California Compliance Offset Projects

Under California’s cap-and-trade program, which officially launched in January 2013, the state’s largest sources of GHG emissions are required to meet the regulatory greenhouse gas (GHG) emission caps. To contain costs, up to eight percent of the compliance obligation of capped entities, estimated at 200 million tons 2013-2020, can be met with ARB offset credits.

With ACR’s official approval by the California Air Resources Board (ARB) as an Offset Project Registry (OPR) in December 2012, ACR is immediately open to accept listing and registration of carbon offset projects developed using ARB’s compliance and early action offset protocols.

As an OPR, ACR will work with ARB to oversee the registration and issuance of Registry Offset Credits developed using ARB’s compliance or early action offset protocols. Registry Offset Credits are eligible to be transitioned into ARB compliance offset credits that may be used in the Cap-and-Trade Program.  As an approved OPR, ACR will work closely with ARB to ensure offset project operators and verifiers have accurate information to ensure the highest quality of offsets.

Guidance

ARB's main webpage for the Compliance Offset Program contains information and materials including:

• General guidance on the offset program

• Forms

• Offset Project Registries

• Verification (including accredited verification bodies and verifiers)

• Offset Project Operators; and

• Early Action

Other Guidance

• ARB-approved clarifications for the Measurement of Tree Heights under the Compliance Offset Protocol for U.S. Forests

• ARB-approved clarifications for Listing Early Action Forest Projects on the American Carbon Registry using ARB-approved early action quantification methodologies.

Early Action

Early action offset credits must be issued by Early Action Offset Programs that are approved under the Cap-and-Trade Regulation. American Carbon Registry is an ARB approved Early Action Offset Program.

Early action offset credits issued by an approved Early Action Offset Program under ARB approved voluntary quantification methodologies and that meet regulatory requirements may transition to ARB offset credits. Currently approved voluntary quantification methodologies are:

• Climate Action Reserve U.S. Livestock Project Protocol versions 1.0 through 3.0
• Climate Action Reserve Urban Forest Project Protocol versions 1.0 through 1.1
• Climate Action Reserve U.S. Ozone Depleting Substances Project Protocol version 1.0
• Climate Action Reserve Forest Project Protocol versions 2.1 and 3.0 through 3.2

Additional voluntary quantification methodologies eligible for early action may be added to the list by ARB upon adoption of new compliance offset protocols.

As an ARB approved Early Action Offset Program, American Carbon Registry can list early action projects and issue early action offset credits under any ARB approved voluntary quantification methodology.

For early action forest projects using the Climate Action Reserve (CAR) Forest Project Protocol (FPP) and wishing to list on the American Carbon Registry (ACR), please review the ARB approved clarifications.

For more information, please see ARB’s Early Action Offset Credits webpage.

ARB Compliance Offset Protocols

ARB Compliance Offset Protocols and related documents are available for download from ARB's Compliance Offset Program webpage.

• U.S. Forests Protocol and Resources for U.S. Forest Projects

• Urban Forests Protocol and Resources for Urban Forest Projects

• Ozone Depleting Substances Protocol

• Livestock Protocol

Offset Project Listing Forms

Offset Project Listing Forms for offset projects developed using ARB compliance offset protocols are included below.

• U.S. Forests - Avoided Conversion Offset Project Listing Form

• U.S. Forests - Improved Forest Management Offset Project Listing Form

• U.S. Forests - Reforestation Offset Project Listing Form

• Urban Forests Offset Project Listing Form

• Ozone Depleting Substances Offset Project Listing Form

• Livestock Offset Project Listing Form

Offset Project Data Report Forms

Offset Project Data Report Forms for offset projects developed using ARB compliance offset protocols are included below.

• U.S. Forests Offset Project Data Report Form

• Urban Forests Offset Project Data Report Form

• Ozone Depleting Substances Offset Project Data Report Form

• Livestock Offset Project Data Report Form

Verification Forms

Forms for verification of offset projects developed using ARB compliance offset protocols are included below.

• Notice of Offset Verification Services

• Verifier Conflict of Interest Self-Evaluation

• Verification Statement

Other Forms

• Designation of an Authorized Project Designee

How to List and Issue Registry Offset Credits on ACR: Webinar

To learn more about the process for listing and issuance of Registry Offset Credits and Early Action Offset Credits on ACR for the California Cap-and-Trade Program, view a powerpoint presentation here and an instructional webinar video here .

Contact ACR

For information on the California Compliance Offset Program, contact Belinda Morris at bmorris@winrock.org

For information or assistance with:

• Early action or compliance forestry offset projects, contact Nick Martin at nmartin@winrock.org

• Early action or compliance ODS offset projects, contact Belinda Morris at bmorris@winrock.org

• Early action or compliance livestock offset projects, contact Lauren Nichols at lnichols@winrock.org

You can also contact ACR's California office:

980 Ninth Street, Suite 2060

Sacramento CA 95814

(916) 520-8628