Energy Works Michigan offset 68 metric tons of CO2 in carbon offsets to balance our office CO2 emissions this year by purchasing carbon offsets that support carbon reduction projects. The average cost to offset one metric ton of CO2 equaled $11.44/ton. Many of the projects we support are located in Michigan, though there are currently no renewable energy carbon offset projects in the state. The project types we support are listed below:
NativeEnergy - Renewable Energy
Energy Works Michigan purchased renewable energy carbon offsets from NativeEnergy to support a renewable energy project in Kansas. Renewable energy is energy generated from natural resources, including biofuel, biomass, geothermal, hydroelectricity, solar energy, tidal power, wave power and wind power.
Greensburg Wind Farm - Greensburg, KS is financed by NativeEnergy carbon credits to support 100% Renewable Energy Wind. After Greensburg, Kansas was destroyed by a tornado in 2007, residents agreed to rebuild their town and commit themselves to make Greensburg the greenest town in America.
TerraPass - Methane Abatement
Energy Works Michigan purchased methane abatement carbon offsets from TerraPass to support Methane from Biomass projects located in Michigan. Methane is generated by farm animals, landfills and industrial waste. Methane has more than 20 times the effects as an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide. Carbon offset projects consist of combustion or containment of methane. Projects include:
Geerlings Hillside Farms in Overisel, MI is reducing the amount of greenhouse gases produced in piggery operations, as well as reducing the greenhouse gases from the facility's electricity by substituting fossil fuel based power with clean renewable power.
Scenic View Dairy I in Fennville, MI is reducing the amount of greenhouse gases produced in dairy operations, as well as reducing the greenhouse gas emissions from the public electricity grid, by substituting fossil fuel based power with clean renewable power.
Scenic View Dairy II in Freeport, MI is reducing the amount of greenhouse gases produced in dairy operations, as well as reducing the greenhouse gases from the public electricity grid, by substituting fossil fuel based power with clean renewable power.
Delta Institute - Land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF)
Energy Works Michigan purchased carbon offsets from the Delta Institute in support of projects in Sustainably Managed Forests, Agricultural Soil Sequestration and Afforestation/Reforestation. Farmers and landowners in Michigan earn greenhouse gas emission credits for avoided deforestation, reforestation, afforestation and soil management. Learn more...
LULUCF projects include:
- Avoided deforestation to protect existing forests.
- Reforestation to restore forests on previously forested land.
- Afforestation to create forests on land that was previously not forested.
- Soil management to preserve or increase the amount of carbon sequestered in soil.