Early Action Offset Projects
Early action offset credits must be issued by Early Action Offset Programs that are approved by ARB under the Cap-and-Trade Regulation. As an ARB approved Early Action Offset Program (EAOP), American Carbon Registry can list early action projects and issue early action offset credits under any ARB approved voluntary quantification methodology.
Early action offset credits issued by an approved EAOP under ARB approved voluntary quantification methodologies and that meet regulatory requirements, including regulatory verification, may be converted to ARB offset credits.
Early Action Process
Projects developed under an approved early action quantification methodology, verified under an EAOP and issued offset credits by an EAOP must be listed with ARB to become early action projects. Once the Offset Project Operator submits listing information to ARB, the offset project will be listed on ARB's Early Action Projects web page, with general information about the project.
Following the requirements in the Cap-and-Trade Regulation for regulatory verification of early action offset credits, all early action offset projects must first be verified under the Early Action Offset Program, and once listed with ARB, must be verified by an ARB accredited verification body. The verification body that conducts the ARB regulatory verification must be different than the one that performed the original verification under the Early Action Offset Program.
Timelines for Early Action Project Listing and Verification
Projects developed using the ARB approved early action quantification methodologies for U.S. Forests, Urban Forests, Livestock and ODS, had to list with an EAOP by December 31, 2013. In order to remain eligible to generate credits under the applicable compliance offset protocol, a project must be listed as a compliance project on an OPR by February 28, 2015. In addition, these early action projects must complete verification by September 30, 2015 in order to be eligible to list as an early action project with ARB and must be listed with ARB no later than January 1, 2016 in order to convert early action offsets to ARB Offset Credits.
Projects developed using ARB approved early action quantification methodologies for Mine Methane Capture projects must be listed with an EAOP by December 31, 2014. In order to remain eligible to generate credits under the compliance offset protocol for Mine Methane Capture, a project must be listed as compliance offset project on an OPR by February 28, 2015. In addition, these early action projects must complete verification by September 30, 2015 in order to be eligible to list with ARB and must be listed with ARB no later than January 1, 2016 in order to convert early action offsets to ARB Offset Credits.
For more information, please see ARB’s Early Action Offset Credits webpage.
Early Action Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
For detailed early action project information please see ARB’s Early Action Offset Credits webpage. Additional information about early action provisions and their implementation is in ARB's Instructional Guidance Document and FAQs below.
- Supplemental Information on Early Action Project Review - NEW!
- ARB Instructional Guidance Document
- Early Action FAQs
Early Action Forms
- Notice of Offset Verification Services (NOVS) for Early Action Project (full offset verification services only)
- Request for Issuance of ARB Offset Credits for an Early Action Project
Current ARB-approved early action quantification methodologies
Additional voluntary quantification methodologies eligible for early action may be added to the list by ARB upon adoption of new compliance offset protocols.
