
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The ClimateSmart™ program will generate 137,750 metric tons of verifiable greenhouse gas reductions from California landfills.
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Generating 40,000 metric tons of verifiable greenhouse gas reductions from California forests.
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Participant contributions to the ClimateSmart program have helped to create eight GHG reduction or sequestration projects in the state of California. 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 were independently verified, registered and retired under the stringent protocols of the Climate Action Reserve and one hundred percent of customer contributions to the ClimateSmart program went directly to these GHG reduction and capture projects.
The ClimateSmart program was funded by PG&E customers in accordance with the California Public Utilities Commission. 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.
Ozone Depleting Substance Destruction, Environmental Credit Corp.
Goal: Destroy 38,000 pounds of ozone depleting substances
More than 38,000 pounds of ozone depleting substances from California sources including disposed refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners and bulk chillers will be collected and destroyed by Environmental Credit Corp. in collaboration with Appliance Recycling Centers of America Inc.
The ClimateSmart program’s contract with Environmental Credit Corp. has, in partnership with Appliance Recycling Centers of America, been able to process 129,000 refrigerator units which resulted in significant environmental benefits:
- 129,000 lbs. of refrigerants destroyed
- 8,900 lbs. of oil reclaimed
- 18,060,000 lbs. of ferrous metal recycled
- 1,419,000 lbs. of plastic recycled
- 18,680 lbs. of glass recycled
Hay Road and Yuba Sutter Landfill Projects, Recology
Goal: Generate 137,750 metric tons of verifiable greenhouse gas reductions from California landfills
Recology, a major recycler serving more than 50 communities, will generate more than 137,000 metric tons of verifiable greenhouse gas reductions through two landfill projects that collect and destroy the methane gas produced as the waste in the landfill naturally decomposes.
Arcata Community Forest, City of Arcata
Goal: Generate 40,000 metric tons of verifiable greenhouse gas reductions from California forests
By reducing the harvesting done in 460 acres of redwood and Douglas fir forests, the City of Arcata will allow these trees to grow larger and capture more greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. This should yield 40,000 metric tons of verifiable greenhouse gas emission reductions.
The ClimateSmart program helped the Arcata Forest to:
- Enable several miles of hiking trails including the 4 mile Arcata Ridge Trail
- Avoid timber harvesting in order to offset management costs and instead sell carbon offsets to meet their management costs
- Sustain critical habitat for the Northern Spotted Owl and Pacific Fisher
- Continue to grow an older forest, increasing the health of the forest
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.
The ClimateSmart program helped to:
- De-commission 1.5 miles of old logging roads in poor condition which has reduced sedimentation in salmon streams
- Improve the health of the forest faster by reducing the amount of trees needed to harvest in order to manage the forest
- Restore riverside groves that improve stream quality and help the health of spawning salmon habitat
Dairy Manure Methane Capture, California Bioenergy
Goal: Generate 75,000 metric tons of verifiable greenhouse gas reductions from California dairies
A Climate Action Reserve livestock methane management project, California Bioenergy will trap the methane gas produced as manure decomposes which will result in 75,000 metric tons of verifiable greenhouse gas emission reductions.
Together with the ClimateSmart program, California Bioenergy has been able to:
- Develop expertise in the capture of methane from California dairies
- Turn a waste product into a renewable energy source
- Create jobs in California’s central valley
Lompico Headwaters Forest, Sempervirens Fund
Goal: Generate 14,148 metric tons of verifiable greenhouse gas reductions from a forest in the Santa Cruz Mountains
Founded in 1900, the Sempervirens Fund is dedicated to the permanent protection of redwoods. By preventing logging of 285 acres of redwoods and Douglas firs, the Sempervirens Fund will create 14,148 metric tons of verified greenhouse gas emission reductions.
The ClimateSmart program helped to:
- Preserve more than 50% of the trees in the forest that were slated to be harvested
- Create public attention to the role of forests in combating climate change
- Protect the habitat for over 40 species of animals
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.
The ClimateSmart program helped to:
- Improve the health of the forest faster by reducing the amount of trees needed to harvest in order to manage the forest
- Restore riverside groves that improve stream quality and help the health of spawning salmon habitat
What is 1 Metric Ton of CO2?
1
metric ton of C02 is equivalent to driving more than 2,500 miles. That's approximately the distance from San Francisco to Cleveland!
Selecting Projects
PG&E uses the same clear and stringent criteria to evaluate projects for the ClimateSmart program that the company uses when it contracts for energy. All proposals undergo an extensive review by both PG&E and an External Advisory Group comprised of representatives from a wide range of interests, including community and environmental groups, businesses, and state and local government agencies. This ensures we select the best projects to meet the needs of the program and ClimateSmart customers.
