The Climate Trust and the KCEDA Launch Greenhouse Gas Reduction
The Climate Trust and KCEDA Launch Greenhouse GasReduction Program in Southern Oregon
The Climate Trust has reached an agreement with the Klamath County Economic Development Association (KCEDA) to commit $250,000 to develop and fund greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction projects, also known as offset projects, in Oregon’s Klamath and Lake counties. A greenhouse gas reduction project is one implemented specifically to reduce the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This new program will provide examples of how offset projects can play an important role in combating climate change. The program will also will support the sustainable development goals of the region.
The program will seek to identify regional economic sectors that could generate cost-effective CO2 reductions. Once these sectors have been identified, KCEDA and The Climate Trust will jointly develop specific projects and the Trust will purchase the CO2 offsets generated by the projects. This pilot stage of the program is slated to run for two years. “We are very excited about this opportunity to work with KCEDA to implement high-quality carbon offset projects in Southern Oregon,” stated Mike Burnett, executive director of The Climate Trust. “The projects developed under this program will further demonstrate how offsets can be a valuable part of global warming policy."
In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Program will further KCEDA’s broader goals of creating an integrated, region-wide approach to climate sustainability and to demonstrate how they can be a vital part of a winning economic development strategy.
The funding for this initiative has been provided by Portland General Electric (PGE) as part of a state legal requirement to offset emissions from its new power generating facility in Port Westward, Oregon.
####
The Climate Trust is a not-for-profit organization whose sole mission is to promote climate change solutions by providing high-quality GHG offsets to both regulatory and voluntary markets from projects that meet strict criteria for environmental integrity. The Climate Trust also works to advance sound offset policy. The Climate Trust has offset more than 1.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide with a portfolio of over $4 million invested in GHG offset projects, and is currently placing an additional $5 million in project-based reductions – making it one of the largest and most experienced institutional offset buyers in the U.S.
The Klamath County Economic Development Association (KCEDA)is a private, non-profit corporation chartered to foster and develop responsible industrial activities in Oregon’s Klamath Region. KCEDA has served as a lead for economic development contact since 1975, and its goal is to bring economic vitality back to the Klamath Region.KCEDA is a unique organization, reflecting the best of private responsibility and public dedication. Its mission: to provide, through tailored recruitment and retention/expansion programs, new opportunities for jobs, a diversified, value-added industrial base and expanded economic development.