The offsets are generated by capturing and combusting methane at a wastewater treatment facility in Texas. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas that is 21 times more damaging than carbon dioxide, would have otherwise been released into the atmosphere.
Instead, the captured methane will be flared or used to displace natural gas, providing an environmental benefit through reduced consumption of fossil fuel, the company said.
Entergy purchased the offsets from Blue Source, a climate change offset portfolio in North America that has publicly registered third-party verified greenhouse gas offsets. The project represents a collaborative community effort to reduce greenhouse gases and build a carbon market infrastructure.
J Wayne Leonard, chairman and CEO of Entergy, said: ”The world is looking to the US to lead in the climate change effort. Entergy, in turn, is playing a leadership role by voluntarily acting to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
Originally certified by the Voluntary Carbon Standard, and listed on the Markit Environmental Registry, the offsets were re-verified to the American Carbon Registry Standard, delisted from Markit and reissued on the American Carbon Registry.
The transaction marks that multiple carbon registry programs have worked together to manage offset project accounting in north America.
John Kadyszewski, director of American Carbon Registry, said: ”Entergy’s involvement in this project signifies that companies are increasingly interested in purchasing high-quality offsets that represent real environmental benefits.”
